HSHS hospitals name 2020 Physicians of the Year

HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals are proud to announce that Peter Kluge, DO and Mark Southard, MD have been named 2020 Physician of the Year at HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital, respectively. This is the highest honor a physician on staff at HSHS can receive.  
 
“Dr. Kluge and Dr. Southard emulate the spirit of our Hospital Sisters who founded our hospitals and served patients and their families for more than 100 years in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls,” said HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital Interim President and CEO, Sandy Anderson.  
 
Dr. Kluge is board certified in cardiology and interventional cardiology. He performs procedures including heart catheterization with stent placement, transcatheter aortic valve replacement, heart stress testing, pacemaker insertion and follow up, and a treatment option for varicose veins that cause ulcers and. He currently serves as HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital’s medical staff secretary-treasurer and chair of the cardiovascular medicine department. 
 
“Devoting time, being present, and listening to the needs of my patients is paramount in the care of their heart,” said Kluge. “It’s a journey we take together, side-by-side, every step of the way.” 
 
Dr. Southard is board certified by the American Board of Radiology. He provides expert diagnostic services in all imaging modalities including MRI, CT, nuclear medicine, ultrasound, radiology, and fluoroscopy. He currently serves as HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital medical staff chair of the radiology department and chair of the credentials committee. 
 
Dr. Southard said it’s an honor to be recognized.  
 
“I am blessed to care for patients in the Chippewa Valley,” said Southard. “To know I am helping people improve their quality of life is very rewarding.”