UnityPoint Health – Grinnell announces leadership transition

       After five years of service and leadership at UnityPoint Health® – Grinnell Regional Medical Center (GRMC), Jennifer Havens, RN, MHA, FACHE, will be transitioning out of her role as GRMC chief executive officer to fill the position of Market President for UnityPoint Health – Dubuque and the Dubuque Visiting Nurses Association. Havens’ last day at GRMC will be Oct. 6. 
       Havens started her career as a bedside nurse in an academic medical center caring for children with cancer. For the last 15 years, she has been part of UnityPoint Health, with leadership roles in Grundy Center, Marshalltown and Grinnell. During her tenure at GRMC, Havens was instrumental in leading the organization through the transition into the UnityPoint Health system. 
       “Jennifer is one of the most compassionate leaders I’ve had the pleasure of working with,” noted David Stark, Interim Market President of UnityPoint Health – Des Moines. “She has grown GRMC and led with humility and a can-do attitude through the pandemic and multiple natural disasters. I am thrilled she is staying in the system but will miss her within our region and Grinnell.”
       Under her leadership, the GRMC team welcomed colleagues and patients from Montezuma Medical Clinic and Surgical Associates of Grinnell into the UnityPoint Health – Grinnell family. Women’s care expanded with creation of the Grinnell Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic and the medical center’s main registration area was renovated to provide a higher degree of comfort, accessibility and privacy for patients and their support persons during check-in.
     GRMC was thrice named a recipient of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Center of Excellence grant for establishing Iowa’s framework to sustain access to high-quality obstetric service for rural populations. Havens is a board member with the Iowa Hospital Association and Iowa Healthcare Collaborative and has brought national recognition to GRMC from the American Hospital Association, focused on the vital role rural health care plays across our nation.
      “Jennifer’s passion and aptitude for health care leadership is evident,” said Darwin Copeman, Chair, GRMC Board of Directors. “We are grateful for the leadership she brought to GRMC and our service region, understanding and advocating for rural health care. We will miss her but feel confident knowing she has helped grow and develop many GRMC leaders who will continue the tradition of care excellence at GRMC.”
      During this leadership transition, Kyle Wilcox, FACHE, FHFMA, vice president of finance and operations at GRMC, will take on interim leadership responsibilities for GRMC. A search process to fill Havens’ leadership role at UnityPoint Health – Grinnell will begin in the near future.
     “I feel incredibly blessed to have been part of the amazing things happening across UnityPoint Health – Grinnell,” said Havens. “I have worked alongside truly gifted and passionate leaders, healthcare providers, team members and community members in Grinnell and our surrounding communities. While I am excited to take on the role of Market President for UnityPoint Health – Dubuque, it will be a hard goodbye to leave Grinnell. It has been my honor to be the leader of this remarkable organization and part of this community for the past five years. I have nothing but confidence in the team members and providers who will continue to keep exceptional patient care the focus of their work at UnityPoint Health – Grinnell."

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