Kristine Fortman, PhD, is CEO of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF), a nonprofit cardiovascular research and education organization dedicated to creating a world without heart and vascular disease. She leads physician researchers and staff advancing lifesaving research and education to improve care and options for patients worldwide. Under her leadership, MHIF increased research investment tenfold, peer-reviewed publications by 130%, and philanthropy by 200%.
Previously, she spent ten years at Medtronic in clinical and philanthropic leadership roles, including director of global engagement. She serves on the boards of MHIF, the regional American Red Cross, and the Abbott Northwestern Hospital Advisory Board.
How did your career in healthcare start? Have you always been passionate about this area, or did it happen by chance?
Growing up, I witnessed how much my dad loved his job. He was a professor of medical microbiology at the University of Minnesota, and he inspired me to pursue a career as a professor, where I could make a meaningful difference. Although I did not go into academia after finishing my PhD, I discovered the power of research in healthcare through my first job with HealthPartners Research Foundation. Next, I experienced the impact of clinical research at Medtronic in Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management, followed by a role with the Medtronic Foundation focused on improving access to chronic disease care for underserved populations globally. I am fortunate to have loved each institution and each role.
Now, as CEO of the MHIF, where I have served for ten years, I feel I am right where I should be. The reality that fuels our work is that cardiovascular disease remains the number one cause of death around the world. We have work to do, and I am proud to be leading a team that takes this to heart.
Looking back, what’s one change you made as CEO of MHIF that you’re especially proud of, and how did it transform the organization?
I am most proud of my contributions to the culture, including assembling a high-talent executive leadership team and a powerful board of directors. We have a culture that welcomes a dedicated team that thinks big, understanding how the future of healthcare can address both local community needs and groundbreaking advances that change global standards of care.
A defining moment for me was hearing our founder, Dr. Robert Van Tassel, share his pride in our team for our commitment to the original vision: to create a world without heart and vascular disease.
What’s one New Year’s resolution you have for 2026?
I don’t know if I would call it a resolution or rather an opportunity that is very real for 2026. My team is embracing the positive side of artificial intelligence (AI) and leveraging it to deliver on our vision of a world without heart and vascular disease.
We have two exciting examples of research that will advance our understanding of the possibilities in this space. One study is assessing if the use of AI-driven coronary CT angiography (CCTA) for detailed plaque staging (like cancer staging) to guide personalized treatment is better for preventing heart attacks than standard risk factor assessments in high-risk patients who don’t have any active symptoms. The second study utilizes AI to estimate the risks involved in procedures to open the most complex blockages in the heart by leveraging clinical factors unique to each patient.
Personally or professionally, what might the WBL network be surprised to know about you?
I was born and raised in the Minneapolis area as one of three daughters. In a clever twist of fate, I am now the mom of three boys—and I’ve learned so much about life raising them! Outside of work, I enjoy hiking and yoga, and like a true Minnesotan, I love spending time at the cabin with those who mean the most to me.
