News Release
Nov. 28, 2011
Contact: Daryl Thuringer
Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations
(605) 322-4733 – (605) 261-9098 (Cell)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Jacobs Named Chief Medical Officer of Avera Medical Group
Tad Jacobs, DO, has accepted the position of chief medical officer of Avera Medical Group. He
will begin his new responsibilities on Jan. 3, 2012. Fred Slunecka, Avera chief operating officer,
made the announcement.
Currently, Dr. Jacobs is chief medical information officer for Avera and has been instrumental in
the implementation of AveraChart, the system’s electronic medical record. Until recently, he
practiced as a primary care physician in Flandreau, S.D., and in 1995 was one of the first physicians
to join the Avera primary care network (now Avera Medical Group). He is a tenacious adopter of
technologies to advance patient safety and clinical quality, and he brings a strong, collaborative
physician voice to health care issues.
In the new role, Dr. Jacobs will partner in leading Avera Medical Group with Dave Flicek, chief
administrative officer, optimizing the group’s leadership strategy through the physicianadministrator pairing. He also will serve on the Avera President’s Advisory Council and other
senior leadership committees.
“Avera Medical Group is delighted to have a physician and colleague like Dr. Jacobs assume this
important strategic role alongside Dave Flicek,” said Slunecka. “As we steer the course of health
care reform and continuous quality improvement, we are confident that this innovative partner
leadership will be a great benefit to the system and to those whom we serve.”
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Avera CMO - Page 2
Dr. Jacobs will continue in his role as Avera’s chief medical information officer until a replacement
is hired. He is a graduate of Des Moines University – College of Osteopathic Medicine, Iowa. He
completed a family medicine residency at Parkview Osteopathic Hospital, Toledo, Ohio, and is
board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Medicine.
“I am honored to embark on this new leadership opportunity,” said Dr. Jacobs. “I can think of
nothing more rewarding than bringing my years of clinical experience and understanding of health
care information technology to the table to facilitate the future of health care delivery at Avera. I
look forward to serving my physician colleagues and the region in this new role.”
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About Avera Medical Group
Avera Medical Group is entering its fourth year more than 550 physicians and allied health professionals strong. Avera
Medical Group provides high-quality care at more than 130 locations in more than 60 communities in a five-state area,
keeping health care close to those who need it. Avera Medical Group creates value for the region as a one-stop shop for
health care with:
 Ease of referral to specialists in more than 60 specialty areas from Allergy to Women’s Care
 Care right where you live from clinics throughout the region
 Advanced technology and best-practice care
 The benefits of AveraChart, Avera’s electronic medical record