Ackem Pangli- UI Healthcare Downtown Campus (MHA '26)

 UI Health Care Downtown Medical Campus 

Hello from Iowa City! This summer, I had the privilege of interning at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics Downtown Campus under the mentorship of Jennifer Miller, the hospital’s Chief Administrative Officer. I was immediately welcomed into an extremely collaborative culture. Each morning, I sat in on director huddle meetings, where I observed how the leaders across departments began their day with aligning on hospital operations, patient safety, and strategic goals.  

A large portion of my work this summer focused on preparedness for the Joint Commission survey and quality assurance. I worked closely with Barbara Ditzler, the director of quality and accreditation, and joined Environment of Care rounds and conducted Joint Commission tracer audits. I was also able to observe teams during survey sessions during the week Joint Commission came. These experiences showed just how detail-oriented accreditation preparation is. One of my contributions was developing a tracking sheet to help leaders stay on top of the post-survey plan of corrections for each citation.  

My large project for the summer came from the Director of Pharmacy, Dawn Whitehill, who wanted me to analyze the drugs administered at the infusion center for the past 6 months and determine which ones were losing the organization the most money. Now that the Medical Center is part of a larger health system, the organization wants to utilize rerouting patients to alternative UI Health Care locations that are 340B eligible. I recently presented the top 15 high-loss drugs and projected cost savings to hospital leadership.  

I also had the opportunity to get out of the office and shadow a House of Operations Manager during a night shift, as well as observe three surgeries in the OR. These experiences reminded me why this work matters and how every effort ultimately supports quality patient care.  

Another highlight was joining Jennifer in a meeting with the Northside Neighborhood Association. The committee was eager to learn about the work being done at the Medical Center. They expressed how close-knit they felt to Mercy Hospital and wanted to continue that relationship. In the 8 weeks I have been here, I can confidently say that the Downtown Campus has held onto that community hospital feel, and it’s something I’ll carry with me into my future career.  

Outside of work, I’ve had a blast in Iowa City! I got to spend Saturdays at the Iowa City Farmer’s Market and attend the Block Party this past June. On the weekends, I've enjoyed visiting friends in Chicago and spending time with family in Wisconsin. I also recently became an aunt! My niece was born on the very first day of my internship, and now she’s 8 weeks old, just like my internship!  

As my internship wraps up, I feel more inspired to become a healthcare leader, specifically in a community-centered hospital just like the Downtown Campus. This experience deepened my belief that strong hospital leadership is built on the relationships that you have with staff, patients, and the communities being served.