Leadership Team
Gail Graham | 515-699-5850
Director
Gail Graham joined VA Central Iowa Health Care System as the Director on July 13, 2016.
She came to Central Iowa from the El Paso VA Health Care System where she served as the Interim Director for over a year. In her permanent role as Deputy Undersecretary (ADUSH) for Health for Informatics and Analytics (HIA), within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Office of Health Information. Ms. Graham is an accomplished and creative executive whose vision has guided health information management practice in VA from a paper-based, facility-centered function to an informatics service connecting people, programs, and partners throughout the federal health care system. As the ADUSH for Informatics and Analytics, she leads efforts to ensure that VHA’s clinicians, managers, leaders and the patients they serve are provided timely, relevant informatics products and data resources that support improvements in Veterans’ Health. Ms. Graham oversees the management of health, medical and business information contained in the electronic health record and other VA systems, and provides subject matter expertise in the acquisition, storage, use and reporting of VA health information for treatment, payment, operations and research.
Ms. Graham began her VA career in 1998 as the Director, Health Information Management and has held various leadership roles from 1998 to 2010 in the Office of Health Information to include: Director, Office of Health Data and Information and Deputy Chief Officer, Office of Health Information. In 2010 she became the ADUSH for HIA.
Ms. Graham holds a Bachelor of Science degree on Medical Records Administration from Wichita State University, Wichita, KS, and a Mini-Master of Business Administration Certificate from the College of St. Mary, Omaha, NE.
Jerry Blow, M.D. | 515-699-5853
Chief of Staff
Dr. Jerry Blow is Chief of Staff at VA Central Iowa Health Care System starting January 24th, 2016. He is a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician who was appointed as the Medical Director of Extended Care & Rehabilitation (EC&R) in May of 2015 and in October 2015 as the Acting Chief of Staff. He joined VACIHCS in August of 2014 after being in private practice for 20 years treating patients with acute and chronic pain, amputees, and patients with traumatic brain injuries. He was Co-director of the Pain Program at Mckennan Hospital (now Avera Mckennan), Director of the Traumatic Brain Injury Program, & Assistant Director of the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program where he was Co-Chief Resident his final year. He received his medical degree from the University of South Dakota School of Medicine (now Sanford School of Medicine) and undergraduate degree from Southwest State University (Now Southwest Minnesota State University).
Amy Dawson | 515-699-5850
Associate Director, Patient Care Services/Nurse Executive
Amy Dawson became Acting Nurse Executive at VACIHCS in June 2016 and has been with the VA for one year. Ms. Dawson obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 2003, Masters of Science in Nursing with Administration Focus in 2008.
Prior to her VA career, she served as the Chief Clinical Officer at a community hospital in Iowa with oversight for nursing, central sterilization, pharmacy, radiology, laboratory, therapies, substance abuse treatment center, long term care facility, infection control, employee health, education, risk management, and credentialing.
Ms. Dawson has past active memberships in IHA, APIC, AORN, Iowa Organization for Nurse Leaders, AONE, council member for two IHA councils, ASHRM- graduate/ past Member of IHA leadership program, Carroll county leadership program and Carroll County Young leaders. Additionally she has certifications of CNOR (certified nurse of operating room), BC-NE (board certified nurse executive, and a mentor certification here at VA. Clinical certifications include ACLS, BLS, PALS, NRP, TNCC, PICC, past Chemotherapy/Biotherapy.
Sara Ackert | 515.699.5850
Associate Director of Resources
