Becker’s Honors Dr. Mara Hermiston Among 100 Rising Stars in Healthcare Under 40

Mara Hermiston

Becker's Hospital Review is delighted to release the 2025 iteration of its "Rising stars: Healthcare leaders under 40" list. These rising leaders are quickly making their mark, driving innovation and championing better outcomes within their organizations. As members of the next generation of healthcare leadership, they are determined to leave a lasting impact on the industry.

At Avera, Dr. Mara Hermiston, Chief Medical Officer for Avera Medical Group, was named to this esteemed list of healthcare leaders.

The individuals featured here are pushing their organizations forward by refining care delivery, improving processes and embracing change with bold, proactive leadership. Rather than simply adapting to the ever-evolving healthcare landscape, they are shaping it.

This list celebrates leaders who are 40 years old or younger in calendar year 2025 for their dedication to advancing healthcare. Becker’s Healthcare is proud to highlight these accomplished individuals, whose vision and drive are vital to the success of their organizations.

The Becker's Hospital Review editorial team accepted nominations for this list and curated it to highlight the accomplishments of these rising stars.

The full list features individual profiles of all leaders on the list and can be read here.

And here is some additional information on Dr. Hermiston:

Mara Hermiston, DO, CMO at Avera Medical Group (Sioux Falls, S.D.). Dr. Hermiston oversees physician recruitment, regional clinic administration, provider wellbeing and service line integration for Avera Medical Group’s 1,330 providers across 200 clinics. She has advanced 14 enterprise-wide service lines to standardize care, improve quality and reduce cost, including merging women’s and children’s services in conjunction with a major hospital expansion. Previously, as lead clinic physician at Spirit Lake, Iowa-based Lakes Regional Family Medicine, Dr. Hermiston unified two clinics, led the development of a new facility, implemented team-based care and improved patient throughput while maintaining satisfaction levels. She also reduced her hospital’s C-section rate through best practice adoption and enhanced system transfer operations. She is a practicing rural family medicine and obstetrician physician who leverages her additional business and executive experience.