MARQUETTE — The Superior Health Foundation welcomed two new board directors at its meeting in early January.

Fredi de Yampert and David Jahn joined the now 14-person board of directors. De Yampert will represent Houghton, Keweenaw and Baraga Counties, while Jahn will represent Chippewa, Luce and Mackinac Counties.

De Yampert currently serves as the vice president of academic affairs and dean of the college of health sciences at Finlandia University. She acts as the chief academic officer for two colleges and two schools within the university. Earlier in her career at Finlandia, de Yampert worked as chair of the nursing department and was a program chair and professor in the department of nursing. Prior to coming to Finlandia, among a number of other nursing roles, she worked as a clinical instructor at Suomi College.

De Yampert earned a PhD in Education from Capella University in Minneapolis, MN., with a major in leadership for higher education. She owns master of science degree in nursing and nursing education from Saint Joseph’s College in Standish, Maine, and a bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Texas at El Paso.

“I strongly believe healthcare in the Upper Peninsula is a vital part of our lives. Our location alone presents numerous challenges such as availability of certain specialized services, healthcare programming and transportation to and from these services,” de Yampert said. “Being a nurse and an educator, I understand these challenges. Working with the SHF provides a way to assist in identifying and addressing community healthcare needs and to help bring programs to local communities. I look forward to being a part of the great work of the Foundation.”

Away from work, de Yampert enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and traveling.

Jahn, a native of the Upper Peninsula, worked for more than 40 years in healthcare. He served as president and chief executive officer at War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie for 17 years until retiring this past summer. Under his leadership, War Memorial Hospital successfully underwent a $8 million radiology addition, added a new 30,000 square foot rehab department, built a 40,000 square foot medical office building and constructed a 20-bed inpatient psychiatric facility. He helped improve its financial performance from a $1 million loss in the first year to a consistent $1 million profit for the last six years of his tenure.

Prior to joining War Memorial, Jahn worked as the vice president of marketing at the MHA Insurance Company in Lansing. Earlier in his career, he was employed for 22 years as chief executive officer and chief financial officer at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital in Manistique. There, he helped play a role in converting the hospital to a critical access hospital to gain increased Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement.

Jahn earned a master’s degree in business administration from Lake Superior State University and holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration/accounting from Michigan Tech University.

“I’m very excited to join the Superior Health Foundation board and help improve the health of our Upper Peninsula communities,” Jahn said. “SHF has, for the last 10 years, helped improve the access to health education and services throughout the U.P., and I am thrilled to have an opportunity to contribute to such an outstanding mission.”

In his free time, Jahn enjoy golfing, traveling and spending time with his family.

The Superior Health Foundation, headquartered in Marquette, provides health-centered grant funding to non-profits all across the Upper Peninsula. Its mission is to assist with unmet healthcare needs, with health education, and with programs and research on preventing illness and promoting health in the Upper Peninsula. To learn more, visit www.superiorhealthfoundation.org