This Q&A was originally published in the Corridor Media Group’s inaugural IOWA 500 magazine, which features 500 profiles and listings for an exclusive look at the movers and shakers shaping the economic heartbeat of Iowa. The list includes leaders representing 14 categories, which we believe reflect the scope of business sectors in our state. Denise Jamieson’s […]
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Click here to purchase a paywall bypass linkThe list includes leaders representing 14 categories, which we believe reflect the scope of business sectors in our state. Denise Jamieson’s Q&A introduced the Health category.
Click here to purchase your copy of IOWA 500.Denise Jamieson, MD, MPH, has led UI Health Care since August of 2023. In this role, she oversees a $3.5 billion enterprise with 18,000 employees and 1,400 faculty at Iowa’s only comprehensive integrated academic health system.
Dr. Jamieson is responsible for integrated planning and operations for the entire health system, which comprises the UI Carver College of Medicine; UI Physicians, the health system’s multispecialty physician group practice; and the clinical enterprise, including two hospital campuses in the Iowa City area, the North Liberty medical campus, and clinics across the state.
CBJ: Tell us a bit about your career and what has led you to the role you are in today.
Dr. Jamieson: My path to leading an academic medical center hasn’t always been straightforward. I went to medical school for two years then took a leave of absence and pursued a master’s in public health. That opened my view in terms of the intersection of public health and medicine.
Before coming to Iowa, I most recently served as chair of the department of gynecology and obstetrics at Emory University School of Medicine and chief of gynecology and obstetrics for Emory Healthcare in Georgia.
I was compelled by UIHC’s mission to serve Iowans across the entire state. When I first became interested in coming to Iowa, I spoke with people across the country who said this was a special place with a long history of innovation, leadership and a commitment to care. I’ve found all of this to be true during my first year here, and I’ve been inspired by our team’s commitment to upholding a high standard of excellence.
CBJ: What has been your most significant memory or moment as a leader so far?
Dr. Jamieson: I have so many great moments and anecdotes from my first year at Iowa, but one that stands out is from my first week on the job, when we submitted a proposal to the Iowa Board of Regents to acquire what was formerly known as Mercy Iowa City. UI Health Care had never integrated with another health care organization at this scale before, and we wanted to make sure that we did it in a strategic way that prioritized our people and our growing pool of patients.
As a leader, I was so impressed with how our teams came together to make the transition happen so quickly. Our teams from human resources, legal, hospital administration, ambulatory services, finance, information technology, marketing and many other areas worked around the clock to smoothly help our organizations come together. It was inspiring and felt reassuring to know I had joined such a dedicated team.
CBJ: What are some of your personal and professional goals for the next 10 years?
Dr. Jamieson: As I look ahead, I’m excited to be part of our health system’s development. I’m looking forward to seeing our footprint grow in our local community and to continue building collaborations with our health care partners across the state. We want Iowans to have access to high-quality health care closer to home, so I know this work is vital to the state and will be at the forefront of our strategic plan and priorities.
CBJ: What are some hopes you have for the business community of Iowa as a whole?
Dr. Jamieson: As a health care leader, I see the business community as a vital partner in shaping the health and well-being of our community members. We must continue to foster an environment of collaboration, innovation, and shared responsibility for improving the overall quality of life in our state.
Our local businesses play a huge role in making Iowa a great place to live and work; it’s actually a huge part of the reason why I chose UI Health Care as the next step in my career. This supports our recruitment efforts and makes this a place where physicians and scientists want to lay down roots and serve our state, why students want to come learn here, and why so many people view UI Health Care as the employer of choice.
CBJ: What are the biggest challenges you face as a leader in your sector of business?
Dr. Jamieson: I’ve quickly learned that the demand for our care and expertise is high and will only continue to rise as the population in Iowa ages. We know that meeting this demand will require continued innovation and the pursuit of new models of care delivery. With the addition of our downtown campus and our soon-to-be-open North Liberty campus — along with our recently announced plan to create a comprehensive cancer care network to tackle Iowa’s elevated cancer rates — we are moving toward a system of care to improve access for Iowa and beyond.
What drives you as a business leader?
Dr. Jamieson: What drives me most is our collective set of values at UI Health Care.
UI Health Care is a place where patients are treated with skill and compassion; where research teams are encouraged to innovate and collaborate; and where learners are inspired to serve their profession and society.
CBJ: Outside of work, what do you do in your free time?
Dr. Jamieson: Having spent one full year here in Iowa City, I have been so impressed by the people and culture. I’ve prioritized getting to know our people at UI Health Care and also getting out in the community: attending events at the Englert Theater and Hancher Auditorium; cheering on the Hawkeyes at Kinnick stadium and the Carver-Hawkeye arena, and I’ve even joined a rowing club and spend most mornings on the Iowa River.
