Avera announces leadership move
May 3, 2022
Avera Health has named David Flicek its new chief operating officer.
Flicek currently serves as president and CEO of Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center. In addition, he is chief administrative officer for Avera Medical Group — a role he plans to continue as COO.
“Avera’s health ministry has seen significant growth in recent years. Under David’s leadership, Avera has added a new specialty hospital, expanded our behavioral health services, added two family health centers with free-standing emergency departments, extended our Avera Cancer Institute into our regions and replaced several critical access hospitals for our rural communities,” Bob Sutton, Avera Health president and CEO, said in a statement.
“This growth is only the beginning – and as it continues, the need for an executive leader for our operational areas became abundantly clear. This position will be key in helping to ensure alignment and cohesion with Avera’s overall strategy and driving operational results. David’s commitment to serving our communities is a testament to his leadership and will continue to benefit our health ministry.”
Avera has not had a COO since Fred Slunecka retired in 2018.
The duties of the role have been adjusted since then, and Flicek will lead all of Avera’s integrated operations of clinics, hospitals and long-term care centers as well as Avera@Home.
There will be a search opening in the near future for the leadership position at Avera McKennan, the system said.
In 2017, Flicek was named the 15th top administrator in the 110-year history of Avera McKennan, Avera’s 545-bed flagship tertiary hospital in Sioux Falls, as well as Avera McKennan sites that include the Avera on Louise Health Campus, Avera Specialty Hospital, Avera Behavioral Health Hospital, Avera Human Performance Center, sports and fitness facilities, Avera Prince of Peace Retirement Community, Avera Research and more. He also helped to develop the Avera Academy and is a founding member of The Link triage center.
His tenure has included leading Avera McKennan through growth and challenges, including the September 2019 tornado that caused significant damage at facilities and the COVID-19 pandemic. He also led the opening of the Avera on Louise Health Campus, expanded behavioral health and cancer services and achieved quality improvements. Avera McKennan is a 5-Star hospital as named by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and is among the 100 Top Hospitals in the nation as named by IBM Watson Health.
Since 1995, Flicek has been instrumental in the development and expansion of various partnerships with clinic groups and city, county and community hospitals. Under his leadership of Avera Medical Group since 2008, it has grown from seven employed physicians and advanced practice providers to over 1,200 who practice in more than 60 specialties. Clinic locations have expanded from two locations to more than 200 in five states.
He has been with Avera for 27 years, earlier as senior vice president of clinic operations at Avera McKennan, and before that worked at Allina Health in the Twin Cities. He is a native of Sioux Falls and a graduate of O’Gorman High School and the University of South Dakota.
“David is extremely qualified for this role with 35 years of experience. The integration he has facilitated between physician groups and hospital functions of the health system is phenomenal, and his appointment to this role will strengthen these ties and further streamline care for optimal efficiency and the best possible patient experience,” Sutton said.
Flicek will assume his new duties in October and will work during the coming months to ensure a smooth transition, Avera said.
Flicek’s community and professional involvement includes serving on boards for The Link, Alucent Biomedical and the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra. He is a member of the Sioux Falls Leadership Council and the Forward Sioux Falls joint venture management committee. He previously has served on the board of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce and co-chaired the most recent Forward Sioux Falls campaign.
“Avera has always been an organization with a strong mission and culture that matches my values. I am proud to have spent 27 years here and to now serve Avera in this expanded role. My priorities will include advancing our mission, clinical excellence, physician and employee engagement, patient satisfaction and operational improvement,” Flicek said. “Avera is such a mission-focused and innovative system that I would encourage anyone looking to be part of something larger than themselves to consider joining our team.”
