Bill Gassen

As president and chief executive officer, Bill Gassen is leading efforts to tackle some of medicine’s most challenging issues, including the state of global health, breast cancer, pediatric rare diseases and type 1 diabetes. At the same time, the organization is also advancing health care through its innovative integration of genomics into primary care, the creation of an expansive biobank and the exploration of the healing powers of immunotherapy and adipose stem cells.

Gassen began his career at Sanford Health in 2012 as corporate counsel and transitioned to the human resources department two years later as vice president of human resource integration and eventually became the chief human resources officer. In 2019, he was promoted to chief administrative officer with oversight of human resources, technology solutions, legal, facilities, business development and the Sanford Sports Complex.

Prior to joining Sanford Health, Gassen spent several years in private legal practice. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a law degree, both from the University of South Dakota.

Gassen and his wife, Jill, have five children.