| Jim Leste named chief administrative officer for University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children's Hospital | .png)
Jim Leste, MS, FACHE, has been named the chief administrative officer of Stead Family Children's Hospital, effective July 29.
Leste currently serves as vice president of operations for Children's Minnesota - which cares for kids throughout the upper Midwest at two free-standing hospitals, nine primary care clinics, multiple specialty clinics, and seven rehabilitation sites. He is board certified as a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and has held various leadership positions within Children's Minnesota over the last two decades - including vice president of support operations; senior director of surgical specialties; director of safety, security, and emergency management; among others.
Jim is a board member and past board chair of Life Link III, the largest consortium owned critical care air medical transport company in the country. He also served in an adjunct faculty role at Saint Mary's University in Minnesota.
As chief administrative officer of Stead Family Children's Hospital, Jim will provide on-site leadership, which includes managing financial performance, clinical quality, and employee, physician, and community relations. | | | | Milestone anniversaries Congratulations to the following individuals for celebrating milestone anniversaries in July!
Donna Cheung, MBBS celebrated 5 years on July 1
Bryan Koestner, MD celebrated 5 years on July 1
Anna Schmitz, MD celebrated 5 years on July 1
Kristen Surom, RN, BSN celebrated 5 years on July 1
Sreenath Thati Ganganna, MBBS, MD celebrated 5 years on July 1
Lukasz Weiner, MD celebrated 5 years on July 8
Rebecca Weiner, MD celebrated 5 years on July 8
Molly Dahm, ARNP is celebrating 10 years on July 21
Derek Zhorne, MD is celebrating 10 years on July 31
Leah Zhorne, MD is celebrating 10 years on July 31
Kathy Bell is celebrating 25 years on July 29
Brenda Haag, RN, BSN, PCN is celebrating 25 years on July 8
Katherine Mathews, MD celebrated 35 years on July 1 | | | Now available: Your total compensation statement Fiscal year (FY) 2025 total compensation statements are now available in Employee Self-Service. FY25 total compensation statements include available paid leave, in addition to annual salary, retirement, and other benefits as of July 1.
In addition to the benefits outlined in your compensation statement, you have access to resources that promote well-being and your professional growth. Please explore and take full advantage of the following resources:
Employee discounts
Benefits and well-being resources
Tuition assistance
Mental health resources
Learning and development
If you have questions regarding your total compensation statement or the additional benefits outlined above, please contact your human resources representative.
If you missed Stay in The Loop with Denise Jamieson, MD, MPH, a recording is available at the link above. Jamieson provided highlights from FY24 and shared stories from spring events and recent visits with our teams. | | | | How artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming health care The use of AI has untapped potential in medicine - but how can this technology influence your health care? Join the next Chat From the Old Cap as host Milan Sonka, director of the Iowa Initiative for Artificial Intelligence, sits down with three UI Health Care experts to discuss the promise and challenges of using AI to assist in medicine. The UI Health Care panelists include:
Lauris Kaldjian, MD, PhD, director, Program in Bioethics and Humanities, Carver College of Medicine
Lindsey Knake, MD, MS, neonatologist, Stead Family Children's Hospital
Lemuel Non, MD, clinical assistant professor, internal medicine-infectious diseases, Carver College of Medicine
This event will take place on Wednesday, July 17 over the Noon hour via Zoom. If interested in attending, RSVP today! | | | Bike safety event Parents and their children are invited to attend the annual Bike Safety Event from 6-7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 12, at UI Health Care, Iowa River Landing parking ramp (Level 2). Attendees will receive:
- Bike safety tips
- Free bicycle helmets for kids in attendance (while supplies last)
- Free bicycle tuneups and safety checks (for kids bikes)
- A chance to win a free children's bicycle
Provider Communication Workshop
The Provider Communication Workshop is open to all physicians, fellows, advanced practice providers, physician assistants, and advanced registered nurse practitioners. The program teaches a series of techniques that will help save time during patient encounters and set clear agendas with patients for more effective partnerships on shared goals and treatment plans. View the full schedule and register. | | | | July cultural holidays and celebrations July 4 - American Independence from the British
July 6/7 - Hijri New Year (Islamic lunar new year)
July 14 - Kharchi Puja (Hindu Festival of deities)
July 21/22 - Asalha Puja (celebrating the Buddha's first sermon)
Thank you for attending the 3rd Annual Cultural Awareness Appreciation Day (CAAD)
As many of you know, the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics DEI Committee partnered with the Carver College of Medicine's Office of Health Parity to host the 3rd Annual CAAD. If you attended CAAD 2024, please complete this brief survey to provide your feedback. | | | Congratulations to Dr. Joy Goins-Fernandez on earning the Healthcare Executive Diversity and Inclusion Certificate (HEDIC) Joyce Goins-Fernandez, PhD participated in the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) HEDIC Program, an intensive academic program focused on diversity education. The program aims to develop competencies for driving diversity in health care, and participants develop skills to successfully implement diversity projects at their home institutions.
Dr. Goins-Fernandez's project involved creating a new curriculum for medical students, specifically focusing on health equity. Thank you to the Stead Family, who generously supported Dr. Goins-Fernandez's participation in the HEDIC Program. | | | | QPR suicide prevention training Question, Persuade, Respond (QPR) is a program designed to educate people from all walks of life on how to recognize the warning signs of suicide. QPR helps people get comfortable asking the question, "Are you thinking about suicide?" and then helping people get appropriate help. QPR is designed for all 'gatekeepers', who according to the Surgeon General's National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, is anyone who can recognize when someone is in a crisis and may be contemplating suicide.
Enroll in this important course if you are a gatekeeper and would like to learn more.
Anyone with an immediate concern for the safety of themselves or others should call 911. | | | New sleep program Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is offering a new sleep app, Sleepio, to help you get your sleep back on track. You will meet with an EAP counselor to get screened and then have two more sessions (in person or over Zoom) to support you through your sleep changes.
Call 319-335-2085 or email eaphelp@uiowa.edu for more information.
Importance of the Personal Health Assessment (PHA)
The Personal Health Assessment (PHA) has supported well-being at the University of Iowa through workplace data, campus resource allocation and impactful programming. Learn the importance of this survey and how it contributes to overall campus well-being. | | | Announcements and Recognition | | | | Donations for the North Liberty Community Pantry UI Health Care is coordinating an "essentials drive" to support the North Liberty Community Pantry's "Thanksgiving in July" initiative. Forty percent of all donations the Pantry receives are in November and December, but the need to serve families is year-round and the demand for items continues to grow in our community.
A donation box is located in the Peds Admin Suite (BT2001) by the reception desk and will be there through the end of July. The items that they need the most are:
- Kid-friendly snacks and treats
- Toilet paper
- Hygiene and bathroom products (toothbrushes, etc.)
- Clothing (especially women's professional wear, winter coats for all ages, shoes, baby, and children's clothes)
- Other items such as pasta, canned goods, cereals, and breads are also welcomed
Please reach out to Abby Pals with any questions. | | | Family Medicine Off Service Teacher of the Year - Nathaniel Justice Nathaniel Justice, MD, MBA was recognized as the Family Medicine Off Service Teacher of the Year 2023-2024. This award is nominated and voted by Family Medicine and Family Medicine Psychiatry Residents. They recognized Dr. Justice for his outstanding teaching in the newborn nursery and during the residents' pediatric inpatient rotations. They commented that "he is always eager to teach and has always included them as a part of the team."
Patient comments from our pediatric clinics
"Shirley was incredibly thorough and kind. She not only involved us as parents but made sure our child was a part of everything. She discussed all options and answered so many questions that we had." -patient of Shirley Johnson, ARNP, MSN, CPNP
"Dr. Ben is the best of the best. He takes his time to listen to our concerns and ease our minds. Wouldn't change a thing." -patient of Benjamin Reinking, MD
| | | Pediatric Education year-end awards | The Stead Family Department of Pediatrics hosted the residency and fellowship graduation programs on June 21 during Grand Rounds, and a graduation celebration was hosted at Walker Homestead on June 22.
The graduation program honored resident and fellow physician graduates, as well as those who were specifically recognized by their peers and mentors. Visit the Peds SharePoint site to view the full list of award winners, and to view a photo recap of the weekend's events. | | | |
