Executive Leadership
Hilary Marden-Resnik
President and Chief Executive Officer
Hilary Marden-Resnik joined UCare in 2010 because of her passion for UCare's nonprofit mission to improve the health of our members through innovative services and partnerships across communities. She wanted to be a part of what she describes as "the hardest working, people powered health care team in town."
Ms. Marden-Resnik began her career at UCare as Senior Vice President of Administration. She was promoted to SVP/Chief Administrative Officer in 2013, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer in 2021, and in March of 2022 she became UCare’s President and CEO.
Prior to joining UCare, Marden-Resnik was Vice President of Human Resources at Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) in Minneapolis. She also held positions as Director of Human Resources for HealthEast Care System, Human Resources Manager for Fairview Health Services, and employment and health law attorney for the Gray Plant Mooty law firm.
Ms. Marden-Resnik holds an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin, a graduate degree in industrial relations/human resources management from the University of Minnesota, and a Juris Doctor (Summa Cum Laude) from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul. She is a member of the Minnesota Women's Economic Roundtable and has served on the boards of Achieve Twin Cities, the Minneapolis Workforce Development Board, Lifespark, the Minnesota Council of Health Plans, and the Alliance of Community Health Plans . In 2007, she was named 40 under 40 by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal; in 2016, she was recognized with a Women in Business Award by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal; and in 2024, Twin Cities Business identified her as 100 Business People to Know.
Tenbit Emiru, MD, PhD, MBA
Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer
Joining UCare as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer in 2022, Tenbit Emiru, MD, PhD, MBA, brings a passion for improving health outcomes for underserved and historically marginalized communities. Dr. Emiru leads the Medical Directors, Care Coordination and LTSS, Clinical Services, Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services, Pharmacy, and Health Services Quality and Operations departments. She plays a key role in driving the strategic direction for the entire organization.
From 2016 to 2022, Dr. Emiru was a Critical Care Neurologist at Hennepin Healthcare (formerly HCMC) in Minneapolis, where she also was the system’s Chief of Neurology. In that role, she led a multi-disciplinary team of providers and operational leaders in transforming the delivery of care in the neurosciences. Additionally, Dr. Emiru was a member of Hennepin's Senior Strategy Team and a member of the Hennepin Healthcare Finance and Audits/Compliance Committee of the Board. Prior to Hennepin Healthcare, Dr. Emiru was a Medical Director for HealthPartners/Regions Hospital.
Dr. Emiru was named a "Top Doctor" by Minnesota Monthly in 2018 and 2020, and among the "Top Docs and Rising Stars" by Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine in 2017 and 2018. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice and CHC (Creating Healthy Communities), and is a member of the Minnesota Department of Human Services Health Services Advisory Committee.
Dr. Emiru earned her MD, and PhD in Psychology, from the University of Minnesota. She also holds an Executive Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Darin McDonald
Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Darin McDonald joined UCare in 2021, building on more than 30 years of technology leadership. In addition to in-depth knowledge of health care and product solutions, he is adept at bridging the gap between operational business units and engineering to enable success. McDonald has extensive experience in strategic planning, team development, budgeting and program management.
As Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at UCare, McDonald provides vision and strategic direction for UCare's technology staff and systems to enable the health plan to efficiently and effectively serve members and business partners. He oversees all areas of program and project management and IT operations including architecture, infrastructure, applications, web, security, quality assurance, data and service as well as UCare's project management office. McDonald is responsible for establishing and implementing UCare's technology vision, strategy, and roadmap in alignment with organizational strategies and priorities. Prior to joining UCare, McDonald was CIO for AIM Specialty Health, Chief Administrative Officer at Sentry Data Systems, Corporate Healthcare Strategy Officer at UST Global, and CIO and VP of Operations at Blue Cross subsidiary NASCO. He serves on the Board of Directors of Touchstone Mental Health.
In 2024, McDonald won the 2024 Minnesota ORBIE® Award for Large Enterprise, presented by the Minnesota CIO Leadership Association (MinnesotaCIO). The ORBIE Awards is the premier technology executive recognition program in the United States.
McDonald has a Bachelor in Science in Mathematics with a Minor in Computer Science from North Dakota State University (Fargo, ND).
Beth Monsrud
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Beth Monsrud joined UCare in 2001 as Controller, and was named Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 2008. She provides executive leadership and oversight for all fiscal operations, and is responsible for the strategic direction for UCare’s accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and health care economics reporting systems, among other key financial functions. Additionally, Monsrud oversees UCare's member enrollment and billing, as well as serving as UCare's Corporate Treasurer.
UCare benefits from Monsrud’s more than 20 years of experience in the financial management field. She came to UCare from the position of Controller-Corporate Operations for CIGNA Behavioral Health, and previous duties as Director of Accounting at United Healthcare Corp., and Audit Manager at Deloitte & Touche. In 2009, Monsrud was recognized by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal as a "Woman to Watch" and also received the Mid-Career Award from the Women's Health Leadership Trust. In 2013, she was named a CFO of the Year by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
Monsrud graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of North Dakota-Grand Forks, with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. She also graduated Summa Cum Laude from Rochester Community College with an Associate of Arts: Business Transfer Program degree.
Daniel Santos
Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
Since joining UCare in 2018, Daniel Santos has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, as well as Corporate Secretary to the Board of Directors. He also oversees the Compliance, Internal Audit and Equity & Inclusion departments. Immediately prior to joining UCare, Santos spent six years with Sentara Healthcare, an integrated health system headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, serving as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Sentara’s multi-state health plan division, Optima Health. At Sentara, Santos also served in leadership roles system-wide as an Associate General Counsel, providing counsel to its provider operating companies including its 12 hospitals and 4 medical groups (1,000+ providers). Previously, he practiced health law for law firms (AMLAW 200) in Virginia and Pennsylvania, and served as a Special Operations Officer (Diving & Salvage) in the U.S. Navy.
Santos has received numerous distinctions for his leadership and contributions to the legal and business community, including election as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, selection by Minnesota Lawyer magazine as a recipient of its In-House Counsel Award in the Healthcare Organization category, multiple selections by Super Lawyers magazine as a “Rising Star” lawyer, multiple selections by Virginia Business magazine as one of Virginia’s Legal Elite, and recognition by the Hispanic National Bar Association as a “Top Lawyer Under 40.” In 2022, Santos was honored as a Notable General Counsel by Twin Cities Business (TCB) Magazine. Santos currently serves as President of the Board of Directors of the Association of Corporate Counsel, Minnesota Chapter, and is a Member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Santos earned his J.D. from the Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law, and his B.A. from the University of Virginia.
Pat Schmitt
Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer
Pat Schmitt joined UCare in 2012 and brings more than 30 years of human resources and enterprise project management leadership experience. As Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of UCare, Schmitt oversees strategic direction, accountability and results for UCare’s human resources, facilities, business transformation, claims and configuration, and customer services areas. She is passionate about operational efficiency to ensure optimal services for UCare members and partners. Schmitt is a champion for UCare’s employee engagement and company culture, which has earned recognition as a Star Tribune Top Workplace since 2010 when the awards began.
Previously as Vice President of Organizational Effectiveness and Chief Human Resources Officer at UCare, Schmitt led strategy and performance of UCare’s human resources, facilities, change management, project management, provider enrollment and configuration, claims and configuration, and customer services, as well as the development of a new business process outsourcing model. Prior to joining UCare, she held senior human resources leadership roles with HealthEast and Hennepin Healthcare (formerly Hennepin County Medical Center) and worked with local health care providers as an independent human resources consultant for several years.
Schmitt frequently speaks about employee engagement, change management, workforce dynamics and organizational effectiveness at industry conferences. In addition, she is a Board Member of the American Heart Association, Women Business Leaders/Women Leading Health Care, Minneapolis CHRO Summit Governance Board and Women’s Health Care Leadership TRUST.
Schmitt has a Bachelor of Science in Business from the College of St. Catherine and Master of Arts in Human Resources & Industrial Relations from the University of Minnesota.
Jay Sivasailam
Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer
Jay Sivasailam joined UCare in 2023, drawn by the opportunity to help UCare drive community, connection and compassion at scale. In his role, he leads the organization’s Customer Experience, Marketing, Digital, Product and Sales departments. His expertise lies in bringing together data-driven strategies, modern technology and outside-in thinking to deliver sophisticated approaches to audience engagement.
Sivasailam has more than 20 years of experience working with local and national health plans. Most recently he was Vice President of Omnichannel Marketing for Elevance Health. Prior leadership roles include Enterprise Strategy Consultant for Elevance Health and Vice President of Marketing for UnitedHealth Group. Sivasailam founded and was Principal Consultant for JMS Digital Collaborative, a strategic consultancy specializing in helping nonprofit organizations meet their business objectives with an emphasis on digital transformation. He began his health plan career at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota (BCBSM), where he worked in a variety of roles including Sales, Marketing, Product Management and Customer Service.
Sivasailam is a sought-after speaker on omnichannel personalization in health care and is a frequent presenter at industry conferences. Since 2015, he has been a Board Member of Community Building Tutors, an organization promoting community involvement through free tutoring.
Sivasailam has a BA from the University of Minnesota, an MBA from Capella University and is currently completing a Master of Liberal Arts in Management through the Harvard University Extension Program. A lifelong learner, he has a Health Care Economics certificate from the Harvard Business School Online, a Hello Design Thinking certificate from IDEO and is a certified Senn Delaney Organizational Culture Leader and Facilitator.
Marie Zimmerman
Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer
Marie Zimmerman leads UCare’s Business Development, Government Relations, Provider Relations and Public Affairs teams. Zimmerman joined UCare in 2022 as VP of Strategic Partnerships leading UCare’s strategic growth and expansion initiatives.
Zimmerman has a breadth of experience leading Medicaid and health care organizations, in addition to innovation, policy and reform initiatives. She has a national reputation among legislators; community, health plan and provider organizations; and local, state and federal agencies. Most recently, Zimmerman was Vice President at Aurrera Health Group where she led a new business line, built a new team and designed large-scale health reform in Medicaid and ACA Marketplace. Previously, she was the Minnesota Department of Human Services Assistant Commissioner, Medicaid Director and Health Care Policy Director. As Medicaid Director, Zimmerman managed Minnesota’s public health care programs and operations, including Medicaid and MinnesotaCare. Previously, she was a Vice President at Hennepin Healthcare.
Zimmerman serves on Icario Health’s Medicaid Advisory Board and Hearth Connection’s Board, and is a member of the Centers for Victims of Torture Policy Committee. She has been recognized with a Medicaid Leadership Institute Fellowship from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a Movement of Hope Vision Award from Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota and a Women in Health Care Leadership award from the Women’s Health Leadership TRUST.
Zimmerman has a BA in Economics and Political Science from the University of St. Thomas and a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota.
Board of Directors
James Van Vooren, M.D. (At-Large, Chair)Pita Adam, M.D. (At-Large)
Jeff Bangsberg (Consumer)
Charity Bennett (Consumer)
Dorothy Bridges (At-Large)
Tom DePhillips (At-Large)
Jay Kiedrowski (Consumer)
James Koppel (Consumer)
Teresa McCarthy, M.D. (At-Large)
Anthony Mendoza (At-Large)
Mariam Mohamed (Consumer)
Allison O’Toole (At-Large, Vice Chair)
William Roberts, M.D. (At-Large)
Martina Sagayam (Consumer)
Michael Wootten, M.D. (At-Large)
Department Leadership
Patricia Ball, Business Transformation
Troy Brice, Customer Experience
Jamie Carsello, Health Care Economics
Brian Eck, Sales
Scott Golmen, Customer Services
Angela Hall Slaughter, Legal and Compliance
Jon Hamdorf, Market President
Greg Hanley, Quality Management and Population Health
Jeni Hanselman, Market President
Jennifer Hipp, Care Coordination and Long-Term Services
Daniel Hounchell, Product Management
Sheri Johnson, Billing and Enrollment
Kelly Jordan, Integrated Care Management
Scott Kammer, M.D., Clinical and Quality Management
Terri Lowe, Claims and Configurations Operations
Joy Marsh, Equity and Inclusion
Greg Marshall, Accounting/Purchasing
Patrick Mitsch, Pharmacy
Troy Nelson, Information Technology
Dan Ness, Marketing and Digital
Tamara Pinckney, Human Resources
Stephanie Schwartz, Government Relations
Jay Stave, Business Development
Joel Ulland, Public Affairs
Cathy VonRueden, Provider Relations and Contracting