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Friday PM Daily | October 3, 2025
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Iowa Medical Society releases final Operation IOWA report
The Iowa Medical Society has released its final report for the second Operation I.O.W.A. (Innovative Opportunities for Workforce Action) Phase II. The report is designed to advance the statewide effort started last year to find solutions for Iowa’s physician workforce shortage with solutions.
Operation IOWA began with a summit of more than 60 physician leaders, health care executives, and community stakeholders. The Phase I report, produced in January, included 24 recommendations to strengthen physician recruitment and retention. Among the most urgent priorities identified were expanding Graduate Medical Education residency training slots, reducing financial barriers for medical students and reducing time-consuming administrative burdens for physicians, a news release said.
During this year's legislative session, several efforts related to recommendations in the Phase I report were passed including, a $150 million investment to expand residency slots, doubling the rural health care loan repayment fund to $8 million, passage of prior authorization reform.
"These successes prove what can be achieved when physicians’ voices are at the center of policymaking," Dr. Alison Lynch, president of the Iowa Medical Society, said in a prepared statement. "Phase I laid the groundwork. Phase II is where we begin turning strategy into sustained action beyond the statehouse and into practice sites and academia."
The second phase of the report focuses on tactical strategies to:
- Expand the physician pipeline by continuing efforts to increase residency slots and strengthening recruitment of early-career physicians through mentorship and early engagement.
- Improve Iowa’s physician practice environment by enhancing reimbursement rates, fostering competition among health care payers and promoting physician leadership development.
- Reduce barriers to practice by eliminating administrative burdens oh physicians.
Iowa ranks 44th in the nation for patient-to-physician ratio per 100,000 population, and Iowa has the fewest OB/GYNs per capita of any U.S. state, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
The full Operation IOWA Phase II report is available here.
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NEWS BRIEFS
Grand View University awarded federal student support grant
Grand View University announced it has received its first federal TRIO Student Support Services grant. The five-year grant, totaling $272,364 annually, will provide enhanced academic, financial education and personal support to 140 students who are low-income, first-generation or have differing abilities. The TRIO Student Support Services program is designed to increase student persistence, academic success, graduation, and post-secondary enrollment in graduate or professional programs. "This TRIO grant is a first in Grand View’s history and affirms our deep commitment to access and success for all students," Grand View University President Rachelle Keck said in a prepared statement. "This investment will enable us to walk alongside more first-generation, low-income students and students with differing abilities in even more intentional ways, ensuring they have the resources needed to persist, graduate and thrive." The grant is expected to total $1,361,280 over five years.
Des Moines Art Center receives grant from Henry Luce Foundation
The Des Moines Art Center has been awarded a $150,000 Responsive Grant from the Henry Luce Foundation’s American Art Program to support its upcoming exhibition, "Whisper to a Scream: Women Artists and Minimalism," scheduled for early to mid-2027. The exhibition, inspired by works in the Art Center’s permanent collection and the Louise Rosenfield Noun collection, will bring together a multigenerational group of female-identified artists who have significantly contributed to the development of minimalist abstraction, a news release said. This marks the Art Center’s first Luce Foundation grant in more than a decade. The funding will enable the museum to secure loaned works, publish a scholarly catalogue, and host educational and community programs, according to the release.
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On the Move: Week ending Sept. 28
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Cheryl Miller (pictured)
Community State Bank
Promoted to senior vice president, marketing and public relations
cmiller@bankcsb.com
Austin Horner
Graham Construction, a 3G Company
Hired as project manager II
ahorner@3gcos.com
Jennifer Scheck
Syverson Strege
Promoted to lead planner 1
jscheck@syversonstrege.com
Submit On the Moves: Submit announcements regarding company promotions, staff additions and changes, including photos, via our online submission form: Click here
Click here to see all of this week's promotions and job changes.
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NEWS BRIEFS
Iowa community college association report plots path to bachelor’s degrees
Iowa Capital Dispatch: Community Colleges for Iowa has released a report arguing that with certain changes and "careful" planning, bringing bachelor’s degree programs to community colleges could help bolster the state workforce and bring more educational access to place-bound Iowans. However, the state’s private colleges are raising questions about the need for expansion and community colleges themselves have concerns about their capacity and maintaining their mission. Emily Shields, executive director of Community Colleges for Iowa, said community colleges would need increased state support and local control over what programs within colleges incorporate bachelor’s degrees in order to get the initiative off the ground and make it successful, but it could lead to more Iowans getting an education that they weren’t in the right place or position to pursue before. Studying the potential addition of bachelor’s degrees to community college offerings was prompted by Iowa lawmakers during the last legislative session.
Iowa’s craft breweries seeing sales flatten
Radio Iowa: Iowa Brewers Guild Executive Director Noreen Otto said sales in the industry have stalled as traffic at breweries has slowed. "We’re seeing just less socialization across the board really throughout all generations. People just really aren’t coming out and sharing a drink together, which is concerning," she said. Otto said people are not planning ahead as much and they’re seeing more last minute ticket purchases for events. They are trying to adapt with new creative events at taprooms. "Things like silent book clubs, and painting parties, trivia nights. But also more nonalcoholic beverage options, more ABV [alcohol by volume] options than ever," she said. Otto said one of the things her organization is emphasizing is the breweries add to the local economy. "Whether the brewery is in downtown Des Moines or out in one of our amazing rural communities, when you buy an Iowa craft-made beer, the economic impact is really felt here in the community."
Lack of jobs data due to government shutdown muddies view of hiring and US economy
Associated Press: From Wall Street trading floors to the Federal Reserve to economists sipping coffee in their home offices, the first Friday morning of the month typically brings a quiet hush around 8:30 a.m. Eastern as everyone awaits the Labor Department’s crucial monthly jobs report. But with the government shut down, no information was released today about hiring in September. The interruption in the data has occurred at a particularly uncertain time, when policymakers at the Federal Reserve and Wall Street investors would need more data on the economy, rather than less. It’s the first time since a government shutdown in 2013 that the jobs report has been delayed. September’s jobs figures will be released eventually, once the shutdown ends.
- Grimes neighborhood evacuated due to large residential gas leak (Des Moines Register)
- Apple removes apps that allow anonymous reporting of ICE agent sightings (Associated Press)
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ONE GOOD READ
What Jane Goodall taught us about living a long life
New York Times: Jane Goodall, who died on Wednesday at the age of 91, followed several principles that geriatricians recommend for a long and healthy life. A scientist, conservationist and author, Dr. Goodall stayed active, working until the day she died. She had a clear sense of purpose for her life. And she was an enduring optimist. Over a nearly seven-decade career, Dr. Goodall taught us about the intelligence of chimpanzees. But she left behind powerful teachings about aging — and living well — too.
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KCCI TOP STORIES
Merle Johnson, former Ankeny mayor during period of rapid expansion, dies at 85
A former mayor of Ankeny has died. The city confirmed Merle Johnson passed away on Monday. Johnson served as the city's mayor from 1998 to 2005. Ankeny Mayor Bobbi Bentz says Johnson cared deeply bout his community. Read more
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Tonight:
A mostly clear sky. Low 67. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday:
Sunny skies. Gusty winds. High 89. Winds S at 15 to 20 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph.
Sunday:
Mostly sunny and windy during the day. Thunderstorms more likely Sunday evening. High 86. Winds SSW at 15 to 20 mph. Gusts up to 35 mph.
Get the latest KCCI weather.
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BUSINESS RECORD IOWA INDEX
The Iowa Index is an unweighted average of all Iowa-based public companies. Below is a live look at those Iowa companies, plus additional companies with large operations in Iowa.
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