Greater Des Moines Board of Directors

The volunteers who serve on the American Heart Association Des Moines Board of Directors include local healthcare professionals and business and community leaders who guide our mission and activities to improve the cardiovascular health of the Des Moines community – from health legislation to fundraising initiatives that expand and improve systems of care, research grants and education programs.

Board Leadership

Leisha Barcus
President/CEO
YMCA of Greater Des Moines

Thomas Brown, MD
Cardiologist
Iowa Heart Center

Sarah Borchers
Director Experience & Brand
Aueron

Wade A Den Hartog
Advisor
Foster Group

Tej Dhawan
Chief Data Officer
Principal Financial Group

Robert Gallegos, MD, PhD
Board President
Cardiothoracic Surgeon
The Iowa Clinic

Angel Grubb
Community Volunteer

Leslie S. Hough, CPCU, RPLU
AVP, Underwriting and Product Performance Commercial Lines
Nationwide

John Irving
President – Central Iowa Division
Tri City Electric

Jordan Jeon
Division Vice President, Cardiovascular Service Line
MercyOne (Central) | Iowa Heart Center

Pamela Johnson-Carlson DNP, RN, NE-BC
Chief Administrative Officer, 
University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital and Women’s Services
University of Iowa Health Care

Nancy Kertz, PhD, APRN
Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs
Mercy College of Health Sciences

Izaah Knox
Executive Director
Urban Dreams

Stephani Manning
Vice President
Innovative Captive Strategies/Holmes Murphy

Karen Rieck
Chair Elect
Vice President Human Resources
FBL Financial Group

Lena Rydberg, DO
Board President Elect
Physician – Internal Medicine
The Iowa Clinic

Jodi Schweiger
Director Employer Health Services
The Iowa Clinic

Scott Shumaker
Principal
Woodland Hills Elementary, Waukee Schools

Elisa Sloss RD,LD
Vice President, HealthMarkets
Hy-Vee, Inc.

David Stark
Board Chair
President & CEO
UnityPoint Health