Jason Caron has officially stepped into the role of president and CEO of Sanford Bemidji, marking a new chapter in his long-standing affiliation with the healthcare institution. This transition follows the announcement in July 2025 of former president Karla Eischens’ retirement at the end of the year. Caron began his tenure in January, bringing with him extensive experience in orthopedics and a deep commitment to community health.
Leadership Transition and Vision
Caron’s six-month transition period proved invaluable as he prepared for his new responsibilities. Having joined Sanford in 2008, he has held various leadership roles, including orthopedic department chair and chair of the Sanford Health of Northern Minnesota Board of Directors. His efforts were recognized in 2023 when he was named Sanford Health’s Clinician Leader of the Year.
Reflecting on his predecessor’s impact, Caron stated, “Observing [Eischens] over the years… her commitment to the community and her commitment to patients were her guiding lights.” He noted that her mentorship was instrumental during his transition, helping him to refine his vision for Sanford Bemidji.
“It was a combination of working with Karla to gauge my interest in the presidency, but also other folks in the enterprise who saw those leadership qualities and felt like I would be an appropriate person for that,” he explained.
A Journey Rooted in Community and Service
Caron’s journey back to Bemidji has been shaped by his strong ties to the community and a passion for healthcare. A native of Bemidji, he attended Concordia College, where his interest in biological sciences blossomed. Caron described his experience in an advanced biology class as pivotal, stating, “Once I got to Concordia, I gravitated toward those courses — microbiology and the like — which I think are natural lead-ins to medicine.”
His path eventually led him to the University of Minnesota for medical school and residency. Although initially uncertain about returning to Bemidji, the opportunity to raise his family in the area, along with a recruitment effort by Sanford for an orthopedic surgeon, made the decision clear. “It was a call back home,” he remarked.
Caron’s commitment to healthcare extends beyond his local responsibilities. Since 2006, he has participated in mission trips to Peru with the organization Scalpel at the Cross, which provides essential medical and surgical care to underserved populations. These trips have not only allowed him to serve those in need but have also fostered connections with fellow orthopedic specialists, some of whom have joined Sanford Bemidji.
Now, with Caron at the helm, Mitchell Wyffels has stepped into the role of orthopedic department chair. Caron highlighted the significance of this transition, noting, “Dr. Wyffels is a great leader in his own right.”
As he embarks on this new chapter, Caron expressed enthusiasm for leading a team dedicated to advancing the goals and strategies set forth by the Sanford Health board. “I lead a team of incredible leaders to further the goals and strategy of the board at Sanford Health in northern Minnesota, to improve health care and the health of our community,” he concluded.
