CASS HEALTH - Key Persons
Amber Michael graduated from College of Saint Mary in 2016 with her Masters of Occupational Therapy. Amber has experience with wide range of adults/geriatrics with various diagnoses such as orthopedic, cardiac, neurologic impairments/disabilities. She also has specialized training in Women's Health including pelvic floor occupational therapy. Amber is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association, certified by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, and by the Iowa Board of Physical & Occupational Therapy.
Job Titles:
- Advanced Registered Nurse
Amy Petersen is an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner in the Cass Health Emergency Department. She graduated with her Associates of Science in Nursing from Iowa Central Community College in 1995, her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2018 from Excelsior College and her Family Nurse Practitioner from Simmons University in 2020. Amy is board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
Angela Lu provides hematology and oncology care in the Cass Health Specialty Clinic. She is affiliated with Mission Blood and Cancer in Des Moines, Iowa.
Angela completed her Bachelor of Science and Registered Nursing degrees at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 2017. She then completed her Master's in Family Medicine Nurse Practitioner at Herzing University in 2020. Angela is a board certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner.
Ashley Williams graduated from College of Saint Mary in 2009 with her Masters in Occupational Therapy and joined Cass Health's Rehabilitation Services team immediately following. Ashley became a certified lymphedema therapist in 2014 and is currently working to complete her certification in sensory integration. She can treat a full spectrum of patients from birth to 100 plus and specializes in lymphedema, post offer employee screens, interactive metronome, and pediatrics. Ashley is certified by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy and by the Iowa Board of Physical & Occupational Therapy.
Dr. Ramachandran is a cardiologist in the Cass Health Specialty Clinic. He is affiliated with CHI Health in Omaha, Nebraska.
Job Titles:
- Medical Director
- Laboratory Medical Director
Dr. Goldberg-Kahn currently serves as the Laboratory Medical Director at Cass Health. She completed her medical school training at Creighton University School of Medicine and her residency at Creighton University Medical Center. She is board certified by the American Board of Pathology.
Brad Hirst is a physician assistant who providers Emergency Care in the Cass Health Emergency Department. He received his Master's degree in Physician Assistant studies from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences in 2012.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Licensed Physical Therapist
Brett earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Buena Vista College, a Master of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Iowa, a Doctorate in Physical Therapy degree from Temple University, and a second masters, an executive MBA degree from Grand Canyon University.
Brett is a Licensed Physical Therapist, Certified & Licensed Athletic Trainer, and Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist. He served as the Director of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Skiff Medical Center in Newton, Iowa for 15 years until the hospital board of trustees appointed him interim CEO in 2009 while Skiff was undergoing a CEO search. Brett then served as Skiff's Chief Operating Officer for over 4 years and the hospital's President & CEO for 3 years.
He joined Cass Health in Atlantic, Iowa on January 1, 2017, as CEO. Cass Health has received the Performance Leadership Award for being in the top quartile in the country on quality and outcomes every year since 2017. The National Rural Hospital Association has named Cass Health a Top 20 hospital each year since 2021 out of 1,361 facilities and has been a Top 100 critical access hospital since 2017. Cass Health has been recognized as a Top Workplace for midsized companies in Iowa according to the Des Moines Register for 8 consecutive years. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds recently announced that Cass Health was awarded a rural hospital "Center of Excellence" designation. Brett was recently listed as one of the 67 critical access hospital CEOs to know according to Becker's Hospital Review.
Brett's honors include being named Sports Medicine Professional of the Year, Appointment to the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness & Nutrition, and receiving the Olive Farr Award, which is the highest honor bestowed on a member of the Iowa Physical Therapy Association. He was selected to serve as a member of the US medical delegation at the 2003 Pan American Games in the Dominican Republic, the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, and has traveled extensively with the USA Triathlon team. He is a past President of the Iowa Physical Therapy Association. Brett is a member of the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA) board of trustees, Cass/Atlantic Development Corporation board, and is a member of the Atlantic Rotary and GracePoint Church. Brett is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has spoken at state and national health care conferences.
Brianna Hoden is a nurse practitioner providing cardiology care in the Cass Health Specialty Clinic. She received her training at the Creighton University School of Nursing in Omaha, Nebraska. She is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Job Titles:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
Chanda Moreland is a Family Nurse Practitioner who sees patients in Cass Health's Atlantic Medical Center Rapid Care Clinic. She is a graduate of Chamberlain University. She has worked as a nurse practitioner since 2018, and she first became an RN in 2009. She is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the Iowa Nurse Practitioner Society, Emergency Nurse Association, and the Iowa Emergency Nurse Association.
Job Titles:
- Nurse Practitioner, Certified by the American Association of Nurse
Cynthia "Cyndi" Wu is a Family Nurse Practitioner, certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Clarkson College in 2007 and with her Master of Science, Family Nurse Practitioner from Clarkson College in 2014.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Cass Health Rehabilitation Services
Dan Vogel has been a member of the Cass Health Rehabilitation Services team since 2016. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Human Physiology in 2014 and his Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2015 both from the University of Iowa. Dan also serves as a physical therapist and a resiliency and fitness trainer with the Iowa National Guard. Dan is Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) and dry-needing certified and specializes in chronic pain, orthopedics and sports injuries. He is licensed and board certified by the Iowa Board of Physical & Occupational Therapy.
Job Titles:
- Certified Family Medicine Physician
Dr. Adam Verhoef is a board-certified Family Medicine physician who provides the full spectrum of care including obstetrics and c-sections.
Dr. Verhoef completed his undergraduate degree in Biology and Chemistry at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. He then attended the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa, and he completed his Family Medicine Residency in June of 2021 at Prisma Health Richland/University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina.
Obstetric care is a passion of Dr. Verhoef's, so after residency he was accepted into a fellowship program to further his knowledge and skills. This summer he completed the Advanced OB Fellowship at Swedish Health First Hill Family Medicine in Seattle, Washington.
"You do a lot of good medicine in OB. You really have an impact on people's lives, especially if you can give them a positive prenatal experience, a positive labor and delivery, and a positive post-partum experience," he said.
Dr. Verhoef said that he chose Cass Health because it matches the type of medicine he wants to practice. "Rural health has always been my goal, and at Cass Health, it's a great fit. I can provide meaningful care for my patients, and I can provide safe, comprehensive OB care."
Dr. Ann Narmi is an interventional cardiologist in the Cass Health Specialty Clinic. She is affiliated with CHI Health in Omaha, Nebraska.
Job Titles:
- Physician
- Member of the American Osteopathic Association
Dr. Heather Hergott is a physician in the Cass Health Emergency Department. Dr. Hergott completed her training at the Southhampton Hospital's Residency Program of Social Osteopathic Medicine in Southampton, NY and is a board-certified family physician. She received her medical degree from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in 2011.
Dr. Hergott is a member of the American Osteopathic Association and American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians.
Dr. Jeffrey Sartin, MD is an infectious disease specialist who provides care in the Cass Health Specialty Clinic. Dr. Sartin is affiliated with Methodist. Dr. Sartin has a wealth of experience. He has been a board-certified internist since 1989, and he became a board-certified infectious disease physician in 1992. He was an internist and infectious disease physician at Infectious Disease and Epidemiology Associates in Omaha for eight years before joining Methodist. He has been fascinated with science and medicine since childhood, and the drive to figure things out drew him towards treating infectious diseases. "But what I really like is making patients better," he said.
Job Titles:
- Cardiologist
- Cardiology, Nuclear Cardiology
Dr. John Henry is a cardiologist in the Cass Health Specialty Clinic. He is affiliated with Methodist Health System in Omaha, Nebraska.
Dr. Berry joined Atlantic Medical Center in 1988, immediately following the completion of her family medicine residency training at St. Luke's Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa. She received her medical degree from the University of Iowa. Dr. Berry is board-certified in both family medicine and hospice and palliative care. In 2016 she was honored as an Iowa Hospital Hero by the Iowa Hospital Association.
Dr. Berry serves as the Chief Medical Officer at Cass Health.
Elisha Hardy a Griswold Iowa native, is an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program in the Atlantic Medical Center. She graduated with her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Creighton University. In 2016, Elisha graduated from Clarkson College with honors, with her Master of Science in Nursing and a focus on Family Nurse Practitioner.
Elizabeth Fowlkes, PA-C provides care in the Emergency Department at Cass Health. She is BLS, PALS, ACLS and ATLS certified. She is board certified through the NCCPA and is licensed by both Nebraska and Iowa.
She received her Master's Degree in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska in 2009.
Job Titles:
- Advanced Registered Nurse
Emily James is an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner who providers care in the Cass Health Emergency Department and AMC Rapid Care. As a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner, James provides care for all ages.
James earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Purdue University Global and is board-certified by The American Nurses Credentialing Center. She received her Associates of Applied Science in Nursing from Southwestern Community College in 2015, and her bachelor's in 2018 from Purdue University Global. Emily is also a DAISY award nominee; she received nominations in 2016, 2018, and 2019.
Emily Nadler is a Physician Assistant in the Atlantic Medical Center Rapid Care. She graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in General Studies in 2013 from Harding University and her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Carroll University in 2014. Emily is board-certified with the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
Erin Johnson joined the Cass Health Rehabilitation Services team in 2013. A Griswold, Iowa native, Erin graduated from Iowa State University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and Health, she then completed the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Clarkson in 2012. Most recently, Erin completed her Advance Proficiency Pathway in Orthopedics from the American Physical Therapy Association in 2020. Erin is a Credentialed Clinical Instructor since 2016 through the American Physical Therapy Association and she is licensed by the Iowa Board of Physical & Occupational Therapy
Gina Mentzer, MD provides cardiology care at the Cass Health Specialty Clinic. Dr. Mentzer is affiliated with Methodist Physicians Clinic in Council Bluffs and has added Cass Health to her outreach. As an avid runner, Dr. Mentzer has long been fascinated by how the heart works. When she rotated with a cardiologist in medical school, she decided to become one herself. She graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center medical school in 2006, and completed her residency there in 2009 as well. Dr. Mentzer completed her fellowship at Ohio State University College of Medicine in 2013. She is board certified in Cardiovascular Disease, as well as the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Job Titles:
- Advanced Registered Nurse
Holly Christensen is an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She graduated from Graceland University in 2007, earning her Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner. Since that time she has served in Iowa as a Family Nurse Practitioner in the emergency departments at Manning Regional Health Center, Audubon County Hospital, and Myrtue Medical Center.
Job Titles:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
Jackie Wilson is a Family Nurse Practitioner with more than 14 years of healthcare. Her background includes working in family, acute, emergency medicine, and critical care.
Jackie graduated with her Master of Science in 2015 from Purdue University Global, and her Bachelor of Science in 2007 from Langston University. She is a member of and certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). She is also Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) certified.
Dr. Lacy provides neurological care in the Cass Health Specialty Clinic. He is affiliated with MD West ONE.
Jordan P. Lacy joined MD West ONE (formerly Midwest Neurosurgery and Spine Specialists) after completing his residency in neurological surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Lacy received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Notre Dame before entering medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Dr. Lacy specializes in cranial, spinal and peripheral nerve surgery with an additional interest in minimally invasive spine surgery and cervical disc replacement. He is a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons as well as American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
Jordan Shouse joined the Cass Health Rehabilitation Services team in 2019. An Atlantic native, Jordan graduated from Atlantic High School in 2006, Iowa State University in 2011 with a degree in Kinesiology and a Physical Therapist Assistant degree from Mercy College of Health Science in 2014. Before joining Cass Health, Jordan practiced with Mary Greeley Hospital in Ames for 5 years and ATI Physical Therapy in Atlantic for 3 and half years. Jordan is licensed by the Iowa Board of Physical & Occupational Therapy
Kasey Meneely joined the Cass Health Rehab Services team in 2019. She graduated from Creighton University in 2016 with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She offers a full spectrum of care within physical therapy, but has special interest in neurological disorders, pelvic floor and pre/post-natal health, and acute inpatients. Kasey is licensed and board certified by the Iowa Board of Physical & Occupational Therapy and is a member of the Iowa Physical Therapy Association and the America Physical Therapy Association.
Kathy Denning graduated with her BS in Biology from Briar Cliff College in 1994 and her Masters of Physical Therapy from St. Ambrose University in 1997. She has been practicing for over 22 years and specializes in postural asymmetries, orthopedics, chronic pain and pediatrics. Kathy is licensed by the Iowa Board of Physical & Occupational Therapy.
W. Keith Barnhill provides pain management care in the Cass Health Specialty Clinic. He is affiliated with Heartland Pain Management. Some of the common conditions that he treats include arthritis, back pain, chronic migraines and headaches, musculoskeletal pain, and neuropathy.
Barnhill has been a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist since 1991, and he received a Certificate in Pain Management Special Studies in 2001. Most recently, he earned his Ph.D. in Nursing Education in 2014. He is board-certified by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists. He is a current member of the International Association for the Study of Pain, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, American Nurses Association, and a member of the Iowa and American Associations of Nurse Anesthetists.
Job Titles:
- Chief Human Resources Officer
Job Titles:
- Chief Information Officer