Emplify Health by Gundersen Hillsboro Area Welcomes Young as New Administrator

Emplify Health by Gundersen Hillsboro Area Welcomes Young as New Administrator

Growing up on a Wisconsin dairy goat farm gave Hannah Young a strong work ethic, resilience and an understanding of the importance of community. And when she began her healthcare leadership journey over a decade ago, Hannah's personal values connected quickly with her passion for rural healthcare and the direct impact it has on communities.

"I'm drawn to work where there is a direct impact on the community," Hannah reflects. "In a rural community, access to care is something that's not abstract. It's something that's personal. I love ensuring patients and families receive high-quality care close to home."

Hannah brings extensive experience and a proven track record of success to her new role as administrator for Emplify Health by Gundersen Hillsboro Area. Hannah officially joins the organization May 11.

"I love to lead by building relationships. That means listening first, understanding challenges and working alongside the team to find solutions. The people closest to the work often have the best solutions," Hannah shares. "And patient relationships must be at the center of everything we do. This focus helps to guide decisions, strengthen culture and ultimately leads to better outcomes for both patients and staff."

Since 2021, Hannah has served as director of clinics at Prairie Ridge Health in Columbus, Wisconsin. Along with overseeing consistent service line growth, employee engagement was also strong. Prairie Ridge Health earned the Guardian of Excellence Award for Provider Engagement from Press Ganey multiple times, with provider engagement reaching the 93rd percentile in 2025. Employee engagement also reached the 94th percentile.

"Hannah is a dynamic leader with a strong commitment to rural healthcare excellence. Hannah has exceptional operational expertise, a collaborative leadership style and a proven track record of expanding access to care in rural communities," shares Kraig Schuster, Emplify Health by Gundersen vice president of community care.

Expanding access to care

While at Prairie Ridge Health, Hannah led the successful expansion of critical services in her community, including the development of a comprehensive outpatient psychiatry program. She onboarded two psychiatric providers and three licensed clinical social workers, with plans to add two additional psychiatric providers. She also led the significant expansion of the organization's OB program, ensuring more patients could receive maternity care close to home. Additionally, Hannah helped add specialty service lines including podiatry, dermatology, allergy and immunology, and rheumatology-bringing essential services to patients who previously had to travel for care.

Hannah has been instrumental in the operational planning and opening of multiple new facilities, including the Marshall (WI) Clinic (2017), Prairie Ridge Health Primary Care expansions (2020 and 2023), Beaver Dam (WI) Clinic relocation (2022), Psychiatry Clinic (2022), and a 23,000-square-foot clinic in Sun Prairie (WI) (2024). Hannah's expertise spans architectural design processes, construction oversight, staffing, electronic health record implementation and equipment integration.

Commitment to education and community

Hannah is also deeply committed to workforce development and education. She served as site coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Rural Clinical Training for Advanced Practice Providers and has led the internal development and implementation of fellow, resident and medical student rotation programs. Hannah actively participates in multiple organizational committees including quality improvement, revenue cycle, antimicrobial stewardship and behavioral health initiatives.

Hannah also contributes to the broader healthcare community through her involvement with the Rural Family Medicine OB Fellowship Advisory Board (2023-present) and previously served on workgroups for the Wisconsin Council on Medical Education & Workforce (2018-2024), where she helped address challenges in placing students at clinical training sites across Wisconsin.

Hannah earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2012, a Master of Healthcare Administration with a specialization in Human Resource Management from Colorado State University-Global in 2019 and completed the WHA Healthcare Leadership Academy Certificate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Professional & Executive Development in 2023. Hannah is also a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).