Altru Announces Heather Strandell as Chief Operating Officer

Grand Forks, N.D. – Altru Health System announced today that Heather Strandell has been selected to serve as the organization’s chief operating officer (COO), effective September 7. In this role, Heather will have executive oversight over inpatient and outpatient operations.  

“We are thrilled to have Heather join our executive team and continue the excellent leadership she’s provided to Altru for over 22 years,” shared Todd Forkel, CEO of Altru. “Heather is incredibly skilled in process improvement and focused on patient-centered care. Combined with her depth of knowledge about the healthcare industry and organizational expertise, she is well-positioned to lead our operations and continue the pursuit of Altru’s vision and fulfillment of our mission.”  

Heather brings 30 years of healthcare experience into this role, including oversight of a broad range of functional areas, such as primary and specialty care operations, care management, performance improvement and beyond. She has worked in leadership at Altru since 2004, most recently as senior director of clinic operations, quality and patient safety. Prior to joining Altru, she served as the executive director of the North Region Health Alliance.  

Heather earned a Bachelor of Accountancy from the University of North Dakota and also holds a lean certification from Villanova University. Outside of work, Heather is deeply involved in the community.  She has served on the boards of Community Violence Intervention Center, Sharon Lutheran Church, MN/ND Alzheimer’s Association, and was actively involved with school volunteering. Heather and her husband Jon have two sons, Sam and Leo.  

“I am incredibly excited and deeply honored to step into the role of chief operating officer,” expressed Heather Strandell. “Altru has been my professional home for many years, and I am continually inspired by our mission, and most importantly, the wonderful people who care for our patients and communities every day.  As COO, I look forward to leading across both our inpatient and outpatient settings to help ensure a seamless, high-quality experience for every patient we serve. I remain dedicated to supporting our teams, advancing our strategic vision, and building on the strong foundation that makes Altru so special.”