The Department of Internal Medicine is pleased to introduce some of the newest members who joined us between December 2024 and June 2025 (start dates in parentheses). We are happy to welcome them to the department.
Ricci Cardwell, ARNP, DNP, MSN, FNP-C, OCN (2/10/25)
Dr. Ricci Cardwell joined the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation as a nurse practitioner, where she will care for patients in the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. She has a strong passion for oncology care and is committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based support to patients and their families throughout their cancer journey. Dr. Cardwell received her MSN from Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, followed by her DNP from the University of Iowa College of Nursing. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, walking her dog and listening to music.
Sergio Conti, MD, PhD, FHRS (3/31/25)
Dr. Sergio Conti joined the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine as a clinical assistant professor. He received his master’s degree in medicine and surgery and postgraduate training in cardiology from the University of Catania, Italy, followed by a second-level master’s degree in electrophysiology and cardiac pacing from the University of lnsurbria in Varese, Italy. He completed a fellowship in advanced cardiac electrophysiology at the University of Toronto in Canada, a PhD in experimental medicine at the University of Tor Vergata in Rome, postdoctoral training in clinical research at the University of Milan, and a diploma of advanced studies in cardiac arrhythmia management at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. As a member of the Electrophysiology Section of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Dr. Conti’s activities will include outpatient clinic in the Heart and Vascular Center, procedures in the EP Lab, and a share of the inpatient EP consult service. In his spare time, Dr. Conti enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, traveling, hiking and scuba diving.
Heather Dunn, PhD, ARNP, ACNP-BC (1/1/25)
Dr. Heather Dunn joined the Division of General Internal Medicine as a hospitalist, where she will care for patients at UI Health Care Medical Center. Dr. Dunn received her master’s degree and her PhD in nursing from the University of Illinois at Chicago, followed by a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Iowa College of Nursing, where she currently serves as a clinical associate professor and director of the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner program. Dr. Dunn’s hobbies include traveling, spending time on her sailboat in Michigan, and staying physically active—especially through the practice of Pilates.
Abby Hein, PA-C (3/31/25)
Abby Hein joined the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology as a physician assistant, where she will see patients at the GI clinic at Jefferson Street, Iowa City. She received her MSPA degree from the Des Moines University School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2006. She has been dedicated to her profession for 19 years with experience in family medicine, orthopedics and gastroenterology. She previously offered GI care to her patients at Mercy Iowa City from 2013–2020. She has a true passion for GI care and is thrilled to now be a part of the inpatient and outpatient GI team at UIHC MCD. When not at work, she enjoys the outdoors and spending time with her family.
Elizabeth Highland-Fonder, ARNP, MSN , FNP-C (3/24/25)
Elizabeth Highland-Fonder joined the Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine Division as a nurse practitioner, where she will see patients in the occupational health clinics at First Avenue in Iowa City and Holiday Road in Coralville. Prior to coming to occupational health, she worked in urgent care at UI Health Care for 5 years. She received her MSN from the University of South Alabama in Mobile. In her spare time she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends, especially her six-year-old daughter, husband, and sheepadoodle, Murphy.
Makenzie Jennings, PA-C (1/8/25)
Makenzie Jennings joined the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology as a physician assistant, where she will see patients at the Iowa River Landing and Main Campus. She received her MPAS degree from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado. She loves being outdoors. She makes the most out of sunny days by spending them with her fiancé and golden retriever walking, running, or finding new places to hike and explore. She also enjoys traveling, cooking new dishes, baking, and spending time with friends or family.
Fernando Maciel Barbosa, MD (2/18/25)
Dr. Fernando Maciel Barbosa joined the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation as a clinical associate professor. Dr. Maciel Barbosa received his MD from the School of Medicine at Universidade Federal de Uberlândia in Brazil, followed by a medical residency and a clinical oncology fellowship there. His clinical and research interests focus on treatment equity and diversity in oncology. When he’s not working, he enjoys cycling with his daughters and reading.
Lori Mehrl-Kilian, DO (11/29/24)
Dr. Lori Mehrl-Kilian (née Beireis) joined the Division of General Internal Medicine in November 2024. She previously provided services to our downtown campus as a founding member of the hospitalist program in 2006. More recently, she worked as a hospitalist and skilled nursing home provider at St. Charles Health Care in Bend, Oregon. Dr. Mehrl-Kilian received her DO from Des Moines University, followed by an internal medicine residency at the University of Iowa. Her clinical and research interests include providing excellent, evidence-based medicine to our hospitalized patients. Dr. Mehrl-Kilian enjoys hiking, skiing, biking and traveling in her free time.
Hannah Moyer, PA-C (3/17/25)
Hannah Moyer joined the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation as a physician assistant, where she sees patients at UI Health Care Medical Center. She received her degree from Charleston Southern University in North Charleston, South Carolina. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with loved ones—especially her three-legged dog!
Jesse Murray, ARNP, MSN, AGACNP (3/31/25)
Jesse Murray joined the Division of General Internal Medicine as a hospitalist, where she cares for patients at UI Health Care Medical Center. She received her MSN and AGACNP from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. On her days off you will likely find her at the gym, outside working in her garden, or hanging out with her one-year-old, Jack. She enjoys traveling with her family, meeting new people, and trying new foods.
Tera Noard, ARNP, MSN, FNP-BC (3/24/25)
Tera Noard, ARNP, joined the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism as a nurse practitioner in the weight management department. She received her FNP from the University of Illinois at Chicago in Peoria, Illinois. Tera enjoys being with her family, going to sporting events and running in her free time.
Ngozi Nwude, MBBS, FWCAP (4/14/25)
Dr. Ngozi Nwude has joined the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology as a clinical assistant professor. Dr. Nwude received her MBBS from the University of Ibadan College of Medicine in Ibadan, Nigeria, followed by residencies in internal medicine and gastroenterology at Lagos University Teaching Hospital in Idi-Araba, Nigeria. She also completed a gastroenterology research fellowship at the Luxembourg Institute of Health in Strassen, Luxembourg, and an endoscopy fellowship at Chiam Sheba Hospital in Tel-Hashomer, Israel. Her clinical and research interests include obesity and hepatology. Outside of work, Dr. Nwude likes to engage in sporting activities like hiking and spinning. She also enjoys traveling and interacting with people from different backgrounds and culture.
Temi Odu, ARNP, MSN, FNP (5/5/25)
Temi Odu is a board-certified family nurse practitioner who joined the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, where she provides care in the Endocrinology Clinic. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing with a focus in family practice from Chamberlain University. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and doing restorative activities that help her recharge and bring compassionate care to patients.
Michael Olthoff, MD (1/31/25)
Dr. Michael Olthoff joined the Division of Infectious Diseases as a clinical assistant professor, after completing his ID fellowship at UI Health Care. Dr. Olthoff received his MD from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, followed by an internal medicine residency at University of Iowa. His clinical and research interests include general infectious diseases, travel and tropical medicine, endemic fungal infections, and antimicrobial stewardship. In his free time, he enjoys travel, outdoor activities, spending time with his family and pets, and Hawkeye sports.
Camille Rasmussen, PA-C (4/7/25)
Camille Rasmussen joined the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation as a physician assistant, where she will see patients at UI Health Care Medical Center. She received her BS from Utah State University and her MPAS from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. In her free time, she likes to spend time with her two kids, play board games with her husband, and attempt home DIY projects.
Chelsea Rutt, ARNP, MSN, FNP-C (2/10/25)
Chelsea Rutt joined the Division of General Internal Medicine as a nurse practitioner hospitalist, where she will care for patients at UI Health Care Medical Center. She received her MSN from Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her hobbies include cooking, Peloton workouts, gardening, traveling and spending time with her husband and three boys.
Nicole Schneider, ARNP, DNP, FNP-BC (6/9/25)
Dr. Nicole Schneider joined the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology as a nurse practitioner, where she sees patients UI Health Care Medical Center. She started her nursing career at University of Iowa in 2006 as a bedside inpatient nurse. Dr. Schneider subsequently received her DNP-FNP from Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa, in 2018. When not working, she likes to spend time outdoors with her husband and two sons.
Luis Serrano, PA-C, MPH (2/3/25)
Luis Serrano joined the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine as a physician assistant, where he will see patients at UI Health Care Medical Center. After serving in the US Navy, he received his BSPA degree, followed by an MPH from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. In his free time, he enjoys playing sports such as soccer and football and relaxing by fishing or listening to music.
Bianca Strack, ARNP (1/6/25)
Bianca Strack joined the Division of Infectious Diseases as a Nurse Practitioner, where she will see patients at UI Health Care Medical Center. She received her MSN FNP-C from Allen College in Waterloo, Iowa. Outside of work Bianca likes to ride her bike, hang out with her nieces and nephews, travel to new cities, and listen to Taylor Swift. Bianca is a fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and tries to catch a game occasionally. She is genuinely happy to join the division of ID and is looking forward to helping patients however she can. She has been part of the UI team since graduating NP school in 2015. She started at Quickcare, then transitioned to family medicine and now currently in ID.
Kendra Struck, ARNP, MSN, MBA (1/27/25)
Kendra Struck joined the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology as a nurse practitioner, where she sees patients at both the UI Health Care Main Campus and Iowa River Landing. She received her family nurse practitioner degree from Graceland University and her MSN and an MBA in health management from University of Phoenix Online. She enjoys spending time with her family, and five grandchildren, in addition to traveling, riding her motorcycle, making crafts, and crocheting in her spare time.
Ioannis Voutsadakis, MD, PhD (4/1/25)
Dr. Ioannis Voutsadakis joined the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation as a clinical professor. Dr. Voutsadakis received his MD from Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece, followed by an internship in internal medicine at 1st Department of Internal Medicine, Army Officers’ VA Hospital in Athens. He also completed an internal medicine residency at Lenox Hill Hospital with New York University and a Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. Before coming to Iowa, Dr. Voutsadakis spent 10 years on staff at the Sault Area Hospital and in the faculty of Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Canada. His clinical and research interests include cancer biomarkers and personalized clinical trials in gastrointestinal cancers.
Looks like great additions to the medical staff and faculty.