Mayo Clinic Health System has named Annie Sadosty regional vice president for Mayo Clinic Health System in southeast Minnesota.

Sadosty, who serves as chairwoman of emergency medicine, will be the physician leader for Mayo Clinic’s community practice in southeast Minnesota, which covers hospitals and clinics in Albert Lea, Austin, Cannon Falls, Faribault, Lake City, Owatonna, Red Wing and surrounding communities.

The announcement, made Wednesday, came one week after the hospital announced it would transition most of its inpatient services in Albert Lea to its Austin campus.

Sadosty succeeds David Agerter, who served in the role for six years and has been named to the newly-created role of director of academic strategy and development for Mayo Clinic Health System, where he will try to strengthen medical education, residency opportunities and research at Mayo-owned hospitals and clinics across the Midwest, according to a press release.

During a telephone conference Thursday, Mayo Clinic Vice President Bobbie Gostout spoke highly of Sadosty, saying she was a leader and has became intimately familiar with emergency practice and the needs of communities.

“This is a great and exciting moment for us,” she said.

Gostout said officials will brief Sadosty on the transition plan for the Albert Lea and Austin hospitals that has been established in the last 18 months so the hospital can stay true to its vision. She said she was not surprised Mayo Clinic Health System’s decision to transition most inpatient services was met with controversy in Albert Lea, adding the hospital is committed to remaining an outstanding presence in Austin and Albert Lea.

Gostout said she plans to attend a Freeborn County Board of Commissioners meeting next month after the board approved submitting a letter to the hospital earlier this week discussing their concerns with Mayo Clinic Health System’s decision and requesting hospital officials come before the board either July 11 or July 18 to discuss the plan. Sadosty is not expected to attend the meeting.

Sadosty said she believes in being honest, having integrity and being transparent. She acknowledged certain sensitive strategic matters might limit the amount of information she can release.

Gostout discussed a shortage of doctors the hospital has and the effort Mayo is making to bring health care professionals to local communities.

Sadosty said she is honored and excited to be in the position, and she looks forward to strengthening the hospital’s presence and the way it delivers care to communities it serves.

“Our patients value the convenient, high-quality care we provide, and it will be our ongoing mission to build a sustainable system that keeps care available to present and future generations,” she said in a press release.

Sadosty will work with Agerter in coming months as the transition unfolds.

Sadosty, who joined Mayo Clinic in 1999,  oversees emergency medicine staff and 21 emergency departments that serve more than 300,000 patients annually across the Midwest.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Sadosty to this role,” said John Noseworthy, president and CEO of Mayo Clinic, in a press release. “I am confident she will continue to build and strengthen Mayo Clinic’s presence within southeast Minnesota and enhance Mayo’s delivery of outstanding care to patients and communities across the region.”

Gostout will work closely with Sadosty in her new role, according to the press release.

“Dr. Sadosty has been an outstanding leader in Mayo Clinic’s Rochester and Midwest practices, and we are delighted that she will be bringing her skills and experience to Mayo Clinic Health System as she takes on this regional vice president role,” Gostout said. “Throughout the search process, we were all impressed with her understanding of today’s challenging health care environment, particularly as it impacts community care, and her clear vision for keeping our southeast Minnesota system of care strong and viable for the future.”

Mark Koch, chairman of administration for Mayo Clinic Health System, said in the release that the hospital has benefited from Sadosty’s deep connections and leadership through the Community Division of Emergency Medicine.

“Dr. Sadosty has built a top emergency medicine residency program and a fellowship program for nurse practitioners and physician assistants, and successfully recruited several emergency medicine specialists to Mayo Clinic Health System, helping us to keep excellent emergency room care close to home for our patients,” Koch said. “In addition, Dr. Sadosty actually works occasional shifts in our Austin emergency room, so she is keenly aware of the challenges and the rewards of practicing in the community setting.”