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.
Nominations for the following four awards are now open! These awards will be presented at the 2024 Iowa Community Health Conference.
- Carl Kulczyk Memorial Award: This award was established in recognition of Carl Kulczyk's outstanding contributions to the Iowa PCA and community health field prior to his death in 2008. This award is presented to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to his/her organization over the course of his/her tenure at the health center.
- Eligibility: A Board member or staff member who serves in a leadership/management position at an Iowa health center. Nominees have a multi-year history with the health center and have made significant contributions to advancing the mission of the health center and to strengthening the role of the health center throughout the community(ies) it serves.
- Unsung Hero Award: This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a level of excellence in his/her work which distinguishes his/her services 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 his/her 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.
- 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 he/she serves.
- 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.
- Community Impact Award: This award recognizes an individual that has made an impact on both their community health center and their community. Nominations are submitted by community partners and other stakeholders to celebrate the nominee’s dedication to improving the lives and health of others.
- Eligibility: An individual who is a staff member or volunteer at an Iowa health center. Nominees demonstrate a commitment to furthering the mission of the health center and enriching the lives in their community.
Previous Award Winners
2022
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
2021
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.
2020
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
2019
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
2018
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.
2017
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
2016
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
2015
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
2014
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
2013
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
2012
Carl Kulczyk Memorial Award: Ron Kemp, Community Health Centers of Southeastern Iowa
Unsung Hero Award: Joe Heitritter, Promise Community Health Center
2011
Carl Kulczyk Memorial Award: Jennifer Schmit, Peoples Community Health Clinic
Unsung Hero Award: Suzanne Maiers, Crescent Community Health Center
.png){kind=logo}
.png)
