Jessica Aguilar, MHA ‘08, FACHE

Vice President – Operations, Health Services Division, Sanford Health

Jessica Aguilar, MHA ‘08, FACHE, serves as Vice President of Operations in the Health Services Division at Sanford Health. She provides enterprise leadership across multiple service lines and oversees strategic initiatives including the Edith Sanford Breast Center, Sanford fit, Imagenetics, and the Sanford Children’s Genomic Medicine Consortium. Aguilar began her career at Epic Systems in Madison, WI, and later earned her Master of Health Administration from the University of Iowa. She completed a two-year administrative fellowship at Mayo Clinic before joining Sanford Health in 2010, where she has held progressive leadership roles.

Based in her hometown of Sioux Falls, SD, Aguilar remains actively engaged in her community and profession, serving on the boards of Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana, the University of Iowa Health Management and Policy Alumni Association, and the South Dakota chapter of ACHE (as president-elect). She also co-chairs the At-Risk Individuals & Families Community Impact Team with the Sioux Empire United Way.

Scott Becker, JD, CPA

Partner McGuireWoods, Publisher Becker’s Healthcare

Scott Becker, JD, CPA, is a partner in the healthcare practice at McGuireWoods LLP, where he previously chaired the department for nearly 13 years. He earned his BS in finance and accounting from the University of Illinois and became a Harvard‑educated lawyer in 1989. Becker is best known as the founder and publisher of Becker’s Hospital Review and Becker’s Healthcare, influential digital media platforms covering health system strategy, technology, and finance. Through books, podcasts, and industry events, he shapes thought leadership in healthcare. Scott represents hospitals, health systems, surgery‑center chains, and private equity clients in regulatory, transactional, and compliance matters. A recognized leader, he is frequently featured in legal rankings such as Leading Lawyers, Healthcare Law, Illinois, Chambers USA and Best Lawyers, Health Care Law, Woodward/White, Inc. (2007–2025). 

Steve Birchard, MA ’86

Former Senior Principal, Deloitte Consulting

Steve Birchard, MA, previously served as a Senior Principal at Deloitte Consulting, where he successfully led Deloitte’s health care strategy practice.While at Deloitte, he also led their national Client Excellence initiative, which focused on growing the skills and capabilities of client account leaders across the country. In his final two years at Deloitte, Birchard was selected to build and lead the health care practice’s Strategic Win Team (SWT). The SWT initiative focused on coaching the most complex and crucial client pursuit teams, and positively growing Deloitte’s competitive win rate.

Birchard is a graduate of Luther College (BA, Management) and the University of Iowa (MHA). He began his career working at Memorial Health System in South Bend, IN, serving as a Fellow and advancing to Vice President, Operations. Currently he serves as a trustee on the national board of City Year, an organization dedicated to supporting the success of students in systemically under-resourced schools.

Darcelle Skeete Burgess, JD ’13, MHA ’14, CHC, CHPC

Director of Privacy, Bon Secours Mercy Health

Darcelle Skeete Burgess, JD, MHA, CHC, CHPC, serves as the Director of Privacy for Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH), where she leads privacy operations, including breach investigations, regulatory compliance, state law reviews, and initiatives involving health information exchanges and research. Before joining BSMH, Burgess held multiple leadership positions at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, GA, including Interim Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Privacy Officer, and AVP of Clinical Trials Compliance, overseeing HIPAA compliance, billing reviews, vendor relations, and clinical trials audit operations. She also completed a Health Policy Leadership Fellowship under former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher at Morehouse School of Medicine. Burgess previously chaired the Georgia Hospital Association’s Society of Healthcare Compliance and Privacy Leaders and served on the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Compliance Officer’s Forum Steering Committee, where she also co-led the organization’s Privacy Workgroup.

Michael Brownlee, PharmD, MS, FASHP

Chief Pharmacy Officer, University of Iowa Healthcare

Michael Brownlee, PharmD, was appointed associate director and chief pharmacy officer for University of Iowa Health Care in 2012. He also serves as associate dean for clinical education and a clinical associate professor at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy.

An Iowa native, Brownlee earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree with honors from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. He later completed a master’s degree in Health System Pharmacy Administration at the University of Kansas. During his time as a student, he worked within the UI Health Care Department of Pharmacy and went on to hold several leadership roles, including positions at the University of Kansas Medical Center and the University of Missouri College of Pharmacy in Kansas City. Prior to returning to Iowa, he was director of Pharmacy Services at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, where he also held the role of associate dean for clinical education at Oregon State College of Pharmacy.

Ann Peraud Cooke, JD ’08, MHA ’09

Senior Legal Counsel, Mercy Medical Center

Ann Peraud Cooke, JD ’08, MHA ’09, CHC currently serves as Senior Legal Counsel for Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids (Mercy).  She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (BA) and University of Iowa (JD and MHA).  Ann’s practice involves providing strategic counsel on a broad array of legal issues, including privacy, employee relations, risk, tax-exemption, and contracting, as well as managing Mercy’s compliance program. Prior to joining Mercy, Ann was an attorney with the health care and life sciences practice group of Faegre Baker Daniels in Indianapolis.

Katie Fredericks, MHA ’18

Director of Operations, MercyOne Central Iowa

Katie Fredericks, MHA, is Director of Primary Care for MercyOne Central Iowa where she oversees Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Urgent Care, and the MercyOne Referrals Center. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and her Master of Health Administration from the University of Iowa.

Prior to joining MercyOne, Fredericks was Director of Primary Care at the Iowa Clinic after completing a post-graduate fellowship at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles. It was at Kaiser Permanente that she learned best practices about population health management to bring back to the Midwest. Fredericks is most passionate about leading physician practices through cultural change. Currently she serves as board member of the Iowa Chapter of ACHE and co-chairs the Education Committee.

Bryan Garter, MHA, MPH ’12, CHFM, FACHE

Director of Operations, University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center North Liberty

Bryan Garter, MHA, MPH, CHFM, FACHE, is the Director of Operations for University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center North Liberty (MCNL). Garter oversees the operations of many of the support services departments and leads workflow coordination efforts between MCNL and other UI Health Care campuses. Prior to this role, Garter was the Director of North Liberty Operational Planning where he was responsible for the workflow planning for the new UIHC MCNL that opened in Spring of 2025. He provided direct administrative interface and coordination across multiple departments and clinical services. 

Garter previously served as the Director of Radiology Engineering for UI Health Care. Prior to joining the organization, he spent over nine years at UnityPoint Health in various leadership roles while also completing his Administrative Fellowship. Garter received his MHA and MPH from UIowa and is a Certified Health Care Facility Manager (CHFM) by the American Hospital Association, and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).

Dan Gentry, PhD, MHA

President & CEO of AUPHA

Dan Gentry is President & CEO of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA). Previously, he held faculty and academic leadership positions at Saint Louis University, Rush University, the University of Memphis, and the University of Iowa. 

Dan has taught in the areas of health policy, health systems, healthcare management and leadership, and professional development. His research has included the financing, organization, and delivery of health services; health policy; the patient experience; and, healthcare payment models. 

Dan has served in chapter leadership for the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) in three regions of the U.S. and as Chair of ACHE’s LGBTQ Forum. He is a current member of ACHE, N.A.H.S.E, and NALHE. He is a past Fellow, Board Member, and Board Chair of CAHME; and, a past and current Board Member of AUPHA.

Dan earned his BA from the College of Charleston, MHA from the Medical University of South Carolina, and PhD in Health Services & Policy Analysis from the University of California, Berkeley. 

Karen Hammar, MHA ‘23, MOT, OTR/L, FACHE

Director, Master of Health Administration (MHA) program, Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa College of Public Health

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 is also a core faculty member in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program. 

Prior to her full-time academic appointment, she served as an adjunct faculty member for several years and held progressive leadership roles within University of Iowa Health Care. Most notably, Hammar served as Director of the Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD). Hammar earned her Master of Health Administration from the University of Iowa and her Master of Occupational Therapy from Saint Ambrose University. With over a decade of experience as an Occupational Therapist and administrator, Hammar brings a deep commitment to person-centered care, interdisciplinary practice, and systems integration across the continuum.

Michael Johnson, MHA ’13, FACHE

Interim President and Vice President of Operations, Elkhart General Hospital

Michael Johnson, MHA, FACHE, is the Interim President and Vice President of Operations at Elkhart General Hospital, where he leads day-to-day hospital operations and oversees strategic initiatives across the Elkhart market for Beacon Health System. He joined Beacon Health System in 2023 after over a decade with Wellstar Health System in Georgia, where he most recently served as Executive Director of Operations at Wellstar Cobb Hospital; the same hospital where he completed his administrative fellowship after graduating with a Master of Health Administration from the University of Iowa. 

Prior to leaving Wellstar, he led his hospital to earn the Georgia Oglethorpe Award – the state’s highest recognition for performance excellence and the pre-qualifier for the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award – by building strong teams that adhered to the principles of process discipline, teamwork, and a culture of results-oriented continuous improvement.

Nathan Patton, MBA, MHA ’11

Principal of Health Equity Strategy, Just Whole Care

Nathan Patton, MBA, MHA, currently serves as the Principal of Health Equity Strategy for a health-equity boutique consultancy based in Los Angeles. He earned his B.A. in Sociology from Haverford College, and his MBA and MHA at the University of Iowa.

Patton is an impact-driven leader of healthcare transformation and operations with 15+ years of success leading digital health, health tech, and health plan transformation. He’s known for scaling multi-million-dollar growth initiatives, leading high-value payer and provider partnerships, leveraging AI and automation to streamline operations, and boosting efficiency across both government and commercial markets.

James Skogsbergh, MA ’82, FACHE

Former CEO of Advocate Health

Jim Skogsbergh is an accomplished health care executive with more than 30 years of experience in the role of President and CEO during his 42-year career. Having served several renowned health care systems over the past three decades, he implemented aggressive growth strategies as well as cost reduction and divestment strategies. Throughout his CEO tenure, Jim successfully navigated myriad local, state, national, church, and labor political challenges, not to mention a global pandemic. Leadership and coaching have always been foundational throughout Jim’s career, thus his focus on coming alongside aspiring and seasoned CEOs since retiring in June 2024.

Jim received his undergraduate degree from Iowa State University and his graduate degree from the University of Iowa. He has served on or chaired a number of boards, including the Iowa Hospital Association, the Illinois Hospital Association, the American Hospital Association and Chicago United. Jim loves to fly, to scuba dive and to spend time with his wife, their 3 children and his grandson.

Meg Zacks, MHA, MPH ’11

Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Saint Francis Health System

Meg Zacks, MHA, MPH, is Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for Saint Francis Health System. Prior to joining Saint Francis, she helped lead two innovative healthcare companies, Root/Accenture, where she was an industry expert on the Health Transformation Team, and DispatchHealth, where she served as Vice President of Strategy. Her healthcare career also has included leadership positions at Centura Health and Alegent Health (now CHI). 

Zacks started her career as an administrative fellow after earning master’s degrees in health administration and public health policy at the University of Iowa. She also earned her bachelor’s degree in fine and studio arts at the University of Iowa.