Aspirus Health Announces Retirement of Lori Knitt, Vice President of Patient Care – North Division

WOODRUFF, Wis. – Aspirus Health announced today the retirement of Lori Knitt, RN, MS, FACHE, Vice President of Patient Care for the Aspirus North Division and Chief Nursing Officer. Knitt concludes more than 38 years of distinguished service in health care as a clinician and leader.

Knitt joined Aspirus in April 2022 as North Division Chief Nursing Officer, bringing extensive experience in nursing leadership, operations, and quality from her previous role at Advocate Aurora Health in southeast Wisconsin. Since joining Aspirus, she has been a key member of the North Division Leadership Team, known for her collaborative leadership style and strong commitment to patient-centered care.

During her tenure, Knitt played a vital role in strengthening nursing leadership across the division and advancing initiatives that improved quality, safety, and access to care close to home. Her accomplishments include building a collaborative divisional nursing leadership team, championing enhancements to new employee orientation, serving as the system leader of the Readmission Team, and fostering a culture of “yes” to support keeping patients in their home communities whenever possible.

Knitt was also instrumental in improving quality and safety outcomes through strong internal and external partnerships, including supporting Stroke and Trauma certifications across the North Division. Under her leadership, teams advanced patient experience and care standards, contributing to recognition such as Howard Young Medical Center’s CMS 5-Star rating for patient experience.

A passionate advocate for staff engagement, Knitt created the popular “Refuel” employee event, bringing in a speaker for connection and renewal. She was deeply committed to building meaningful relationships with staff and community partners throughout the region.

Knitt has deep roots in the Northwoods. Her family has owned and operated Knitt Hardware stores in St. Germain since 1973. A proud Plum Ski-ter, she met her husband, Dan, while showcasing their waterskiing skills. In retirement, Knitt looks forward to spending more time with family, traveling, and enjoying summer and winter sports.

“Lori’s leadership, compassion, and dedication have left a lasting impact on our patients, our teams, and the communities we serve,” said Teri Theiler, President, Aspirus Health’s North Division. “We are grateful for her years of service and wish Lori and Dan continued health and happiness in this next chapter.”

Aspirus Health remains committed to maintaining stability, strong leadership, and high-quality patient care across the North Division during this transition.