Distinguished alumni

David Vellinga ’72 Distinguished Professional Achievement

David Vellinga holds multiple executive roles in the health care field. He is president and CEO of Mercy Health Network, which consists of 40 hospitals, 140 clinics and 13,000 employees that handle 27 percent of inpatient and observation discharges in Iowa. He is senior vice president for operations for Catholic Health Initiatives. And he serves as CEO of Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, where he oversees three hospital campuses, more than 50 clinics and nearly 8,000 employees. A business administration major at Northwestern, Vellinga earned a master’s degree in hospital and health care administration from the University of Iowa. He was recognized as one of 10 emerging leaders in healthcare by the Healthcare Forum and received the Ship’s Wheel award from the Iowa Hospital Association.

Award year: 2014