Annual Awards

Each year, the Iowa Primary Care Association recognizes outstanding individuals for their contributions to Iowa’s community health centers.

Nominations are submitted by community health center peers and community partners. These individuals are recognized for their dedication to the Health Center Movement and for their extraordinary work on behalf of their peers, patients, and community.

Make a nomination

2026 Awards

  • Dr. Bery Engebretsen Visionary Award

    Established in 2024 in recognition of Dr. Bery Engebretsen's outstanding contributions to the Health Center Movement as the co-founder of the Iowa Primary Care Association and the former Chief Executive Officer for Primary Health Care, Inc. This award will be presented to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to their organization or community(s) and exemplifies leadership excellence, passion for community health, and dedication to ensuring health care access for all.

    Eligibility: An individual who is a team member or volunteer at an Iowa health center who is a passionate supporter of the health center mission, addressing barriers of care, and championing the integrated model. Nominees demonstrate a commitment to innovation, and a dedication to providing outstanding service to health center patients.

  • Outstanding Provider Award

    This award recognizes a distinguished provider who exemplifies excellence in clinical practice and demonstrates a dedication to the health center mission and to the patients they serve.

    Eligibility: An individual who is a medical, dental, or behavioral health provider at an Iowa health center. Nominees may include, but are not limited to, physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dental hygienists, registered nurses, nurse midwives, social workers, and pharmacists.

  • Unsung Hero Award

    This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a level of excellence in their work which distinguishes their service and contributions during the past year.

    Eligibility: An individual who is a staff member or volunteer at an Iowa health center who is not typically recognized publicly for their contributions. Nominees may include, but are not limited to, front-line staff, outreach workers, financial assistance staff, interpreters, accounting, and human resources staff. Nominees demonstrate a commitment to the mission of the health center and a dedication to providing outstanding service to health center patients.

  • Exceptional Network Support Award

    This award recognizes a member of the Iowa Primary Care Association, INConcertcare, and IowaHealth+ team who demonstrates exceptional support for the Health Center Movement. As a network champion of community health centers, this individual demonstrates collaboration and passion in their work to support Iowa’s community health centers.

    Eligibility: A staff member of the Iowa PCA, INCC, and IH+ team who has shown tremendous commitment to supporting the work of Iowa’s CHCs.

  • Advocates of the Year Award

    This award recognizes a community health center organization for its advocacy excellence, including performance on grassroots advocacy through the VoterVoice system, engagement with state and federal elected officials, community engagement, and more.

    Selected by the Iowa Primary Care Association

  • Communicators of the Year Award

    This award recognizes a community health center organization that has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in their ability to convey messages with clarity, creativity, and impact through patient engagement, social media, and other forms of communication.

    Selected by the Iowa Primary Care Association

SUBMIT A NOMINATION HERE

Previous Winners

    • Dr. Bery Engebretsen Visionary: Gina Throckmorton, Chief Operations Officer, River Hills Community Health Center

    • Outstanding Provider: Michelle Christensen, PA-C, Associate Medical Director & Physician Assistant, All Care Health Center

    • Unsung Hero: Rosalinda Nehring, Patient Care Technician, United Community Health Center

    • Unsung Hero: Naomi Marroquín, Bilingual Health Team Lead, Proteus, Inc.

    • Exceptional Network Support: Erica Shannon Stueve, General Counsel, Iowa PCA, INConcertCare, & IowaHealth+

    • Impact Award: Jeff Allen, Forvis Mazars

    • Advocates of the Year: Siouxland Community Health Center

    • Communicators of the Year: Promise Community Health Center

    • Dr. Bery Engebretsen Visionary: Joe Lock, President & CEO, Eastern Iowa Health Center

    • Outstanding Provider: Kari Ney, Midwife, Promise Community Health Center

    • Unsung Hero: Shannon Price, Dental Receptionist, River Hills Community Health Center

    • Exceptional Network Support: Katie Owens, Senior Director of Engagement, Iowa PCA

    • Advocates of the Year: Community Health Center of Fort Dodge

    • Communicators of the Year: Crescent Community Health Center

    • Lifetime Achievement: Kelly Huntsman, CEO, Primary Health Care, Inc.

    • Lifetime Achievement: Mari Kaptain-Dahlen, Former CEO, Siouxland Community Health Center

    • Carl Kulczyk Memorial Award: Heather Rickertsen, PharmD, Crescent Community Health Center

    • Outstanding Provider Award: Danielle O'Brien-Day, LMHC, NCC, Infinity Health

    • Unsung Hero Award: Kailee Jenness, LBSW, Promise Community Health Center

    • Impact Award: Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation

    • Communicators of the Year: All Care Health Center

    • Advocates of the Year: Community Health Care, Inc.

    • Carl Kulczyk Memorial Award: Ken Jones, DDS, Dental Director, River Hills Community Health Center

    • Unsung Hero Award: LuAnn Duran, Financial Counselor, Crescent Community Health Center

    • Outstanding Provider Award: Natalie Schaller, DO, Family Practice Physician/Co-Medical Director, United Community Health Center

    • Community Impact Award: Nick Hooker, DDS, Primary Health Care

    • Impact Award: Nancy Adrianse, Integrated Health Consultant, Iowa Primary Care Association

    • Lifetime Achievement Award: Bery Engebretsen, MD, Chief Visionary, Primary Health Care

    • Carl Kulczyk Memorial Award: John Brandt, Board Member, Eastern Iowa Health Center

    • Unsung Hero Award: Jim Denman, Senior Grant Accountant, Primary Health Care

    • Outstanding Provider Award: Emily Sinnwell, DNP, ARNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, Proteus, Inc.

    • Carl Kulczyk Memorial Award: Mary Rose Corrigan, Board Member, Crescent Community Health Center and Heidi Price-Eastman, Pharmacy Director, Primary Health Care, Inc.

    • Unsung Hero Award: Di Daniels, Board Member, United Community Health Center

    • Outstanding Provider Award: Sharon Duclos, MD, Medical Director, Peoples Community Health Clinic

    • Carl Kulczyk Memorial Award: Frank LaMere, Siouxland Community Health Center

    • Unsung Hero Award: Maria Ramos, United Community Health Center

    • Outstanding Provider Award: Dr. Muhammad Pathan, Peoples Community Health Clinic

    • Carl Kulczyk Memorial Award: Rick Johnson, River Hills Community Health Center

    • Unsung Hero Award: Diane Yang, United Community Health Center

    • Outstanding Provider Award: David Yurdin, Primary Health Care, Inc.

    • Carl Kulczyk Memorial Award: Nancy Dykstra, Promise Community Health Center

    • Unsung Hero Award: Roger Lacoy, Primary Health Care, Inc.

    • Outstanding Provider Award: Shilo Hilger, DDS, River Hills Community Health Center

    • Carl Kulczyk Memorial Award: Don Ortman, Promise Community Health Center

    • Unsung Hero Award: Bill Miller, Infinity Health

    • Outstanding Provider Award: Patricia Blackledge, River Hills Community Health Center

    • Carl Kulczyk Memorial Award: Bernie Tadda, Community Health Care, Inc.

    • Unsung Hero Award: Diane Meland, Siouxland Community Health Center

    • Outstanding Provider Award: Larry Richard, MD, Infinity Health

    • Carl Kulczyk Memorial Award: Lanett Kane, Peoples Community Health Clinic

    • Unsung Provider Award: Al Ausili, Peoples Community Health Clinic

    • Outstanding Provider Award: Dr. Thor Swanson, Siouxland Community Health Center

    • Carl Kulczyk Memorial Award: Lorna Hines, Primary Health Care

    • Unsung Hero Award: Lacey Naaktgeboren, Proteus, Inc.

    • Outstanding Provider Award: William Souto, DDS, Crescent Community Health Center

    • Carl Kulczyk Memorial Award: Ron Kemp, Community Health Centers of Southeastern Iowa

    • Unsung Hero Award: Joe Heitritter, Promise Community Health Center

    • Carl Kulczyk Memorial Award: Jennifer Schmit, Peoples Community Health Clinic

    • Unsung Hero Award: Suzanne Maiers, Crescent Community Health Center