“There’s no typical day in my role—and that’s what I love most!” CPH alumnus Andrew Grimm (12MPH, 12MHA) leads integrated health operations at one of the nation’s original Healthcare for the Homeless programs, serving over 15,000 people annually.

We recently caught up with Andrew and asked a few questions about his current position and how his dual degrees from the University of Iowa College of Public Health prepared him to lead.

Andrew Grimm

12MPH, 12MHA

Current City, State: Denver, Colorado

What is your current job title and employer?

Chief Integrated Health Operations Officer at the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless

Tell us about the type of work you do, or what a typical day is like.

One of my favorite parts about my job is that there is no typical day! I am an executive leader of a very unique organization, the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (CCH), that is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) receiving Healthcare for the Homeless (HCH) and Public Housing Primary Care funding; a developer, property manager, and supportive services provider for several thousand units of affordable and permanent supportive housing; and an education and advocacy leader, all working collaboratively to provide lasting solutions to homelessness in Colorado. CCH was one of the original Healthcare for the Homeless programs in the country, founded in 1984.

I have been with the organization for over seven years now. In most cities, the work that we do is done by two to five different organizations or government entities. In my role, I serve as the operational, quality, and compliance leader for the Coalition’s integrated health care services, working in close collaboration with our clinical and supportive housing program leadership to support our teams in providing services to around 15,000 people each year.

I also spend valuable time representing CCH and the broader HCH community at the local, state, and national levels, including serving as a board member for Colorado’s Primary Care Association. Over the last two years, I’ve also had the honor of serving as the president-elect, president, and now immediate past president of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, the federally supported National Training and Technical Assistance Partner for all HCH programs in the US. 

What do you find most rewarding about your work?

I often tell people I have one of the coolest jobs in health care! I am surrounded by mission driven humans who work together to provide access to services and resources that help the most vulnerable Coloradans. With Colorado’s zero copay Medicaid program and our ability to leverage a broad range of resources to provide services on a sliding fee scale with a nominal fee set at zero dollars, many of our patients receive access to primary care, behavioral health, dental, vision, pharmacy and a broad range of supportive services.   

What made you choose a career in public health?

I was always interested in health care as a career area, but I learned that science was not really my strongest suit! Thankfully, I had Elizabeth (Betsy) Momany (84MA and 88PhD) as a close family friend and mentor growing up in the Amana Colonies who helped me realize that there were amazing opportunities to work in health care that were not in direct clinical care. As a graduate of the program and a public policy researcher at the University of Iowa Public Policy Center, I first learned about health policy and health administration as career options and about the Iowa MHA and MPH programs. I was always interested in the work she was doing and got excited when I was able to visit her office and meet others who were doing the important health policy work she was doing.

This interest followed me to Grinnell College where I had the opportunity to do an academic year internship with Todd Linden (87MA), an Iowa alumnus who was the CEO at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. This incredible internship and Todd’s mentorship cemented my desire to complete the MHA program at Iowa.

What made you pursue both an MPH in policy and an MHA degree? What attributes of these programs prepared you for success in your career?

I actually started at the College of Public Health as an MHA candidate. However, as I became more exposed to health policy as a concentration area and with health care system reform on the horizon as the Affordable Care Act was being discussed and drafted, I quickly realized I wanted to also pursue the MPH in policy. This is a decision I have never regretted! The practical health system leadership knowledge and business acumen that the MHA program develops was a perfect complement to the fundamental public health and policy knowledge the MPH in policy program provides. I often tell people that I am extremely fortunate that I use both of my graduate degrees in my work every day.

What is your favorite memory of your time at Iowa?

There are many great memories from my time in the programs! One of my favorite opportunities the MHA program provided was going on group trips to visit hospital systems where Iowa MHA leaders were eager to share their knowledge with us. The trips provided excellent exposure to what different health system structures looked like and what opportunities were out there after graduation. They were also great opportunities to build long-lasting connections with others in the program.