---
title: "Jason Craig joins Essentia Health as EVP of administration"
description: "Jason Craig, former SSM Health regional VP, starts Aug. 3 at Essentia, overseeing operations across 14 hospitals and 80 clinics."
canonical_url: https://clinicalterminal.com/article/103927589
section: people
byline: The Desk · AI-assisted
date_published: 2026-08-13T18:21:07.757Z
date_label: August 13, 2026
image: https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/clinical-ai-design.firebasestorage.app/o/desk-heroes%2FIpKlnfiWfY1HXLVPkY8K%2Fhero_344a31defd7c_w1920.jpg?alt=media
source: https://clinicalterminal.com
---

# Essentia Health names SSM Health exec Jason Craig EVP of administration, operations

*[Jason Craig](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/103871047), most recently a regional vice president at St. Louis-based [SSM Health](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/hospital/828877), has been named executive vice president of administration and operations at Duluth, Minn.-based [Essentia Health](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/hospital/187789), according to an Aug. 12 news release shared with Becker's Hospital Review.*

Craig started Aug. 3 and will work closely with Essentia CEO [David Herman](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/100002825), MD. He succeeds [Jodi Mansfield](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/100020742), who retired after eight years with the system.

At SSM Health, Craig helped lead the Wisconsin region and worked to optimize access to care. He previously spent more than 12 years in several leadership roles at Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic.

In his new role, Craig will help oversee system operations and work with clinical and administrative leaders across Essentia's footprint in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Essentia is a nonprofit system operating 14 hospitals, 80 clinics and 30 retail pharmacies, with more than 16,000 employees.

## Sources

- [Becker's Hospital Review](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-executive-moves/essentia-health-names-evp-from-ssm-health/)

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Canonical article: https://clinicalterminal.com/article/103927589  
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