Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences has appointed three new members to its Board of Trustees. Omar Lateef, D.O., Diane Bridgewater and Amber Lenhardt bring significant experience to their roles.
“As distinguished professionals in their careers, Dr. Lateef, Diane Bridgewater and Amber Lenhardt bring unique skills to our board from different aspects of the health care field,” says Angela L. Walker Franklin, Ph.D., DMU’s president and CEO. “I look forward to collaborating with them as we continue to steward new opportunities on our campus and make an impact on the health needs of Iowans and the world.”
Lateef, a 1999 graduate of DMU’s Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program, began his tenure at Rush in 2005 with a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at Rush University Medical Center. He later became chief medical officer in June 2015 and was appointed president and CEO of Rush University Medical Center in May 2019. Under his leadership, the medical center received national attention for effectively managing the COVID-19 pandemic and was one of the first health systems to offer antibody testing. He became president of Rush University System for Health in 2021 and CEO in July 2022.
In January 2020, Lateef was invited by the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to serve on the National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality. He has been named one of the 50 most influential clinical executives in Modern Healthcare five times, recognizing his leadership in measuring health care quality and leading the nation in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. He is a member of the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Thoracic Society and the Society of Critical Care Medicine and a fellow of the American College of Physicians.
Bridgewater, executive vice president/chief administrative and strategy officer at Life Care Services, leads the company’s strategy, resulting in strong financial performance and growth. While at LCS, a national senior living owner/operator based in Des Moines, Bridgewater previously held the position of chief financial and administrative officer until transitioning responsibilities during 2024. She serves on the board of LCS Holding Company, LLC, and its related compensation, investment and retirement fiduciary committees.
Outside of LCS, Bridgewater recently completed a term on the board of Casey’s General Stores, where she chaired the audit and nominating and governance committees. She is a member of the board and chair of the audit committee at Guide One Insurance. Bridgewater has been recognized for her leadership with the Des Moines Business Record’s Women of Influence award, the Deloitte CFO of the Year and was named to the Women Inc. magazine’s 2023 Most Influential Corporate Board Directors.
Lenhardt, chief financial officer at The Iowa Clinic, oversees finance, business analytics and the population health division of the physician-owned, multispecialty medical group with 250 providers. Within her first year, Lenhardt successfully led the organization through the launch of a population health services organization that collaborates with other medical groups across different Medicare products.
Before joining The Iowa Clinic, Lenhardt served as chief financial officer for MercyOne Medical Group — Central Iowa, where she oversaw finance, provider compensation and revenue cycle functions for the 400+ employed multispecialty medical group. Her leadership drove significant improvements in financial and operational performance.
Individuals are elected to three-year terms on the DMU board, after which they may be considered for an additional term.
