We champion and strengthen public health in our state as the convener, promoter and supporter of Iowa’s public health community. We stand ready as a credible, evidence-driven community of professionals urging wise policy and financial investments that address the social determinants of health and value health equity. Our staff and board utilize a strategic approach to achieving our vision of a healthy and thriving Iowa.
Staff and Board
IPHA is the independent voice for public health in Iowa, advocating for a strong and resilient public health workforce.
Support Staff
Lina Tucker Reinders, MPH – Executive Director
Lina Tucker Reinders is the Executive Director of IPHA. She earned a bachelor’s degree in human services, and a Master of Public Health from the University of Minnesota. Prior to serving as IPHA’s Executive Director, Lina began her career in public health as an AmeriCorps VISTA community organizer in Minneapolis, later becoming the legislative liaison for tobacco control at the MN Department of Public Health, and a member of the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Since returning to the US, Lina has spent her time consulting on various public health projects ranging from social protection, global health system development, and maternal/child health, always with a focus on health equity. She became an active member of IPHA upon moving to Iowa in 2013, saying in her introductory speech as Executive Director, “I knew that if I wanted to be a part of the public health community in Iowa, I needed to join IPHA.”
Kim Novy, CAP – Business Coordinator
Kim Novy is the Business Coordinator of IPHA, where she brings both professional expertise and personal passion to her work. As a Certified Administrative Professional, she oversees IPHA’s membership database and supports the day-to-day operations of the organization. Kim manages membership campaigns, leads donor recruitment efforts, and coordinates the organization’s events, workshops, and conferences. Kim’s commitment to public health is deeply personal. As a parent of two adult children with disabilities, she has spent years advocating for access to health care, essential services, and meaningful inclusion. This lived experience fuels her dedication to IPHA’s mission and her strong belief in advancing health equity for all Iowans.
Elizabeth Faber, MPH – Director of Programs
Elizabeth Faber is the Director of Programs with IPHA and has served as Iowa Immunizes Coalition Director since its inception in January 2020. She earned a bachelor’s degree in health science from Truman State University in 2000 and a Master of Public Health from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in 2003. Prior to her work with IPHA and Iowa Immunizes, Elizabeth served as an independent consultant, which included roles as the Iowa Region 2 Public Health Emergency Preparedness Director and the coalition consultant for the Lifelong Smiles Coalition. Elizabeth also served as an IPHA board member from 2008 to 2014. “IPHA has provided me with professional growth, networking opportunities, and has also introduced me to many like-minded friends. I’m thankful for the support and expertise that the IPHA membership provides.”
Addie Cunningham – Intern
Addie Cunningham is a senior at Drake University studying Public Health and Sociology. Through her internship at IPHA, she hopes to learn more about health communications and the role IPHA plays during the legislative session. She is also looking forward to the Public Health Conference of Iowa happening in April. After graduating next May, Addie hopes to pursue a Master’s in Public Health with a focus in epidemiology and continue learning about innovative ways to keep her community healthy.
Board of Directors
Anjali Deshpande, PhD, MPH – President
Dr. Anjali Deshpande is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. She earned a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University in 1990, a Master of Public Health from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in 1995, and a Doctorate from Emory University in 2000. Prior to her role at the University of Iowa, Dr. Deshpande was a Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, a communicable disease epidemiologist at the Oklahoma State Department of Health, and a Consultant Epidemiologist in Chronic Disease at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. She values IPHA’s role as a “place” where she can learn new things about public health, talk to colleagues about changes and challenges to public health, connect with public health practice, and meet people with whom she can contribute to make a significant impact. Dr. Deshpande has been a member of IPHA since 2016.
Deborah Thompson, MPA – President-Elect
Deborah is a long-time advocate for public health. She spent seven and a half years as the Legislative Liaison for the Iowa Department of Public Health. Currently, she is the Founder and President of DHT Consulting & Training. The mission of her firm is to support and build capacity for the courageous and compassionate people working in the health and human services sector to collectively create of a culture of health. This is born out of Deborah’s personal mission to be part of efforts to build a culture of health in Iowa that is the foundation for healthy and thriving communities in which her son, Lincoln, may one day choose to raise his family. Deborah served in advocacy-related leadership roles with IPHA and Iowa Immunizes between 2020 and 2022 and values the relationships with fellow public health advocates from around the state that have developed. IPHA is more than an association – it is a community and Deborah hopes to continue to build that reputation in her role as a board member.
Joy Harris, MPH – Secretary
Joy Harris is the Interim Director of Education Services at Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). She earned bachelor’s degrees in occupational therapy and psychology from St. Ambrose University in 1997 and a Master of Public Health from Des Moines University in 2003. Prior to working at PHAB she spent several years as the Public Health Modernization and Accreditation Coordinator at the Iowa Department of Public Health. She has also worked as an occupational therapist on the mental health unit at Allen Hospital in Waterloo, Iowa. Joy values the opportunities IPHA provides to network with other public health professionals and advocate for the public health system in Iowa.
Sam Jarvis, MS – Treasurer
Sam Jarvis is the Community Health Manager at Johnson County Public Health. He has been with the department for 4 years, previously serving as the Emergency Preparedness Planner and has over 10 years total of local government public health experience. Sam holds an MS in Health Science from Western Illinois University and a BA in Biochemistry from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. He holds a certificate in emergency response coordination through the Public Health Practitioner Certification Board and is a Licensed Environmental Health Practitioner in Illinois. This Midwest-coast native calls the heartland home and enjoys all things public health.
Joshua Brown – APHA Affiliate Representative to the Governing Council (ARGC)
Josh currently serves as a County Veteran Service Officer with Johnson County Veteran Services, where he advocates for veterans and their families to access benefits they have earned. As a member of the 132d Wing with the Iowa Air National Guard, veteran issues are particularly meaningful to him. Before his work in Johnson County, Josh served with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services as an Income Maintenance Worker. Josh earned his Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of Iowa. He first became involved with IPHA in 2021, joining the Planning Committee for the Public Health Conference of Iowa.
Stacey Killian, BA – Member-at-Large
Stacey Killian is the Director of UnityPoint Health-Visiting Nurse Association serving northeast Iowa, where she oversees agency operations, staff leadership, program administration, and overall organizational strategy. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Dubuque. Throughout her career, Stacey has held progressive roles in public health, including case management, maternal and child health coordination, program oversight, and executive leadership, gaining extensive experience in grant development, governance, and community‑based health initiatives. She also provides leadership in emergency preparedness and public health planning and has guided a wide range of grant‑funded programs that support individuals and families across both urban and rural communities. As a long‑standing member of the Iowa Public Health Association, Stacey values IPHA’s commitment to strengthening public health systems, supporting statewide collaboration, and advancing policies that promote equitable health outcomes for all Iowans.
Corey D. Lewis – Member-at-Large
Corey Dion Lewis is a dynamic health equity advocate, podcast host, the founder of The Healthy Project. As a clinical health coach, Corey works closely with individuals to address chronic conditions blending his passion for health with actionable strategies for positive change.
Corey is also the creator and host of multiple podcasts, including The Healthy Project Podcast and the popular show Coffee Can’t Fix Everything, where he explores mental health topics over coffee. His innovative approach to health storytelling extends beyond podcasts, as he is the co-founder of My City My Health INC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to promoting health equity through impactful media, educational initiatives, and community-driven events.
Corey is a Des Moines Business Record’s 40 under 40 and received the Iowa Public Health Association’s Health Equity Advocate of the Year Award for his work in transforming healthcare access and equity.
Corey’s vision for health equity is rooted in his lived experience as a Black man, where he continually strives to make healthcare more equitable and accessible for all. Whether he is speaking to healthcare professionals, policymakers, or community members, Corey uses his voice to push for transformative change in the healthcare landscape.
Jared Parmater – Member-at-Large
Jared Parmater is the current Environmental Health Program Manager for the Black Hawk County Public Health Department. He has worked in Environmental Health for nearly ten years. Jared has an MS in Biology, with a focus on Toxicology, from the University of Northern Iowa, is REHS/RS certified, and in his spare time, teaches various public health classes at both Allen College and the University of Northern Iowa. Jared is a retired twenty-year veteran of the Iowa Army National Guard and has deployed multiple times in support of both disaster relief and overseas conflict. Most recently, he completed the Great Plains Leadership Institute and the NEHA Environmental Health Leadership Academy. Previously, he served as the IEHA President and is currently serving as the chair the IEHA Legislative and Advocacy Committee. He has enjoyed several years of participating on the PCHI planning committee and is a frequent presenter. Jared lives in Cedar Falls with his wife Jessica, and his children, Hank and Fiona.
Rachel Reimer, Ph.D – Member-at-Large
Rachel Reimer is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Public Health at Des Moines University. She currently serves as the MPH Program Director as well as the MHA Program Director. Before joining Des Moines University, Rachel obtained her PhD in Social Psychology with an emphasis on health behavior at Iowa State University. Her research focused on topics like racial disparities in smoking behavior and beliefs, adolescent health risk behaviors, and HPV vaccination. While her training was in scholarly research and teaching, she became passionate about the intersection of academic work and public health practice as she began to lead the DMU MPH program. She believes Iowa Public Health Association is an important connector of key stakeholders which directly supports public health students and workers in many ways. She decided to join the board so that she could both give back to the public health workforce community and learn from their great work.
John Rovers, PharmD, MPH – Member-at-Large
Dr. John Rovers is a Professor of Pharmacy & Health Sciences at Drake University, where he teaches a variety of public health focused courses. A native of Canada, he earned his undergraduate degree in pharmacy at the University of Toronto and his Doctor of Pharmacy at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences. After a career in pharmacy practice, and later academia, he returned to school and completed a Master of International Public Health at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Since most of his public health work has been in the Global South, he joined IPHA in 2018 to be able to learn more and participate in the public health issues that serve Iowans.
Peter Wallace, MD, MS – Member-at-Large
Dr. Peter Wallace is the Medical Director and Chair of the Johnson County Board of Health. He earned a BS from Grinnell College in 1965, a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Iowa in 1969, and a Master of Science in Administrative Medicine from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1997. Prior to his work at the Johnson County Board of Health, Dr. Wallace served in the U.S. Navy, ran a private practice of general pediatrics, served on the Iowa City Community School Board, and worked at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. He values the camaraderie and subsequent sharing of experiences that come with involvement in IPHA. Dr. Wallace has been a member since 2011.
Greg Welk – Member-at-Large
Gregory J. Welk is the Barbara E. Forker Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and a Distinguished Professor of Human Sciences at Iowa State University (ISU). He coordinates a campus-wide Translational Research Network at ISU known as U-TuRN and leads several translational projects designed to promote physical activity in different segments of the population. A major focus is on the statewide dissemination of the group, hybrid, and self-directed versions of the Arthritis Foundation’s Walk With Ease program. He teaches community health programming and leads a community outreach group called Community Connections for Public Health that actively supports county health programming focused on physical activity. He also teaches worksite health promotion and leads a parallel worksite outreach group called Wellness Works that supports healthy worksites. These outreach efforts harmonize with his role as co-chair of the Healthy Iowans – Active Living workgroup which is focused on building capacity for physical activity programming across the state.
