Health care

Quad Cities-area mom delivers triplets on National Triplet Day
Closely monitored by University of Iowa Health Care experts, Lori Pinckney carried three boys to 35 weeks. “High-risk pregnancies are scary, but with my team at UI Health Care, I felt cared for and listened to,” Pinckney says.

UI Health Care's North Liberty campus: Building for Iowa
UI Health Care's North Liberty campus, which opened at the end of April, features a medical center and services that meet the needs and expectations of Iowans.

A holistic view of children’s health
Medicine alumna Amy Shriver uses her role as a pediatrician to help families learn how focusing on social connection, family reading time, and more can contribute to kids’ mental and physical health.

Walking 110 miles inside hospital after cancer treatment
A Cedar Falls man took full advantage of a program created by UI Health Care nurses that encourages patients to walk marathons while they are hospitalized.

Treating shoulder replacement with custom implants
UI Health Care experts can offer people with severely eroded shoulder bone a pain-free option thanks to recent innovations in implant technologies and techniques.

Training emergency care providers for all of Iowa
For more than two decades, the UI Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant Residency Program has addressed the specialty training gap for PAs working in rural emergency departments.

Bringing nurses’ innovations to life
Iowa Nurse Innovators, a program within the University of Iowa Office of Innovation, empowers inventive nurses to create solutions improving patient safety, workflow efficiencies, and effectiveness in hospitals across the state.

Carr provides care for community where she was born
University of Iowa medicine alum Wanakee Carr finds meaning in the care she provides as a doctor practicing obstetrics and gynecology in the Des Moines area. She describes helping bring a new child into the world as “such a beautiful experience.”

New year, new heart for baby Wesley
Wesley Peterson was 4 months old when he was admitted to UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital with heart failure and was put on the heart transplant list. Now 8 months old, Wesley is getting ready to go home.

Providing Iowans with quality maternity care
In the latest ranking from “U.S. News & World Report,” University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center received the “High Performing” designation in maternity care.

Hiking 2,650 miles after spinal fusion surgery
Owen Trampe had surgery to correct severe scoliosis at University of Iowa Health Care in 2019. Five years later, he completed a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail.

Dubuque kicker wins state title, thanks to regenerative routine
After suffering three severe sports-related injuries to his leg and hip, Wahlert football player Nathan Schiesl turned to UI Health Care Sports Medicine, which gave him a second chance at glory with its platelet-rich plasma program.

Building a rural health care pipeline
The Carver Rural Iowa Scholars Program is preparing doctors to serve the smaller-size communities where they are needed most, closing health care gaps in Iowa.

Iowan sees new life after innovative cancer treatment
By participating in cutting-edge research at University of Iowa Health Care, Linda Jacobs beat cancer. Now, she is relishing time with her grandchildren, exploring new hobbies, and training a puppy.

Lung transplant allows mom to see her kids grow up
A Quad Cities-area mother has been able to experience many milestones in the 13 years since her lung transplant with University of Iowa Health Care experts.

Grateful for world-class cancer care close to home
When Quad Cities resident Christen Schulte Phelps was diagnosed with a rare breast cancer, she only had to drive a few minutes to receive treatment from University of Iowa Health Care.

Meet Kid Captain Lukas Hazen
After Lukas Hazen’s parents learned their son might not survive childbirth, they prayed they’d have even a few minutes with him after he was born. Thanks to care provided by UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital, they’ve had 12 years and counting.

Meet Kid Captain Raelyn Miller-Ramirez
With expert care at University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Raelyn Miller-Ramirez learned to thrive after losing her eyesight following surgery to remove a cancerous, fast-growing tumor.

Meet Kid Captain Nataleigh Mochal
Nataleigh Mochal’s mother had little warning that her daughter would be born early, when she was taken by ambulance to University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital after a prenatal test showed her pregnancy, and her own life, were both at risk.

Meet Kid Captain Hunter Mickelson
UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital experts diagnosed Hunter’s extremely rare condition and developed a plan that allows the Clive, Iowa, youngster to enjoy a multitude of sports and live his life with a smile.

Meet Kid Captain Adeline Lovell
With expert care at University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Adeline Lovell found a safe, supportive care team to help her overcome leukemia.

Meet Kid Captain Hudson Ferris
With expert care at University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Hudson Ferris of Eldridge, Iowa, overcame an aggressive cancer.

The No. 1 children’s hospital in Iowa
Nine University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital specialties are listed in the “U.S. News & World Report” 2024-25 rankings of “Best Children’s Hospitals.”

Meet Kid Captain Jackson Casteel
With expert care at University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Jackson Casteel continues to defy the odds of his rare genetic condition.

New eCPR program helps save Iowa man’s life
When traditional CPR wasn’t enough to restart Ken Platt’s heart after cardiac arrest, UI Health Care teams leaped into action to initiate extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Clinical trial helps Iowa grandmother beat colon cancer
Specialists at UI Health Care helped Mary Harris of Marion, Iowa, avoid major surgery. Now cancer free, she’s focused on spending time with family, traveling, and working on her dancing skills.

Meet Kid Captain Haidyn Ulrich
Haidyn spent two years at UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital while being treated for leukemia as a child. Now she’s working toward becoming a CNA, with hopes of working with pediatric cancer patients.

The quiet pleasures of a career in rural medicine
Carver College of Medicine grad Kyle Glienke reflects on his calling to rural and agricultural medicine and his place in Storm Lake, Iowa — the community he loves.

Meet Kid Captain Aiden Washburn
Aiden Washburn has had several life-saving open-heart surgeries at UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital. The 8-year-old boy’s family cherishes the UI staff’s expertise and compassion.

Meet Kid Captain Mya Gilchrist
Mya Gilchrist grew up at UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital, overcoming cancer several times. Her family is grateful for her care and continue to inspire others with Mya’s positive attitude.

Meet Kid Captain Atlas Coleman
After specialists at UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital determined Atlas had a rare, aggressive cancer, UI doctors worked with a partner program to design a custom plan to fit Atlas’ care needs.

Meet Kid Captain Carter Schmidt
A random bone marrow donor combined with expert health care at UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital saved the life of a young boy from Iowa who was diagnosed with a rare cancer.

First-in-the-state heart procedure saves Iowa man’s life
When an Iowa man developed a bacterial infection on the wires of his implanted cardiac device and a nearly impenetrable layer of calcium surrounding it, a heart specialist at University of Iowa Health Care performed a rare procedure that saved the patient’s life.

Prepping schools for cardiac emergencies
The Project ADAM: Iowa Heartland program based at University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital has designated 16 schools in eastern Iowa as Heart Safe schools and has provided training to UI athletic programs.

UI alum innovating health care delivery in southeast Iowa
Maria Story, MD, has launched two significant programs while working with Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center: one bringing a home hemodialysis option to southeast Iowa for the first time, and one to help primary care physicians follow patients with chronic illness more effectively and efficiently from home.

Iowa’s top hospital, once again
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center was once again ranked the top hospital in Iowa and recognized nationally in eight specialties in the 2024–25 “Best Hospitals” rankings published by “U.S. News & World Report."

UI Sports Medicine gets ISU athlete back in action
After being diagnosed with a mysterious and painful condition by a sports medicine physician with University of Iowa Health Care, an Iowa State athlete quickly got back on the court following a specialized procedure.

Paying it forward as a physician assistant
Jenny Stegen got exactly what she needed at the University of Iowa to return home to northeast Iowa and give back to her community — an education in a top-notch physician assistant training program.

Neurosurgery eliminates facial twitch, restores smile
For seven years, a hemifacial spasm took over half of John Mark Feilmeyer’s face. A neurosurgeon at University of Iowa Health Care eliminated it.

Tiniest preemie in U.S. goes home after lifesaving care at UI
Survival outcomes for extremely premature infants at UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital are among the best in the world. Evelyn Eilers of Solon, Iowa — born at just 240 grams — is an extraordinary example.

From near-fatal accident to college graduate
Four years after suffering massive head trauma in an automobile accident, requiring lengthy surgery and facial reconstruction at UI Health Care, Maggie McQuillen left the Carver-Hawkeye Arena stage as a University of Iowa grad.

Expressing gratitude toward pioneering UI neurosurgeon
Arnold Menezes, the world-renowned neurosurgeon and clinician who marks 50 years of service at the University of Iowa, has treated thousands of people throughout his career. Two former patients share how he changed their lives.

Spine surgery helps young golfer get back in the swing
Jackson Webber of Peosta, Iowa, was a high school golf standout until a snow accident threatened his future in the game. UI orthopedic surgeons put him on the road to recovery and back on the course.

UI helping Iowa’s community hospitals improve cancer care
By establishing the Iowa Cancer Affiliate Network, the University of Iowa aims to support community hospitals across the state in the delivery of comprehensive cancer care to rural Iowans.

Experience the magic of Match Day
The ultimate day in medical education arrived in March for 141 senior medical students in the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. Thirty percent of these graduating students will train in the state of Iowa.

Hawkeyes leading the way in health care administration
The University of Iowa College of Public Health trains its students to meet the challenges and opportunities associated with working in the health care field. Meet two Hawkeyes who are putting what they learned into practice in rural Iowa health care facilities.

Hawkeyes providing health care in Antarctica
Two University of Iowa medicine alumni met by chance while serving patients in one of the most remote environments on Earth.

Flexible health care job for students is win-win deal
The creation of a new University of Iowa Health Care position is giving students invaluable experience while also supporting the workload of hospital staff and enhancing patient care.