In July 2018, the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska assumed management of the Omaha-Winnebago Hospital formerly operated by IHS, the federal government agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services responsible for providing health care for Native Americans. The Tribe assumed management of the hospital through the IHS Tribal Self-Governance Program. As the first step in establishing a new health system for the Tribe, the hospital was named Twelve Clans Unity Hospital in honor of the twelve traditional clans of the Winnebago Tribe.
Twelve Clans Unity Hospital serves an estimated 10,000 Native Americans who live on the Winnebago Reservation and in the surrounding region. Health care services provided by the hospital and the Tribe’s Public Health Department include an ambulatory care clinic, inpatient care, express care clinic, pharmacy, radiology, emergency care, medical laboratory, physical therapy, social services, dental, optometry, audiology, behavioral health and more.
225 S. Bluff Street
PO Box HH
Winnebago, NE 68071
402-745-3950
Mona Zuffante holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from Northland College, Ashland, Wisconsin and a Master’s in Public Health from Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska.
As Chief Public Health Officer for the Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System, Ms. Zuffante’s primary role is management and strategic planning for the Winnebago Public Health Department. She is responsible for budgeting, oversight of grant writing, Federal contract administration, coordination of health services delivery, and personnel management. Additionally, Ms. Zuffante is part of the executive team of the Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System which includes strategic planning and coordination with other members of the executive team to ensure the organization is meeting its short and long-term goals.
Previously, Ms. Zuffante was the Environmental Health Specialist for the Winnebago Tribe Environmental Health Program in Winnebago and a Water Technician for the Winnebago Tribe Water Resources Program. She has been a practicing EMT for the Winnebago Community for over 17 years.
Ms. Zuffante is an enrolled member of the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma.
Ms. Wewel received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Nebraska – Omaha and a Masters’s in Public Health Administration from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR.
As Chief Financial Officer for the Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System, Ms. Wewel oversees the financial operations of both the Winnebago Public Health Department and the Twelve Clans Unity Hospital. She is responsible for the development and management of all organization budgets, and business office functions including billing, collections, and patient benefit coordination. She provides the Executive Team, Board of Directors, and Winnebago Tribal Council with regular reports on the financial status and transactions of the organization.
Previously, Ms. Wewel worked for small group practices, for-profit specialist hospitals, large group multispecialty practices, and FQHS/Local health department, the state of Nebraska, and a critical access hospital.
Bio Coming Soon
Mr. Edwards holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA, and a Master’s of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration from Seattle University in Seattle, WA.
As Chief Executive Officer of the Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System (WCHS), Mr. Edwards is responsible for the overall operation and administration of WCHS and its subdivisions. He has served vulnerable populations on 3 continents over the last 35 years and worked in tribal health, public health, and integrated primary care.
In 2022, Mr. Edwards authored his first book, “New You, Who Knew”, a guide to help individuals align their lives with the core principles of human success. As CEO of One Community Health, he helped the organization double in size while strengthening financial results, improving quality to the best in their region, and designing/building the leading integrated primary care center in the nation. Mr. Edwards has distinguished himself and his organizations as creative and inclusive while having helped turn around financially struggling organizations, grown services to meet community needs, and aligning efforts with community partners. Mr. Edwards’ experience spans specialty, tribal, and integrated primary care. He has also served on a broad range of boards and as CEO, COO, and CFO with an inclusive perspective.
Mr. Schanzenbach holds a Master’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, South Dakota.
As Chief Transformation Officer for the Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System, Mr. Schanzenbach oversees the hospital’s information systems, quality, performance, data, and technologies. Additionally, he assures that the organization continues to improve outcomes and experiences for patients while also assisting in WCHS’s path to certification of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Mr. Schanzenbach is a member of the Executive Team of the Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System. In that role, he collaborates with other organizational leadership to implement programs, business plans, and policies that support WCHS’s mission to improve the well-being of the community by providing patient-centered health care that is respectful of Tribal beliefs.
Previously, Mr. Schanzenbach served as the Clinical Services Administrative for Twelve Clans Unity Hospital and the Director of the Diabetes Program for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska’s Health Department.
Dr. Sirio completed his undergraduate and medical school training at Columbia University and Rutgers Medical School and completed postgraduate medical training at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Pennsylvania State University, the National Institutes of Health and George Washington University.
As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sirio provides clinical oversight and direction to all aspects of the provision of medical care within the hospital. This includes direct supervision to the Medical Staff (Outpatient, Inpatient and Emergency Department), Podiatry, Physical Therapy, Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory, Radiology and Dietary Departments.
Dr. Sirio co-founded the Pittsburgh Regional Healthcare Initiative, a nationally recognized collaboration that improved care throughout the region for which he was the recipient of several large grants from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to create meaningful improvement in the care of patients. In addition, he worked with the National Quality Forum (NQF), the National Institute of Medicine and the U.S. Pharmacopoeia, among others, to improve patient care quality and safety.
Dr. Sirio spent 17 years at UPMC in Pittsburgh, where he rose to full professor. From there he became chief operating and clinical officer, and senior associate dean for clinical affairs at the University of Toledo (UT), where his innovative approaches to health systems improvements earned them numerous awards for excellence. Prior to these roles he was UT Vice President for Medical Affairs/Chief Medical Officer and Chief Medical Information Officer.
Dr. Sirio served on the AMA Council on Medical Education, chairing the Initiative to Transform Medical Education where he led efforts to fundamentally transform the way doctors are educated and maintain their certification. Additionally, served on the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, where he was a compelling voice for new standards related to building greater diversity in medicine, and to understanding the impact of the learning environments of medical students. As an AMA Trustees he served on the executive, finance, membership and business strategies committees. He recently completed service as board member of TJC (Joint Commission) where he oversaw significant transformations in the governance and operations of the organization.
Joseph Pluth received his Bachelors in Science in Nursing,and Bachelors in Business Administration from Midland University in 2014. After graduating with honors, Mr. Pluth went on to work at Nebraska Medicine with a specialty in Neuroscience, Pain Resource, Diabetes, and training in Wound and Ostomy. Simultaneously, he held positions on the Nursing and Ancillary Advisory Team and the Pain Management Committee. Mr. Pluth obtained his Masters of Science in Nursing Leadership and Masters in Business Administration from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 2018.
As Director of Nursing, Mr. Pluth plans and coordinates nursing services for the hospital, manages all nursing staff and nurse supervisors, and ensures the provision of quality care.
Previously, Mr. Pluth worked for Fremont Health during their transition into the Nebraska Methodist Hospital System.
Ms. Frenchman holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa and a Masters in Education from Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa.
As Chief Administrative Officer for the Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System, Ms. Frenchman works with other members of the Executive Team to manage and direct the administrative functions of the health care system. She is responsible for collaboration with the Chief Executive Officer and the Public Health Director for strategic development on a short and long-term operational plan for the Winnebago Public Health Department and Twelve Clans Unity Hospital. She is also responsible to work with management on organizational structure, management methods and procedures and overall budgeting.
Previously, Ms. Frenchman was the Chief Executive Officer for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska; the Chief Administrative Officer for Ho-Chunk, Inc., the Winnebago Tribe’s economic development corporation; and was associated with Little Priest Tribal College in a variety of roles including interim President.
Ms. Frenchman is an enrolled member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.
Ms. Gamble received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln, Nebraska and a Health Administration Certificate from Bryan LGH School of Health Sciences, Lincoln, Nebraska.
As Chief Operating Officer for Twelve Clans Unity Hospital, Ms. Gamble is responsible for day-to-day management of hospital operations. She is responsible for a hospital-wide system of internal review and quality improvements program. She is also involved in assuring compliance with the hospital’s CMS certification process. Ms. Gamble has oversight on administrative, professional and technical staff at the Hospital. Ms. Gamble is a member of the Executive Team of the Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System. In that role, her responsibilities include strategic planning, quality improvements and other management discussions with the Executive Team and Chief Executive Officer.
Previously, Ms. Gamble served as Director of the Oakland, Nebraska Mercy Hospital which included a dual role as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Nursing. She was Director of Quality and Care Management at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk, Nebraska and Vice President of Patient Care Services at Providence Medical Center in Wayne, Nebraska.