Dr. Jared Friedman Named Chief Medical Officer for Avera McKennan 

Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center is pleased to announce that Jared Friedman, MD, will be the new chief medical officer (CMO) for the Avera McKennan region starting March 2.

“Dr. Friedman’s collaborative and personable nature as well as his thorough clinical knowledge make him well-suited for the CMO role. With demonstrated leadership skills, he has often served as a mentor to his colleagues, and he has been instrumental in offering compassionate care in a high-stress environment like the emergency department,” said Ron Place, MD, Avera McKennan Regional President and CEO.

The CMO has primary responsibility for developing and strengthening physician and clinic relationships throughout the Avera McKennan region. This position represents the physician perspective and serves as a physician advocate promoting effective physician and health system relationships and clinical quality improvements. As CMO, Friedman will be a member of the administrative team and will partner with senior leadership to implement strategies across the region while helping to promote positive clinical outcomes and cost-effective care.

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to take on this new role and collaborate with my colleagues in a different way than I have in the past,” said Friedman. “We have an excellent medical group across our region of Avera, and I am proud to be a part of this team. I feel extremely fortunate to be able to continue the incredible quality and mission-driven care we have because of our founders, the Benedictine and Presentation Sisters.”

He received his medical degree from the University of South Dakota and completed his residency at HealthPartners Institute/Regions Hospital Emergency Medicine in St. Paul, MN.

Friedman joined Avera McKennan as an emergency medicine physician in 2005.

He succeeds Michael Elliott, MD, who served as Chief Medical Officer for Avera McKennan since 2011.