Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital and Froedtert West Bend Hospital Leadership

Mike DeGere, DPM, MBA, FACHE

Chief Medical Officer, Community Hospital Division

Mike DeGere, DPM, MBA, FACHE, joined Froedtert Holy Family Memorial Hospital in May 2021 as vice president and chief medical officer. In July 2023, he was promoted to serve as the chief medical officer for Froedtert Health’s Community Hospital Division, which includes Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital and Froedtert West Bend Hospital.

In his clinical career after residency training, Dr. DeGere achieved board certification in both Foot Surgery and Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. In 2014, he transitioned from clinical practice to full-time executive leadership. Before joining Froedtert Health, he served as regional vice president, Population Health for SSM Health in Madison. In that role, he was the operational executive lead for population health transformation and care delivery model implementation for SSM Health’s Wisconsin Region.

Dr. DeGere received his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, his Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management, and his Bachelor of Science – Bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He is board certified in Healthcare Management and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Allen Ericson

President, Community Hospital Division; and President, Froedtert West Bend Hospital

Allen Ericson is the president of the Community Hospital Division and president of Froedtert West Bend Hospital. Ericson leads Froedtert West Bend Hospital and oversees the strategic direction and daily operations of the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Community Hospital Division, which includes Froedtert West Bend Hospital and Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital.

Ericson has more than 26 years of health care leadership experience in numerous settings. He was previously the senior vice president and chief operating officer of Catholic Medical Center, Manchester, N.H. Catholic Medical Center is a 330-bed facility in the largest city in New Hampshire.

Prior to Catholic Medical Center he was chief operating officer of Memorial Hospital of Salem County, N.J., part of the for-profit health system of Community Health Systems. Ericson has a master’s of business administration from Widener University in Chester, Penn., and his bachelor’s in economics from Rutgers University, Camden, N.J. He is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and a veteran of the United States Air Force, Medical Service Corps.

Teresa M. Lux

President, Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital; and Chief Operating Officer, Community Hospital Division

Teresa M. Lux (Teri) serves as president of Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital and chief operating officer of the leadership team for the two community hospitals within Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin network, Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital and Froedtert West Bend Hospital, as well as the Emergency Department at Moorland Reserve Health Center in New Berlin. She has responsibility in leading all areas of hospital operations and management. This includes establishing strategic direction; ensuring the presence of safe, quality patient care; applying sound, evidence-based processes that contribute to successful patient outcomes; engaging staff, leaders and physicians; and strengthening partnerships within the communities served by Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital.

Teri began her career at Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital as an acute care nurse practitioner in 1999. She has held various positions within the clinical and support areas; from direct patient care to leadership her contributions have been plentiful. Most recently, Teri has held the role of vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer for both Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital and Froedtert West Bend Hospital since 2008. Prior to joining the Froedtert Health team, Teri held nursing positions at Evanston Hospital in Evanston, Illinois and Rush St. Luke’s Presbyterian Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Teri earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of Alabama and her Master of Science in nursing from Rush University.

Shelly Waala

Vice President, Patient Care Services, Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital and Froedtert West Bend Hospital

Shelly Waala serves as vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer for both community hospitals, Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital and Froedtert West Bend Hospital. She is responsible for leading the operational, fiscal and human resource outcomes for the Patient Care Division. This includes establishing strategic direction; ensuring the presence of safe, quality patient care; and applying sound, evidence-based processes that contribute to successful patient outcomes.

Beginning her career at Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital in 1988 as a nurse intern, Shelly also filled nursing roles outside of the health network early in her nursing career. After relocating back to the area, she rejoined Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital in 1990 as registered nurse. Joining leadership in 1992 as an administrative supervisor, Shelly also went on to fill leadership roles including director of Nursing Administration for Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital, nurse executive of Froedtert West Bend Hospital, and her previous role as executive director of Patient Care Services for the Community Hospital Division.

Shelly earned a master’s degree in health care administration the University of St. Francis and Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at Marian College.

Kara Waggoner

Vice President, Business Operations, Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital and Froedtert West Bend Hospital

Kara Waggoner serves as vice president of Business Operations for Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital and Froedtert West Bend Hospital. Areas of responsibility include system functions, finances and operations, leading strategic special projects, strengthening relationships with leaders and physicians, and generating revenue growth for Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital and Froedtert West Bend Hospital. She oversees departments including Food and Nutrition Services, Clinical Dietetics, Environmental Services, Security, Environmental Safety and Emergency Management and the Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program.

Joining the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network originally in 2009, Waggoner brings more than 10 years of relevant experience to the organization. She earned her master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of Iowa and her Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.

Waggoner serves as a board member of the Tri County YMCA and LindenGrove Communities, as well as secretary of Froedtert Health’s Women in Leadership Business Resource Group. Beginning her career at Froedtert Hospital, Waggoner served as manager of Clinical Cancer Center Revenue Cycle, manager of Ambulatory Specialty Clinics and administrative fellow. She led revenue cycle management for Brookdale Senior Living for several years before returning to Froedtert Health. Most recently, Waggoner was responsible for operations at FMFH and FWBH including budgets, capacity management, Action OI, care coordination and supporting integration efforts with Holy Family Memorial.