Executive Team
Heath Bartness, Chief Executive Officer
Education:
B.A. Political Science/Public Administration, Buena Vista University
M.B.A. Healthcare Administration, Des Moines University of Osteopathic Medicine Career
Heath has acted in a leadership capacity at St. Croix Hospice since the inception of the organization in 2008 and brings extensive healthcare and business management experience to the hospice industry. Heath served with the State of Iowa Legislature as the Senate Committee Secretary of the Business and Labor Committee, and subsequently, joined Care Initiatives, the largest non-profit owner of nursing homes in Iowa. During his time at Care Initiatives, Heath served as Administrator of their licensed nursing home in Ottumwa, IA; and following this experience, Heath became the Administrator of Arbor Springs, a for-profit entity located in West Des Moines, IA. Under his leadership, Arbor Springs earned the Governor’s Award for Quality Healthcare and enjoyed an occupancy rate of 98%.
It was during his tenure as a nursing home administrator that Heath realized the value of hospice care and sought to forge strong relationships between home hospice and facility settings where residential care is provided. This vision of hospice would complement care plans that nursing homes, assisted living, and other housing options were already formulating, thus leading to the start of what is now St. Croix Hospice.
Heath enjoys spending his free time golfing, fishing, and spending time with his wife, Dana, and three children, Lydia, Harrison, and Henry.
Gary Corbin, Chief Compliance Officer
Education:
B.A. Nursing, Accounting, Business, Troy State University
M.B.A, Troy State University
J.D. Birmingham School of Law
Gary is a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse, and Certified Hospice Administrator. He brings over 20 years of hospice and healthcare experience to the industry and has served as an independent consultant, as well as held various executive leadership positions. Gary led 3 of the largest home health and hospice agencies in the nation where his roles included: Executive Officer, Regulatory Compliance Director, and Chief Officer. Gary was instrumental in building teams for success in the industry and mentored some of the industry’s leading operators and regulatory surveyors. In addition to his healthcare background, Gary is also a Veteran of the United States Army where he proudly served as an Airborne Ranger as part of the Rapid Deployment Force for the Middle East. Injuries sustained in the line of duty shortened his military career and he was Honorably Retired in 2001. Gary has also served as a Flight Nurse, Paramedic, and Certified Firefighter prior to his extensive experience in the healthcare industry.
Brian Wegener, Chief Financial Officer
Education:
B.A. Accounting, Buena Vista University
Brian began his career with Schnurr and Company, LLP, a public accounting firm, and subsequently worked in the healthcare industry since 1998. His career in healthcare began as the CFO for Trinity Health Systems in Fort Dodge, IA and during his tenure was responsible for various financial functions within the health system, including construction projects and administration of a production based physician compensation plan. Following this Brian joined St. Croix Hospice as its CFO. He is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, Iowa Society Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Dr. Andrew Mayo, Chief Medical Officer
Education:
B.A. Biology, St. Olaf College
M.D., University of Minnesota Medical School
Family Practice Board Certification, University of Minnesota Bethesda Family Practice Residency
Dr. Mayo is a Board Certified Family Physician. He is a University of Minnesota Medical School graduate, and completed his Family Medicine Residency through the University of Minnesota Bethesda Program. Driven by his passion for education, for several years, Dr. Mayo acted as preceptor through United Family Practice, hosting and instructing family practice residents in a rural setting. Along with his Family Practice Clinic at River Valley Medical Center in WI from 1997 to his recent departure, Dr. Mayo acted as Physician Coordinator for St. Croix Regional Medical Center. Dr. Mayo is currently President of Polk County Medical Society.