Froedtert, ThedaCare plan to merge

Froedtert Health and ThedaCare are planning to merge.

The two health systems said Tuesday that they have signed a letter of intent to start the process to join together. They hope to launch the combined system by the end of the calendar year.

“We are eager to start exploring how we can build a healthier, brighter future for Wisconsin,” ThedaCare CEO Dr. Imran Andrabi said in a statement.

“Our combined organization will be poised to meaningfully address health equity and disparities, enhance access to a broader array of services and make it easier for patients to navigate the healthcare system,” Froedtert CEO Cathy Jacobson said in a statement.

Jacobson said the Medical College of Wisconsin will remain an “important partner in our work together.”

The merged organization will be overseen by an 18-member board composed of representatives from both groups.

Following the launch of the combined system, Jacobson will serve as CEO for six months until she retires.

Andrabi will serve as president and will assume the role of president and CEO once Jacobson retires.

Last fall, the two health systems said they were building new hospitals in Fond du Lac and Oshkosh together. They also inked a partnership to boost access to specialty care in northeast and central Wisconsin.

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