Primary Health Care, Inc (PHC)

Meet Our Provider: Melissa Hidalgo! We’re excited to introduce Melissa Hidalgo, a dedicated Behavioral Health Specialist at our East Side Clinic! Over the past year, Melissa has been an invaluable part of our team, providing compassionate care to our OB patients. Her work has given her deep insights into the challenges many patients face, such as transportation, financial struggles, and food insecurity, and how these can impact both prenatal care and mental health. Melissa is passionate about raising awareness around mental health and ensuring that patients know it’s okay to seek help. Being bilingual in English and Spanish, Melissa is able to connect with and support a diverse range of patients. If you’re looking for care, you can meet with Melissa by scheduling an appointment with one of our maternal health providers. Call us at (515) 248-1600 or stop by our clinic at 3509 E 29th St, Des Moines, IA 50317 to book your appointment today! For more information, visit: phciowa.org/east We’re here for you every step of the way!

Celebrating National Marketing Day! Today, we shine a spotlight on the incredible team that makes magic happen behind the scenes every single day! Our Director of Marketing, Funding Development, & Communications, Multimedia Communications Manager, and Marketing & Community Relations Specialists are the creative minds and hardworking hands that bring our mission, stories, and vision to life. From designing impactful campaigns to forging meaningful connections within our community, their dedication drives awareness, engagement, and support for the work we do.

Exciting News! We’re thrilled to announce that Sam Kohls will be stepping into the role of Director of Quality this February! Since joining PHC in 2023, Sam has made a significant impact in her role as Patient Services Director, bringing her expertise in patient services and revenue cycle management to the forefront. With nearly six years of experience in dental operations and revenue cycle management before joining us, Sam has proven to be an invaluable asset. As she transitions into her new role, we look forward to seeing her lead our quality and process improvement initiatives, seamlessly integrating value-based care strategies with our operations and clinical teams. Please join us in congratulating Sam on her well-deserved promotion!

A note to say "THANK YOU" and recognize the amazing work of Variety, the Children's Charity of Iowa. We were delighted to learn we were named as a 2024 grant recipient! The funding improves access to autism testing and strengthens linkage to behavioral health care for under-resourced children in our community. Testing instruments (in English & Spanish) and professional training will ensure PHC behavioral health clinicians can effectively assess autism spectrum disorders (ASD). By strengthening the capacity of PHC’s behavioral health team and improving access to autism assessments, Variety, The Children’s Charity is furthering its commitment to enhancing the well-being of children in our community. #gratitude #bettertogether

Are you ready to make a difference in Iowa? We're hiring!   Join our team and help support Iowa's community health centers in these roles: • Recruitment Specialist • Chief Behavioral Health Officer • Staff Accountant   At the Iowa PCA, we offer a hybrid work model, a modern office space, and a collaborative team environment where your contributions truly make an impact.   Apply now and help transform healthcare with us at https://loom.ly/ihMr1M4.

Big News from PHC! We are thrilled to announce that John Shaw, MBA, has been appointed as our new Director of Clinics! John's journey with PHC began in 2018 as a Prevention Specialist on the Ryan White team. His dedication and leadership quickly led to his promotion as Prevention Services Manager, and since 2022, he has excelled as a PHC Area Director. Throughout his time with us, John has demonstrated exceptional leadership, supervision, and mentorship, making a significant impact on our organization. In his new role as Director of Clinics, John will be instrumental in expanding our operations, driving quality improvement, enhancing support infrastructure, and fostering clinical collaboration. His leadership will ensure that our services and staff are equipped with the tools, resources, and support needed to deliver outstanding care to our patients and clients. Congratulations, John! We are excited to see all the incredible things you will achieve in this new role!

This holiday season, we were honored to make a family's Christmas extra special! Thanks to the incredible efforts of the Residency and PHC teams, we helped a family of five check off so many items from their wish list – including a brand-new washer and dryer! Moments like these remind us of the power of community and compassion. Thank you to everyone who made this possible! Together, we're spreading joy and making a difference.

Meet Dr. Sarah Gude, our Medical Director for Ames and Marshalltown. In less than a year with us, Dr. Gude has already made a significant impact! She brings a wealth of experience, having trained in an FQHC setting during medical school, completed her residency in primary care for underserved populations at a county hospital, and spent the past seven years serving at an FQHC right out of training. When she’s not making a difference in her community, Sarah enjoys biking and reading. She finds inspiration in the words of Erin Hanson: “There is freedom waiting for you, on the breezes of the sky. And you ask, 'What if I fall?' Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?” Here’s a fun fact about Sarah: she LOVES ice cream! During high school, she worked at Snookies Malt Shop in Beaverdale—a sweet connection to her roots.

We are thrilled to announce that Stephany Balow will be stepping into the role of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) effective December 22nd. Since joining Primary Health Care in 2014, Stephany has made remarkable contributions across various roles, most recently as Director of Compliance & Risk. During her tenure, she has been instrumental in developing PHC's risk management, compliance, and privacy programs, demonstrating exceptional expertise across a wide range of critical areas. As CAO, Stephany will oversee and guide the organization’s support departments in advancing our strategic objectives. She will also take on responsibility for managing our grants, contracts, and policies while providing leadership and support to several key team members. Please join us in congratulating Stephany on this well-deserved promotion and in wishing her continued success in her new role!

Meet Allison Langreck, the Clinical Practice Manager at our Bery Engebretsen Clinic. Though she's been with us for less than a year, Allison has already made a tremendous impact, and we're thrilled to have her on our team! Before joining PHC, Allison brought her expertise as an RN in OB/GYN and Labor & Delivery. She also ventured into real estate, where she excelled as a Director of Inside Sales. In her free time, Allison enjoys yoga, gardening, hiking, biking, and traveling with her toddler. She also has a passion for rare plants, boasting two greenhouses at home filled with unique treasures from her collection. Allison lives by the affirmation: "Peace begins with me." She emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between things you can move past without a conversation and those that require one. She also embraces the "2-minute rule": "If it won’t matter in two years, I won’t spend more than two minutes worrying about it." We’re grateful for Allison’s dedication, positivity, and vibrant energy—she truly embodies the heart of our team!