Stephen Gutu, MD, a physician at UnityPoint
Health – Blank Children’s Hospital and Thomas Benzoni, MD, a physician at
UnityPoint Health – Des Moines are among 17 physicians from across the state
honored for completing the Physician Business Leadership Certification Program.
Graduates were recognized September 10 at the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA)
Conference Center in Des Moines.
This first-of-its-kind program was
designed by Iowa physician executives for Iowa physicians to meet needs
mutually identified by the collaborating organizations of IHA, Iowa Medical
Society, Iowa Academy of Family Physicians and Iowa Healthcare Collaborative
(IHC). The program was launched in February following two years of planning by
the partnering organizations. Faculty
involved in leading and developing the program include Tamara Chance,
DO, emergency department medical director at Boone County Hospital, Michael Romano, MD, MHA, CMO, at the
Nebraska Health Network in Council Bluffs and Tom Evans, MD, FAAFP, CEO, of IHC.
The program is designed to prepare
physicians interested in developing or enhancing their leadership competencies,
broadening their business acumen and understanding of issues important in
health care delivery. Certification is
achieved by attending full day in-person sessions held during a seven-month
period and led by locally and nationally recognized subject matter experts in
business, leadership and health care. Additional requirements included
participating in state or national association health care industry events or
activities. By completing the program, physicians demonstrated
their commitment to developing as a leader and expanding their understanding of
health care policy and delivery issues.
“Being a facilitator for this
program is one of the highlights of my career,” said Dr. Chance. “I look
forward to building on this year’s curriculum and know it will continue to
attract physicians interested in improving their abilities to interact with
administration in the health care setting.”
2019 Inaugural Physician Business Leadership Certificate Program
Graduates
Brian Anderson, DO, Myrtue Medical
Center, Harlan
Heather Babe, MD, Shenandoah
Medical Center
Thomas Benzoni, MD, UnityPoint
Health-Des Moines
Laura Bowshier, MD, Mercy Clinics –
Waukee
Erika Brown, MD, Decatur County
Hospital, Leon
Renee Diamond, MD, Iowa Specialty
Hospital, Garner Clinic
Robert Flinchbaugh, DO, Winneshiek
Medical Center, Decorah
Stephen
Gutu, MD, Blank Children’s Pediatric Clinic, Des Moines
Srinivas Kalala, MD, Cedar Valley
Specialists, Waterloo
Angela Kerchner, MD, Ringgold
County Hospital, Mt. Ayr
Lenard Kerr, DO, Acute Care
Incorporated, Ankeny
Michael Line, MD, Greene County
Medical Center, Jefferson
Dan Richter, MD, CHI Health
Missouri Valley
Bryon Schaeffer, MD, Clarinda
Regional Health Center
Rajendra Singh, MD, Waverly Health
Center
Sharmini Suriar, MD, UnityPoint
Health-Trinity Regional, Fort Dodge
Craig Wittenberg, MD, Pella
Regional Health Center