Essentia Health is has announced Dr. Stefanie Gefroh as its new West Market president. Dr. Gefroh has served in this role on an interim basis since August 2024.

“I appreciate Dr. Gefroh’s many valuable contributions during this time, demonstrating her abilities in strategic thinking, management and coaching of colleagues,” said Essentia CEO Dr. David Herman. “Through her thoughtful, considerate approach, she has made great progress with relationship building across the West Market and within the leadership team, which has shown positive results for our patients and colleagues.”

Dr. Gefroh has held many leadership positions since joining Essentia more than 20 years ago, including associate chief medical officer, inpatient division chair and women’s and children’s division chair. In addition to her leadership roles, she has continued to see OB/GYN patients in the clinic setting and provide surgical care at Essentia Health-Fargo.

Throughout her career, Dr. Gefroh has worked diligently to enhance care at Essentia. She helped expand women’s services to include comprehensive fertility, maternal-fetal medicine and urogynecology programs as well as the opening of a remodeled state-of-the-art neonatal intensive care unit and birthing center. She has strengthened Essentia’s heart and vascular service line through focused recruitment efforts for cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, and led efforts to maximize efficiencies and access across our West Market. As Essentia’s inpatient services physician leader, Dr. Gefroh played a critical role in Essentia Health-Fargo’s recognition as a five-star hospital by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

“I am grateful and excited for the opportunity to continue serving as West Market president,” said Dr. Gefroh. “Improving the health and well-being of the community where I grew up is especially meaningful to me. I am incredibly proud to lead an organization that is firmly grounded in its values and strives to provide the highest quality of care for all. I am ready to face the joys and challenges ahead with passion, dedication and a deep commitment to our mission.”

A native of Fargo, Dr. Gefroh received her medical degree from the University of North Dakota and completed her OB/GYN residency at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn, Michigan. She is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Gefroh also holds a master’s degree in business administration from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.