By Lori EhdeAfter months of searching, Sioux Valley Luverne Medical Center has hired a new CEO, Mark Henke.The Medical Center Advisory Board and Sioux Valley Regional Health Services made the announcement Tuesday that Henke will take over in May for retiring CEO Jerry Carl."After an extensive search process, Sioux Valley Regional Health Services is confident that we have found an excellent CEO for Sioux Valley Luverne Hospital in Mark Henke," said Ed Weiland, president of Sioux Valley Regional Health Services.Carl, who has served at the helm of Luverne’s hospital since 1987, announced his retirement last year but has stayed during the transition of the building project and the search for his replacement.Henke said he looks forward to starting in Luverne in May."This is a great opportunity for me and my family," he said. "I am very excited to be joining the great team at Sioux Valley Luverne Hospital. The facilities and expertise here are topnotch, and I look forward to continuing the momentum of this great organization."Henke currently works as Chief Operating Officer at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah, Iowa, and was previously the administrator of the Mayo Health System Clinic in Decorah. Prior to working in Decorah, Henke worked in a variety of roles within the Mayo Health System in Rochester. He holds an MBA from Northern Illinois University and is involved in various local community organizations, including president of the Decorah Rotary Club. Weiland said Henke brings a broad base of healthcare experience to the position."His experience and leadership abilities will be a great asset both to the hospital and to the community of Luverne," Weiland said.Sioux Valley Luverne Hospital is a 25-bed critical access hospital that provides inpatient, acute, long-term care, and a broad scope of outpatient services. The hospital currently employs approximately 200 people, including nine family physicians and one full-time surgeon from the Sioux Valley Clinic – Luverne.