HealthPartners names Sarah Karlgaard chief legal officer

BLOOMINGTON, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HealthPartners today announced that Sarah Karlgaard will join the organization as senior vice president and chief legal officer beginning May 18.

Karlgaard will oversee legal, clinical risk management, integrity and compliance, physical security and sustainability. She will work closely with executive and operational leaders to advance strategic priorities while ensuring strong legal and regulatory stewardship.

“We’re excited to welcome Sarah to the HealthPartners team,” said Andrea Walsh, HealthPartners president and CEO. “She is a collaborative leader with strong expertise in navigating complex legal and regulatory environments. Her perspective and partnership will help us advance our mission while continuing to innovate and improve the care experience.”

Karlgaard brings 20 years of legal experience, including six years as a general counsel. Throughout her career, she has provided legal and compliance guidance and served as a strategic partner on innovation and transformation initiatives across health services, care delivery and medical device organizations.

Most recently, Karlgaard served as vice president, general counsel and secretary for FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation. In that role, she led the legal function across 23 subsidiaries serving consumer, health care and business-to-business markets throughout the United States, Canada and Latin America. She was responsible for legal and governance matters across the organization.

Karlgaard earned her law degree from Drake University Law School and a bachelor’s degree in business from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. She lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two children.

About HealthPartners

HealthPartners is a nonprofit organization with a mission of improving health and well-being in partnership with its members, patients and community. An integrated system of care and coverage since its founding in 1957, HealthPartners operates hospitals and clinics, health plans, and a research and education institute. The Minneapolis-based organization serves more than 1.4 million patients in Minnesota and Wisconsin and 1.4 million medical and dental health plan members nationwide. For more information, visit healthpartners.com.