Q&A with Jenny McDonnell

Jenny McDonnell, PhD, MPH, is a tenure-track assistant professor in the Department of Health Management and Policy. She joined the program this summer. Q: How do you hope to use your research interests to inform health policy and improve patient care? A: In a perfect world, patients would have universal access to the treatment modalities […] Published July 28, 2025

Q&A with Karen Hammar

Karen Hammar, MHA, MOT, OTR/L, FACHE, is a clinical assistant professor and director of the Master of Health Administration (MHA) program in the Department of Health Management and Policy at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. She started her new role this summer. Q: What are you most looking forward it in your […] Published July 28, 2025

Plugged in to Public Health: The impacts of relaxed staff training and licensing requirements on nursing homes

Lauren welcomes Gulrukh Mehboob for a discussion about the impacts of relaxed staff training and licensing requirements on nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gul is a Fulbright PhD scholar at the University of Iowa College of Public Health, studying health workforce policy, particularly in long-term care settings. Published July 10, 2025

Whitney Zahnd comments on potential impacts of Medicaid cuts on rural hospitals

Whitney Zahnd, assistant professor of health management and policy, recently talked about the potential impacts of new federal legislation on rural hospitals. (WOI-TV) Published July 10, 2025

Zahnd to lead collaboratory focused on rural cancer survivorship research

Whitney Zahnd, assistant professor of health management and policy, has been selected to establish a new collaboratory dedicated to advancing rural cancer survivorship research. Published July 10, 2025

Plugged in to Public Health: Changing the global health paradigm

In this episode, Lauren talks with Dr. Shadi Saleh (01PhD in health management and policy), the founding director of the Global Health Institute at the American University of Beirut. Published June 10, 2025

Karen Hammar to lead Master of Health Administration Program

The Department of Health Management and Policy this week announced the appointment of Karen Hammar, MHA, MOT, OTR/L, FACHE, as clinical assistant professor and director of the Master of Health Administration Program, effective July 1, 2025. Published May 2, 2025

Report proposes strategies for enhancing rural health care in the U.S.

A new report, summarizing key takeaways from the 2024 Future of Rural Health Summit, offers a detailed plan to improve health care in rural communities across the United States. Published May 1, 2025

Kaskie discusses strategies to retain older workers

Employers are increasingly valuing the experience of older workers and are seeking strategies to keep them in the workforce. Brian Kaskie, professor of health management and policy, says it's important that employers look at the specific needs of senior workers and think creatively about recruiting and retaining them. (Des Moines Register) Published April 24, 2025

Helping farm families manage dementia care

A new training resource that addresses the unique safety and cultural concerns of farm families caring for a loved one with dementia is being developed by researchers from the University of Iowa and University of Illinois Chicago. Published April 22, 2025