Pawlenty picks new health commissioner

09/27/2007

Associated Press | September 27, 2007


Minnesota's next top health official will be Dr. Sanne Magnan, the head of an organization that aims to improve the quality of health care.

Magnan is president of the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement, a Bloomington-based group that aims to better medical care by fostering collaboration between health care providers and insurers in Minnesota and surrounding states.

She is also a licensed surgeon.

She will replace Dianne Mandernach, who left the department last week after coming under a firestorm of criticism for delaying the release of data about a rare cancer among Iron Range miners.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced the appointment on Thursday, praising Magnan's experience and potential to push for changes in the health care system.