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.

The Awards

  • Lifetime Achievement


    2024 Winner: Kelly Huntsman, CEO, Primary Health Care, Inc.

    The Lifetime Achievement Award was established eight years ago as a recognition for individuals who devote a significant portion of their careers to Iowa’s community health center movement and leave a lasting legacy upon which others can build. This award is not given annually and is presented to highly distinguished leaders in Iowa’s Health Center Movement.

  • Lifetime Achievement


    2024 Winner: Mari Kaptain-Dahlen, Former CEO, Siouxland Community Health Center

    The Lifetime Achievement Award was established eight years ago as a recognition for individuals who devote a significant portion of their careers to Iowa’s community health center movement and leave a lasting legacy upon which others can build. This award is not given annually and is presented to highly distinguished leaders in Iowa’s Health Center Movement.

  • Dr. Bery Engebretsen Visionary


    2024 Winner: Joe Lock, President & CEO, Eastern Iowa Health Center

    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 and current Chief Visionary for Primary Health Care, Inc. This award will be presented to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to their organization or community(s) who exemplifies leadership excellence, passion for community health, and dedication to addressing drivers of health.

  • Outstanding Provider


    2024 Winner: Kari Ney, Midwife, Promise Community Health Center

    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.

  • Unsung Hero


    2024 Winner: Shannon Price, Dental Receptionist, River Hills Community Health Center

    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.

  • Exceptional Network Support


    2024 Winner: Katie Owens, Senior Director of Engagement, Iowa Primary Care Association

    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.

  • Advocates of the Year Award


    2024 Winner: Community Health Center of Fort Dodge

    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.

  • Communicators of the Year Award


    2024 Winner: Crescent Community Health Center

    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.

Previous Winners

  • 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