Vision Centre Appoints Dr. Douglas Olson as President and CEO
Vision Centre’s Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Dr. Douglas Olson has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the organization. The Centre’s mission is to build and strengthen relationships between universities and aging services providers, so that more strong and sustainable academic leadership programs are developed to support the field.
“We are so fortunate that Doug is taking on this leadership role following his active participation in the Centre’s originating movement, the Vision 2025 Initiative,” said Chair Steve Chies. “His incredible passion matched with a practical understanding of what needs to get done for us to be successful is part of his DNA, and we are very happy to further solidify our future with him.”
For the past 22 years, Dr. Olson has been in a faculty leadership role at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire and served as the Director of the Center for Health Administration and Aging Services Excellence. The program and Center have been recognized as a national leader in the senior living leadership academic field. Beyond the sheer number of students inspired by the Program, Dr. Olson and the faculty team have launched numerous national initiatives with the support of providers and associations.
“Although it wasn’t an easy decision, this new role feels like the next natural step, and I am truly excited for this journey,” said Dr. Olson. “We need to raise the bar of this profession, so all people value the important work we do to serve the elders of this country. Leadership matters for those that need our care and support.”
Dr. Olson presents and publishes regularly on leadership development in the senior living field and this past spring was recognized with the national educator of the year award by the American College of Health Care Administrators. He received his PhD from the University of Minnesota and his MBA from the University of St. Thomas.
“Our partners along with increasing numbers of constituents were thrilled with the selection of Dr. Olson, as their trust and confidence in our next steps was a clear signal that we made the right choice,” stated Sean Kelly, Vice Chair of the Centre. “This was reassuring news, as we have a lot of critical progress to make together with our stakeholders to change the landscape of senior living leadership.”
Prior to his academic tenure, Olson served for 15 years in leadership roles of senior living and health care organizations. He credits the past experiences and his more recent Vision 2025 activities as providing the springboard necessary to assume this position.
The foundations for Vision Centre: Leadership Development for Aging Services are built on growth, information and relationships. The organization’s goals include having 25 strong senior living academic programs and 1000 paid field experiences with great partnerships in place by the year 2025.
