New chief to assume human resources helm at St. Francis Health

INDIANAPOLIS – Karen S. Sagar has been appointed Human Resources Executive for Franciscan St. Francis Health effective July 1.

In that role she will have responsibilities for all facets of human resources, including employment, retention, compensation, legal compliance, employee relations and employee communications. Additionally, she will oversee employee health services, education, employee assistance program, safety, and security.

Sagar succeeds John Ross, who will retire July 1 after 37 years of service.

Sagar previously was director of recruitment and retention. During that time, retention improved by more than 20 percent and employee satisfaction jumped upward nearly 40 percent. She also led cultural transformation, leadership training and employee education initiatives.

Prior to coming to St. Francis Health in 2004, Sagar was vice president for human resources, planning and marketing for Mercy Medical Center, Clinton, Iowa.

A resident of Greenwood, Sagar received a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Marshall University, where she later earned a master’s in business administration.

Sagar was the recipient of the 2009 Communication Award from the American Society of Healthcare Human Resource Administrators. She is past president of the Indiana Society of Healthcare Human Resource Administrators and is a member of the Society of Human Resource Management.