Joe Lock, president and CEO of the Eastern Iowa Health Center (EIHC), was honored with the inaugural Dr. Bery Engebretsen Visionary Award.
The award, presented Oct. 17 at the annual Iowa Community Health Conference, celebrates individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, unwavering dedication to community health, and a commitment to addressing the social determinants of health, according to a release.
The Dr. Bery Engebretsen Visionary Award was established in 2024 in recognition of Mr. Engebretsen’s contributions to the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Movement as the co-founder of the Iowa Primary Care Association and the former chief executive officer and current chief visionary for Primary Health Care, Inc.
This award is presented to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to his or her organization or community who exemplifies leadership excellence, passion for community health, and dedication to addressing social drivers of health.
The EIHC traces its roots to 2006, when St. Luke’s Hospital, Mercy Medical Center, the Cedar Rapids Medical Education Foundation, the Community Health Free Clinic, Linn County Public Health and other local leaders came together to address the lack of accessible medical services for low-income community members.
Organizers submitted an FQHC application with an emphasis on medical education and homeless services, and Linn Community Care, now known today as the Eastern Iowa Health Center, was founded as a FQHC in 2008.
In the first year, the center had roughly 11,000 patient visits, and after a nomadic existence in its early days, the EIHC moved to its current home at 1201 Third Ave. SE.
This year, the EIHC expects to provide services for up to 65,000 patients in five service areas, including family medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, behavioral health and dental care.
