About Us
Executive Leadership
Board of Directors
Diversity Statement
About PHC
Primary Health Care (PHC) was founded in 1981 by Dr. Bery Engebretsen in Des Moines, IA. Our mission has remained unchanged since that time, to provide healthcare and supportive services to all, regardless of insurance, immigration status, or ability to pay. Learn more about federally qualified health centers here.
Based on the needs of the communities we serve, PHC offers a spectrum of medical and dental services including family practice, behavioral health, HIV care and services, and pharmacy. PHC’s Homeless Support Services is the entry point for serving people experiencing homelessness in Polk County. Enabling services are available to help patients with benefits enrollment, case management, transportation, translation, and patient education.
PHC employs 62 physicians, dentists, advanced practice clinicians, dental hygienists, and licensed social workers. PHC has 400 employees. In 2020, PHC clinics and programs served 37,680 patients and clients with over 137,684 patient and client encounters.
Serving Patients, Strengthening the Community
We have proudly served Central Iowa for more than 30 years, In that time, we’ve added new locations, expanded our services, upgraded technology, and increased our medical and support staff – all in an effort to provide everyone with a better patient experience and to meet the needs of the communities we serve.
Executive Leadership
Kelly Huntsman, MHA
Chief Executive Officer
Nathan Simpson, MHA
Chief Operating Officer
Elizabeth Frantum
Chief Financial Officer
Bery Engebretsen, MD
Chief Visionary Officer
Julie Raasch, RN, MHA
Chief Quality Officer
Heidi Shreck, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Board of Directors
Ben Bellus
Vice Chair
Scott Clair
Chair
Karin Derry
Past Chair
Denise Essman
Sandy Hansen
Sergio Hernandez
Janet Hicks
Alicia Huguelet
Ted Johnson
Treasurer
Roger Lacoy
Secretary
Jeni Nosbisch
Maryna Salas
Billie Wade
Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at PHC
The Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (JEDI-B) committee was established in September of 2020 and is made up of employees across the organization. The committee’s goal is to ensure no one is left behind in creating a supportive and engaging work environment. It will implement staff training, review current policies, actively work on anti-racist policies, and celebrate the diversity of our staff as well as the communities we serve.
Along with additional strategies developed by the Iowa Primary Care Association, this is the framework PHC is building upon to make sustainable change.
Supporting a culture where all patients and staff, regardless of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, sex, ethnicity, or creed, feel welcome is crucial to the success of our mission – ensuring equitable access to healthcare and supportive services for all, to improve quality of life.