Des Moines University is proud to announce Mary Mincer Hansen, R.N., Ph.D., director of the DMU public health program, was recently selected as a member of the new National Health Care Workforce Commission.
The commission, a national resource for Congress, the president, states and cities, was appointed by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). The commission was born from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and includes 15 members.
Senator Tom Harkin, in a press release, said, ““I congratulate Dr. Hansen on being appointed to this important Commission and thank GAO for selecting such a talented and qualified individual for this post. Her vast experience distinguishes her as a leader in assessing challenges in training a health care workforce equipped to meet public health goals. I am particularly pleased that she will be a strong voice for the health care needs of rural parts of our country, which are often underserved and need additional physicians and health professionals. I am confident that she will serve in this position well.”
The commission members are charged with serving “to communicate and coordinate with federal departments; to develop and commission evaluations of education and training activities; to identify barriers to improved coordination at the federal, state and local levels and recommend ways to address them; and to encourage innovations that address population needs, changing technology and other environmental factors.”
Dr. Hansen is also a DMU global health faculty member, sits on the Heartland Global Health Consortium and previously served as the director of the Iowa Department of Public Health.
DMU’s Interim President Steve Dengle said, “Mary is a well-respected member of our faculty and a student-favorite. We are proud of her and congratulate her on this honor. She will do a wonderful job representing Iowans and making smart choices for health care.”
