The Iowa Primary Care Association (Iowa PCA) will recognize John Brandt, Board President and Founding Board Member of Eastern Iowa Health Center, with the 2021 Carl Kulczyk Memorial Award at the 2021 Iowa PCA Annual Conference Nov. 1-3, 2021, in Des Moines, Iowa.

Each year, the Iowa PCA recognizes outstanding individuals for their contributions to Iowa’s community health centers. Nominations are submitted by community health center peers and community partners. These individuals are recognized for their dedication to the Health Center Movement and for their extraordinary work on behalf of their peers, patients, and community. Eastern Iowa Health Center (EIHC) is one of 14 members of the Iowa Primary Care Association.

Before retiring in 2017, John served as the Executive Director of Linn County Community Services.  The largest department of Linn County government, Community Services had 300 employees, a budget of $40 million and provided services to the low income, the elderly, the disabled, and children and youth, including delinquent youth.  Through his community leadership activities, John convened the planning committee that submitted the initial grant application for the Cedar Rapids community to have a federally qualified health center, now known as Eastern Iowa Health Center.

“John Brandt is a tremendous leader and public servant. He was instrumental in bringing a Federally Qualified Health Center to Iowa’s second largest city 15 years ago and has continually served on our Board of Directors since its inception.  John has been Board President during the majority his tenure and has been vitally involved in providing direction and fiduciary oversight for our 400 percent growth in the past seven years.  He is truly deserving of this auspicious award and Eastern Iowa Health Center is grateful for his passion and service,” comments Joe Lock, Eastern Iowa Health Center President & CEO.

This award was established in recognition of Carl Kulczyk’s outstanding contributions to the Iowa PCA and community health field prior to his death in 2008. This award is presented to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to his/her organization over the course of his/her tenure at the health center.

John graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in history and a combined JD and MBA.  He volunteers as  an attorney at the Health and Law Project at EIHC and has volunteered as an archivist at the Iowa State Historical Society.  Currently, John is the President of the Board of Directors for HACAP, the local community action agency, and he chairs the Aging and Disability Resource Council and the Grant Innovation Committee at the Heritage Area Agency on Aging.  John and his wife Karen enjoy travelling around the world; they recently returned from a cruise around Iceland.