The Department of Internal Medicine is pleased to introduce some of the newest members who joined us between January and June 2024 (start dates in parentheses). We are happy to welcome them to the department.
Kale Bongers, MD, PhD (6/28/24)
Dr. Kale Bongers joins the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine as an Assistant Professor, coming from a faculty position at the University of Michigan. Dr. Bongers received his MD/PhD from the Carver College of Medicine, followed by an Internal Medicine residency and Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine fellowship at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. His clinical interests include critical care and recovery from critical illness, while his research focuses on the role of the gut microbiome in skeletal muscle dysfunction after sepsis. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, hiking, folk dancing, and playing badminton.
Kelly Jean Bouchonville, PhD, PA-C (4/15/24)
Kelly Bouchonville joined the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension as a Physician Assistant, where she will see patients in the Nephrology Clinic/Dialysis. She received a PhD in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics from the University of Minnesota, as well as an MMSc (PA Program) from Yale School of Medicine. In her spare time, she enjoys running after her kids and dog and spending time outside.
Johanna Clark, MSN, FNP-C (6/17/24)
Johanna Clark joined the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology as a Nurse Practitioner, where she will see patients in the GI Clinic. She received her MSN from Chamberlain University. When not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family, riding motorcycles, enjoying days out on the boat, traveling and watching football. GO PACK GO!
Daniel Cook, MD, PhD (6/28/24)
Dr. Daniel Cook joins the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine as an Assistant Professor, from his recent faculty position at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Cook participated in the Medical Scientist Training Program at the Carver College of Medicine, earning his MD/PhD degrees. He then completed his Internal Medicine residency (PSTP) and Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine fellowship (PSTP) at Vanderbilt, as well as a post-doctoral fellowship there. Dr. Cook’s clinical and research interests focus on the interactions between lung epithelial cells and cells of the innate and adaptive immune system in the context of allergy. He seeks to identify new therapies to modify allergic disease, with particular focus on the role of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein in allergy. This research is broadly relevant for many type 2 inflammatory diseases, but holds particular importance in individuals affected by cystic fibrosis lung disease where loss of CFTR leads to increased type 2 inflammation. Outside of work he enjoys spending time with friends and family, eating barbeque, and watching Chiefs football.
Ryan Foulkes, MSN, ARNP, FNP-C (6/24/24)
Dr. Ryan Foulkes joined the Division of General Internal Medicine as a Nurse Practitioner/Hospitalist. He is a member of the Emergency Response Team. He started his medical career as a Paramedic in 2000. He then went on to complete his ADN at Southeastern Community College, BSN at Iowa Wesleyan College, MSN in Nursing Education at Mt. Mercy University, Post-Masters Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner at Allen College and just completed his DNP at the University of Iowa College of Nursing. Dr. Foulkes’s primary focus in health care has been in Emergency Medicine. He has 25 years of experience as a Paramedic, 19 years as an RN (17.5 years ED and 1.5 years CVICU UIHC), and 6 years as an ED ARNP. Professionally he enjoys Emergency Medicine and has a passion for education. Outside of work, he lives with his partner, Christopher. They have 1 cat and 2 dogs. Dr. Foulkes enjoys biking, swimming, boating, racquetball, and being around family (a reason to travel).
Lesley Green, MD (1/31/24)
Dr. Lesley Green joined the Division of General Internal Medicine as an Instructor, where she will care for patients at UI Health Care Downtown. Dr. Green received her MD from the University of Guayaquil in Ecuador, followed by a Family Medicine residency at Northeast Iowa Family Medicine & Residency in Waterloo. Outside of work, she enjoys listening to music, traveling, and playing with her dog.
Jodie Grout, DNP, RN, ANP-C, CC (1/31/24)
Jodie Grout joined the Division of General Medicine as a Nurse Practitioner, where she will care for patients at UI Health Care Downtown. She has been an adult nurse practitioner since 2009, but has been in the nursing field for more than 28 years. Her job includes assessing, diagnosing, and implementing treatment plans for inpatient hospital medicine patients.
Jodie has a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. She was the first adult nurse practitioner to complete a 1-year hospital medicine nurse practitioner fellowship at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center.
Jodie enjoys traveling, grilling, spending time with family and friends, the beach, the mountains, and experiencing new restaurants and foods.
John Kelley, MD (1/31/24)
Dr. John Kelley joined the Division of General Internal Medicine as an Instructor, where he will see patients at UI Health Care Iowa City, First Avenue. Dr. Kelley received his MD from the University of Iowa College of Medicine, interned at St. Paul-Ramsey County Hospital, residency at University of Iowa, served in the USAF, practiced in Bloomfield, IA, joined Towncrest Internal Medicine in Iowa City, was purchased by Mercy Hospital, now seeing patients as above. He was born at the UI Hospital: “full circle,” he says.
Spas Kotev, MD, FACC, FSCAI, RPVI (1/31/24)
Dr. Spas Kotev joins the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine as an Instructor, where he sees patients at UI Health Care Iowa City, Jefferson Street. He has worked as an interventional cardiologist in Iowa for 10 years, and in addition to his clinical responsibilities, he serves as the Chair of Medicine and Medical Director of Cardiology at UI Heath Care Downtown. He is also the current Governor of the Iowa Chapter of American College of Cardiology. Dr. Kotev received his medical degree from the Medical University of Sofia Faculty of Medicine in Bulgaria, followed by an Internal Medicine residency at Sinai Hospital/John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. He completed fellowships in Cardiovascular Diseases and Interventional Cardiology at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in New Jersey. He has been active in physician-led advocacy for the ACC and has represented the Iowa cardiologists at the ACC Legislative Conference in Washington, DC for the past three years. He is also deeply involved in initiatives for fellows education through the Iowa Chapter ACC. In his free time, he likes to hike and bike with his family and gather with friends. He is also a cautious skier in the winter and even more cautious motorcycle biker in the summer.
Dr. Kotev is board-certified in General Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology, Echocardiography, Nuclear Cardiology, Vascular and Endovascular Medicine. He is excited to collaborate and make friends with all his new colleagues from the large family of University of Iowa.
Daniel Leary, MD, PhD (1/31/24)
Dr. Daniel Leary joined the Division of General Internal Medicine as an Instructor, where he cares for patients at UI Health Care Downtown and serves as Medical Director of the Adult Hospitalist Program there. Dr. Leary earned a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, followed by an MD from the Carver College of Medicine. He’s served as the Hospitalist Medical Director at the downtown campus since 2019 and is the current President of the Iowa Chapter of the Society of Hospitalist Medicine. Dr. Leary’s hobbies include biking, weightlifting, music, college sports, board games, and spending quality time with his wife and 3 children.
Dessie Myers, MSN, ARNP (5/1/24)
Dessie Myers joined the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine as a Nurse Practitioner, where she sees patients in the Pulmonary Clinic. She received a BSN from the University of Iowa while working at the hospital in various areas as a nursing assistant. Her MSN was conferred from Chamberlain University. She is a proud veteran, mother, spouse, sibling, friend, roller derby player, and nurse.
Fred Ovrom, MD (1/31/24)
Dr. Fred Ovrom joined the Division of General Internal Medicine as an Instructor, where he sees patients at UI Health Care Coralville, Heartland Drive. Dr. Ovrom received his MD from the University of Iowa College of Medicine, followed by an Internal Medicine residency at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York City, where he also served a year as Chief Resident. In his spare time, Dr. Ovrom likes to read, bicycle, walk, cook, listen to music, and volunteer at the Iowa City Free Medical and Dental Clinic.