Jennifer Thompson, D.O. is a graduate of the University of North Texas Health Science Center, College of Osteopathic Medicine in Ft. Worth, Texas.  She completed her internal medicine residency at Texas Health Resource: Presbyterian Dallas Hospital and her nephrology and transplant nephrology fellowship at Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina.  She is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine and nephrology.

Dr. Thompson practices at Iowa Kidney Physicians in Des Moines, Iowa.  She is an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine in Iowa City, Iowa.

Sarah FitzPatrick is an Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Washington County Hospital & Clinics. Dr. FitzPatrick completed her pharmacy schooling at the University of Iowa followed by two years of post-graduate residency training at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics specializing in ambulatory care practice with a strong emphasis on diabetes management. After finishing residency in the summer of 2023, she returned to her hometown in rural Washington, Iowa and established an ambulatory care pharmacy practice where she works in collaboration with patients and providers to manage chronic disease states.

Timothy Holcomb, DPM is an Iowa native, born and raised in Altoona, IA and graduate of Southeast Polk High School. From there, he graduated Cum Laude from Luther College followed by his medical education at Des Moines University graduating 2^nd in his class.  He completed his three-year residency in Foot and Ankle Surgery in the Des Moines area.  From that point he began practicing in the Des Moines Area for his first two years of practice, transitioning to a rural practice at Greene County Hospital and serving the surrounding community for the past 6 years.  He is excited to have returned home to care for the community that helped raise him with his current location at Foot and Ankle of Greater Des Moines P.C. in Altoona. 

He is a past Co-Director of the Central Iowa Podiatry residency program and currently serves on the Iowa Podiatric Medical Society Board.  He is Board Certified with the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and is a Fellow in the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.  Outside of his medical practice he enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 daughters, triathlon training, playing guitar, and woodworking.

Amy is a bachelor prepared Registered Nurse and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist with over 16 years of diabetes education experience. She worked in various aspects of healthcare early in her career, but found her passion in diabetes education, where she could blend her love of education with patient care. In her career, she has worked for three different diabetes education programs. Two of these she established, and successfully obtained and managed certification through the American Diabetes Association. Her responsibilities have included providing education to patients, families, and hospital staff, serving as an advocate for patients, providing guidance to providers and staff on medication management, insurance coverage, ordering of medical equipment, interpreting CGM data, and managing insulin pumps. She prides herself in providing patient centered care and education to promote a higher quality of life with diabetes.

Dr. Kosters is a Board Certified Osteopathic Family Physician who graduated from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery. He completed his postgraduate training at Des Moines General Osteopathic Hospital. He is currently practicing at Avera Medical Group in Sibley, Iowa, where he is a staff physician, as well as vice-president of the medical staff and Director of Emergency Services at The Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley, Iowa.

In addition to providing family medicine and emergency services, Dr. Kosters serves as Osceola County Medical Examiner, Chair of the Osceola County Board of Health, Medical director of a local long term care facility, as well as Adjunct Faculty for the physician assistant program at Northwestern College in Orange City, IA. Dr. Kosters also serves as Regional Director for Medical Quality for Avera Medical Group clinics in Northwest Iowa and Southwest Minnesota.

Dr. Kosters has no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this program or presentation.

David E. Drake, D.O., DMU ’83,  is an Iowa board certified psychiatrist who has worked with numerous physicians over the years on referral by our Iowa Board of Medicine and by the physicians themselves when facing challenges at home, in the work setting, and in transitions in their identity to retirement.  A graduate of The Colorado College in religion and then the Harvard Divinity School, David’s work involves talk work/psychotherapy as well as medication management where appropriate and is all remote throughout Iowa and Colorado.

His website for more information is:  daviddrakefamilypsychiatry.com

Dr.Yogi Shah is the Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs for Broadlawns Medical Center. Dr. Shah joined the organization in September 2016 and served as a geriatrician in the Broadlawns Geriatric and Memory Center for his first three years with the Broadlawns. Prior to joining the medical staff at Broadlawns, he served as the Associate Dean of Global Health at Des Moines University and was the founding physician for the Des Moines University Memory Clinic.

Dr. Shah received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Bombay University in India. He completed his residency training in Family Medicine with the Mercy Mayo Residency Program, and he earned his Geriatric Fellowship from the Mayo Clinic where he worked on Mild Cognitive Impairment. He is triple-board-certified in Family Medicine, Geriatrics, Hospice and Palliative Care. Dr. Shah holds a Masters in Public Health from Des Moines University. 

Dr. Shah has no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this program or presentation.

Dr. Olesen is a graduate of Des Moines University in Des Moines, Iowa. She completed a rotating internship and OB/VYN residency at Genesys Regional Medical Center in Grand Blanc, Michigan. She is board certified by the American Board of Osteopathic Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Olesen joined the medical staff at Broadlawns Medical Center in October 2019. She is the section chief of the OB/GYN department, and is accepting new patients and referrals. 

David. O. Shumway, DO is an internal medicine residency-trained, incoming aerospace medical flight surgeon and active-duty Air Force captain. Dr. Shumway is an AOA Training in Policy Studies (TIPS) fellow in the class of 2023, and a graduate of the inaugural cohort of the AOA Leadership Academy in the class of 2023. Dr. Shumway has also served on the Bureau of Emerging Leaders and Council of OMED, and writes frequently for The DO, where he originated the Resident Notebook column. Dr. Shumway has presented widely and published on the applications of large language model and clinical AI, most recently leading the AOA Board of Trustees Midyear Strategic Discussion as the keynote speaker on AI. Despite this, he is still probably best known for his love of Disney karaoke. He is married, with two children, and a Tri-color Pembroke Welsh Corgi.

Cynthia (Cindy) Penkala, CMM, CMPE, CMSCS, CPOM is the Senior Director of the Physician Services Department at the AOA. In her role she provides and oversees the guidance provided AOA Affiliates, osteopathic physicians and their practices on issues impacting the daily operations of the medical practice. She raises awareness of issues that may impact osteopathic physicians and their practices and administers  the development of member education to assist physicians. With over 40 years working in the health care industry including; 14+ years of medical association experience, 18 + years managing physician practices, owning her own billing and consulting service, and an additional 10 years working in the medical field in general, Cindy uses her versatile skill set to help physicians and their practices be successful. She does this through a continual focus on service offerings, investigation, education, process improvement and a solid background in healthcare services, organizational management, medical billing, and personnel recruiting. Her drive is fueled by her passion to make sure physicians have a choice between becoming employed and remaining independent.

Cynthia (Cindy) Penkala, CMM, CMPE, CMSCS, CPOM has no actual or potential conflict of interest, financial relationship/arrangement or affiliation with any entity producing, marketing, re-selling or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients.

Dr. Quinlisk was the Medical Director and State Epidemiologist at the Iowa Department of Public Health for 24 years. She is now semi-retired; continuing to teach at various universities and working on projects such as how to change behaviors to prevent dementia (Saving Your Brain with Broadlawns Hospital and the Des Moines YMCA). Her background includes training as a clinical microbiologist, training microbiologists while a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal, a Masters of Public Health from Johns Hopkins, a medical degree from the University of Wisconsin, and training as a field epidemiologist in the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service. For twelve years she conducted epidemiologic training courses in Europe, and is a professor at the University of Iowa, the University of Wisconsin, Des Moines University, and Iowa State University. For several years she was an Editorial Board Member for CDC’s MMWR and on CDC’s Board of Scientific Advisors, served on the Gilmore Commission and the National Vaccine Advisory Committee, and as President of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE). She was on the Institute of Medicine’s committees on Microbial Threats to Health in the 21st Century, Animal Health at the Crossroads, Preparing for the Psychological consequences of Terrorism, and Antivirals for Pandemic Influenza. In 2009 she received an honorary Doctorate of Science from Iowa State University, and served for 5 years as the Chair for the National Biodefense Science Board.

Dr. Wistrom grew up in Stanton, IA and is a graduate of Stanton High School. He went to college at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, MO and Medical School at KCOM in Kirksville. Residency in Emergency Medicine at HF Macomb. He has been involved in emergency services since age 16 and has been an ambulance driver, EMT, Paramedic, ED Physician and currently serves as EMS/ED Medical Director for Mercyhealth in Janesville, WI where he lives with his wife and three kids. He enjoys his Iowa roots and spending time outside hunting, fishing, and foraging.

Dr. Brown worked in prehospital emergency care and EMS education in central Iowa before completing his medical education and family medicine residency.  He currently practices rural emergency medicine at Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, Iowa.

He has had a lifelong interest in outdoor activities which has led him to pursue additional experiences in wilderness and environmental medicine.  Dr. Brown is a frequent instructor on wilderness and environmental medicine topics for resident and student electives and student interest groups.  He is a Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine.

Professor Mahajan earned a PhD in Biochemistry from University of Pune, India. He has extensive research and teaching experience in academia and biotechnology industry. He joined Drake University in 2010, and to date has secured over a million dollars in extramural and intramural research grants and led the establishment of the Ellis Pharmacogenomics Teaching and Research Laboratory at Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Dr. Mahajan has developed successful research collaborations with scientists in local, National and International institutions. Current research in the Mahajan lab focuses on (1) Understanding molecules and mechanisms of DNA Damage & Repair and (2) Developing genomic technologies for Healthcare Education & Research. Dr. Mahajan has 35 peer-reviewed publications and 33 issued US patents to his credit. 

Professor Mahajan serves on various committees of National and International professional organizations including the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists and American Society of Human Genetics, American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and locally, the Heartland Global Health Consortium. He is passionate about enhancing genomics & biotechnology education for improving human health. Recently, Dr. Mahajan’s SoapyCilantro Practicum has been selected for the Iowa Governor’s STEM Scale Up scheme. This practicum consists of a week-long continuing education course for Iowa’s STEM teachers and a genomics education kit for 6-12 grade students. 

Jacqueline Stoken graduated from Des Moines University.  She did a 1-year internal medicine internship at Des Moines General Hospital.  She completed a PM&R residency at the University of Minnesota in 1994.  Holistic medicine has been her passion.  She is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Holistic Medicine and Independent Medical Evaluations.  She is Adjunct Clinical Professor of Rehabilitation at Des Moines University.  She regularly lectures for the Des Moines Mercy Family Practice residency program.  She is in private practice in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Jo Ellen primarily practices in the areas of employment and health law. As the current chair of the firm’s Employment Law and Labor Relations Department, she brings 30 years of practical experience to business planning, discipline, and termination issues for employers.  Her work includes representation of employers before various administrative agencies including the EEOC, ICRC, OCR, DOL, and OSHA.

She frequently provides her clients with on-site training for all levels of employees and is a highly sought-after presenter on labor and health law issues. Jo Ellen is AV® Preeminent™ rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized by Chambers USA, Great Plains Super Lawyers, and The Best Lawyers in America^© for her work.  Jo Ellen was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar in March 2018.

Dr. Lindsey Van Duyn, DO, currently working for Washington County Hospital and Clinics in specializing in providing primary care services. She obtained her medical degree from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed residency at UH Regional Hospital. Dr. Van Duyn has background with research and contributing to publications in the Journal of American Osteopathic Association and Mayo Clinic. Her current passion project is working with teens who suffer from depression and finding a way to connect and support them as they heal and grow through the process. 

Dr. Dustin Arnold is Chief Medical Officer for Unity Point-St. Luke’s. His hometown is Cedar Rapids. He earned his degree at Coe, is a graduate of Des Moines University, College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery and is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.  He was named Physician of the Year by the Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association (IOMA) in 2020 for notable commitment to his profession, patients, and the Iowa Hospital Association Hospital Hero in 2014. 

Dr. Felegi is the Medical Director of Travel MD, a large outpatient service of Atlantic Health in Morristown, NJ.  He serves as the Emergency Department Medical Director at Van Buren County Hospital in Keosauqua, IA and the Medical Director for the hospital ambulance service and Farmington EMS.  He is a member of United Iowa First Aid, one of three pilot programs funded in cooperation with the State of Iowa to enhance quicker respond of first responders in rural Iowa.  

Dr. Felegi is originally from NJ where he graduated from Rutgers College and worked as a fulltime pathology technician for five years before graduating from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford ME.  He completed an AOA rotating Internship at St. Michael’s Medical Center in Newark, completed a year of family medicine at Somerset Medical Center, Somerville NJ and then a graduated from an emergency medicine program at Morristown Memorial Hospital in NJ where he was chief resident.  He is a fellow of the American College of Emergency Medicine and oral board examiner for the American Board of Emergency Medicine.  He also completed an AOA Osteopathic Health Policy Fellowship.  He has received multiple local, state, and national awards for his teaching abilities, leadership, and political advocacy with over thirty years of experience in EMS and emergency and travel medicine.

Dr. Joelle Vlahakis is currently a Contractor Medical Director at Wisconsin Physician Services Government Health Administrators (WPS-GHA).  She is working on an Innovations Challenge Grant from CMS to increase the use of both depression screening and chronic care management for Medicare beneficiaries.  This project has a special emphasis on those who struggle with the inequities within the health care system. Her passion is to promote quality, high value, patient-centered medical care for all patients, regardless of the seriousness of their disease or ability to pay. 

Dr. Vlahakis is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a Diplomat in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.  She graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology with concentration in Neurobiology and Behavior.  Dr. Vlahakis received her Doctor of Medicine in 1995 at the University of Miami School of Medicine.  Her residency was performed at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine where she received the Resident Teaching Excellence Award.  She is a member of the American College of Physicians, a Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics, and a Fellow in the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.  She was previously the Medical Director of Supportive Care Services and founding Program Director of the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, located in Sarasota, Florida.   She has a special interest in bioethics. Dr. Vlahakis is also a Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Florida State University College of Medicine, Sarasota Regional Campus and an Affiliate Physician at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute. 

Ellen is Certified Professional Coder (CPC) through the AAPC.

Her Medicare experience began in 1981. She began working with Medicare in 1984, joining POE in 1996. Ellen’s Medicare experience includes:

• Front desk staff for an outpatient clinic providing radiology and clinical lab
• Claims
• Appeals including first level hearings
• Customer Service
• Congressional Inquiries
• Provider Outreach & Education 

I was born and raised in the small town of Manning, Iowa. I attended Creighton University in Omaha and obtained my Bachelor's degree in Psychology. I attended the University of Iowa for both medical school and neurology residency. My fellowship in Movement disorders was completed at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA. After fellowship, I stayed on as neurology faculty in the movement disorders division at Stanford, where I was also involved in the teaching of residents and staffing of their continuity of care clinics. Most recently, my wife and I moved from California to Iowa, and I have been working at Ruan Neurology since January 2022. I am currently in the process of building my practice of movement disorders/Parkinson's disease, in addition to building a more specialized deep brain stimulation (DBS) program. I am accepting new patients, and I am more than happy to see any of your patients with movement disorder problems.

Dr. Buelt completed his family medicine residency at St. Petersburg General Hospital in Florida.  Currently he works as a Hospitalist at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Bay Pines, Fl and has worked as an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Medicine.

Dr. Buelt has left an indelible mark on the medical landscape. His extensive contributions include serving as medical editor for primary care reviews and perspectives, Right on Prime and Emergency Medicine Reviews and Perspectives to help record and produce over a 100 hours of continuous medical education.

A pivotal figure in shaping medical guidelines, Dr. Buelt co-authored guidelines on Dyslipidemia, Headaches, COPD, low back pain, and depression for the Veteran Affairs and Department of Defense. His prolific work extends to numerous Practice Guideline reviews in the Journal of American Family Physician. Beyond his written contributions, Dr. Buelt co-founded the globally recognized Questioning Medicine podcast, earning a spot on the American Family Physician list of "25 Podcast Episodes Every Family Physician Should Listen To." Dr. Buelt stands as a top-tier speaker, sharing unparalleled insights and expertise.

Dr. Jonathan Cleaver attended Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine/ A.T. Still University in 2008.  He completed his residency training and Mohs surgical fellowship at the Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville.   Dr. Cleaver is currently serving as the president for the Missouri Dermatological Society, a member of the Board of Trustees for A.T. Still University, President of the Heartland Physician Corporation, and the Vice-Chair for the IPN network. He is also on the faculty for the dermatology residency training program at Northeast Regional Medical Center. Dr. Cleaver is board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology. He practices general dermatology and dermatological surgery in Kirksville, MO.

Dr. Cleaver has no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this program or presentation.