2011 Report to the Community - Allina Health

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UNITED HOSPITAL FOUNDATION |
Daniel Foley, MD
Daniel Foley, MD, Leaves a Legacy at United
daniel foley, Md, united hospital’s vice president for medical affairs, retired in
february 2012 and ended a distinguished career with united.
for nearly 30 years, dr. foley has been instrumental in guiding united’s
development as a premiere specialty hospital. With his leadership and patientfocused
approach, united has developed key programs including the nasseff
neuroscience Center, nasseff heart Center, and the new peter J. King emergency
Care Center.
“dan has been a mainstay of clinical leadership at united and allina for years,”
said penny Wheeler, Md, chief clinical officer for allina hospitals & Clinics. “his
incredible knowledge base, sense of organizational history, and commitment to the
best supports for caregivers and optimal care for patients are not easily replaced.
he will be missed.”
as a physician, dr. foley is board-certified in emergency medicine, family practice,
and medical toxicology. dr. foley served as united’s medical director of emergency
medicine from 1984 to 1988. later, while he served as an administrator, he also
chose to work as an emergency department physician at united every Wednesday
and one saturday a month. in 1998, the united hospital foundation honored dr.
foley with the service to humanity award.
dr. foley received his undergraduate degree from Creighton university in omaha
and his medical degree from the university of parma in italy. he completed
residencies in anatomic and clinical pathology at united hospital’s Miller division,
in cardiovascular pathology at united’s Jesse e. edwards Registry of Cardiovascular
diseases, and in family practice at north Memorial Medical Center.
fluent in italian, dr. foley has maintained connections to italy and its health care
system. throughout the years he consulted with italian officials on health care and
taught emergency medicine in italy.
dr. foley also dedicated himself to community service. since 1985, he has served
on the Citizens’ Board of the Minnesota pollution Control agency. the nine
board members are appointed by the Minnesota governor and regulate Minnesota’s
environment. dr. foley has served as chair and vice-chair of the board and
currently heads the environmental Review Committee. as a physician, he has
provided scientific leadership to interpret how issues before the board affect public
health and has helped others understand technical information.
another aspect of dr. foley’s community involvement is his service with the
Minnesota army national Guard. from 1977 to 1992, he served as a flight
surgeon. in 1982, the u.s. army national Guard awarded him the Valley
forge Cross for valor. dr. foley had subdued a gunman who fired into a st. paul
restaurant where he was eating lunch with colleagues and family members.
“dan’s leadership has made a crucial difference in achieving the medical
excellence we have at united today,” said duke adamski, president of united
hospital foundation. “he will be deeply missed by so many of us.”