Inductees

Years ago, recruiters would come calling and, in all honestly, everybody would have understood had Donn Sorensen declined.

After all, his career had taken him to sunny San Diego, the complete opposite of his childhood on the snow-covered northern plains. Yet one offer piqued his interest. It was as the top executive of the Mercy Health System in southwest Missouri.

“I thought, ‘Why would I want to go to Springfield, Missouri?” Sorensen said. “That morning of the interview, I said, ‘This is the place I need to be.’ I’ve been blessed ever since.’”

Not only did he boost Mercy’s national profile, but he also brought a positive philanthropic energy to the state. That is why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly bestowed its President’s Award on Sorensen during the 2018 Enshrinement in St. Louis presented by Great Southern Bank.

The President’s Award is given to individuals who champion sports across the state and especially the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

A longtime executive with Mercy since 2000, he now holds the titles of Executive Vice President of Operations for the health ministry and Regional President of Mercy’s West Region.

In Springfield, Sorensen served on the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Board of Trustees, supported the PGA Web.com Tour’s Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper (a fundraiser for children’s charities) and was instrumental in helping developing Mercy Sports Medicine.

Since then, Mercy has struck partnerships throughout the country, particularly with the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues Youth Hockey Club and previously with the St. Louis Rams and numerous colleges and high schools.

This from a former prep athlete who never forgot the role that athletics played in his life, given Sorensen was a member of the cross country and track teams at Mayo High School in Rochester, Minnesota and earned All-State in the 1,600 meters.

“There’s a tremendous value in athletics, especially for kids,” Sorensen said. “They’re going to make better decisions, and they’re going to hang with kids who are making better decisions, too.”

When Sorensen arrived to Springfield, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame museum was in its seventh year, sixth under the director of President and Executive Director Jerald Andrews. Enshrinements and luncheons for inductees, golf events featuring celebrities and the museum itself immediately caught Sorensen’s attention.

“When you honor people who are great in any discipline, people who aspire to do well will aspire more,” Sorensen said. “I like those who achieved the top of the pyramid. It sets an example and goals for everybody.”

Even better, Sorensen said, the inspiring stories of those inductees are kept alive through the Hall of Fame museum, a 6,000 square foot facility.

“The Hall of Fame itself is a remarkable facility to take the kids on a stroll through and see all that our state has produced,” Sorensen said. “(At induction ceremonies), how many times have you been to those where an inductee tears up? It’s a thank you for a thank you.”

Sorensen also became heavily involved in the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper, which has gifted more than $14.7 million to children’s charities since 1990.

With the PCCC, Mercy sponsored a pro-am for years and continues to sponsor a corporate skybox on the 18^th green.

It also was during his time in Springfield that Mercy Sports Medicine took root.

“There were a lot of great people who worked on a sports medicine program,” Sorensen said. “Mercy now has the greatest sports medicine operation in the nation.”

Thanks to his leadership, Mercy also has teamed with a minor league soccer team in St. Louis and is expected to be the leading medical provider for the city’s new Major League Soccer expansion team. Mercy also supports the Go St. Louis Marathon.

In other words, what a career for Sorensen, whose son, Alec, is a golfer and was a simmer and football player in high school; and daughter, Jenna, is a junior at Saint Louis University and was a standout high school volleyball player.

Additionally, Sorensen is Chairman of Care to Learn. He earned bachelor’s degree in business administration from Luther College (Iowa), as well as a master’s in health administration from St. Mary’s College (Minn.), and an MBA from Missouri State University.

“I call my career a calling. I’ve been called to do this and serve in Mercy and lead Mercy in providing quality care,” Sorensen said. “The element that’s rewarding is our role in sports medicine and keeping people active.”