A member of The Rotary Club of Rochester since 1998, District Governor Karel Weigel served as Treasurer in 2006-2007 and as President in 2010-2011.  District activities include service on the District Governor Nominating Committee and on-site coordinator for North Central Presidents-Elect Training Seminar (NC PETS).  Rotary is a special part of Karel’s life and she is proud to represent Rotary in our communities and in our world.  Service Above Self may be a short motto, but it speaks volumes in humanitarian impact.

 

Karel has solid Midwestern roots spending many of her growing up years in St. Paul, Chicago and Kansas City before moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan following graduation from college.  Karel’s first professional job was with the Commission on Professional and Hospital Activities (a healthcare data research and management organization) in Ann Arbor, and it was that connection that led her to Rochester and Mayo Clinic.  Her academic preparation in Biology and Health Information Management were helpful in  meeting the needs of hospitals and health care organizations in response to the then newly implemented Medicare program. Two Mayo physicians recruited Karel to Mayo in 1979 to help with Mayo’s research classifications and health data needs.

In Karel’s 30 years at Mayo, she served in a variety of administrative assignments, the aforementioned research, in operations administration and finally as Mayo’s first Administrator for Community Relations from 1999 until her retirement in 2009.

Karel has been active in her professional association, American Health Information Management Association, serving as President of both Michigan and Minnesota  component state associations and as a member of the national association’s Board of Directors.  She was subsequently appointed to the US National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics where she was Chair of the Medical Classification Subcommittee.  Karel has enjoyed being an active part of the Rochester Community serving as a member or Chair of numerous Boards, Committees and Task Forces in both the public and private sector.