Hometown Hawkeye: Dennis Hunger

Name: Dennis Hunger
Degree: M.H.A. (Public Health) ’04
Occupation: CEO, Washington County Hospitals and Clinics
Residence: Washington, Iowa

When Dennis Hunger was named CEO of Washington County Hospitals and Clinics in August 2011, he was thrilled to be returning to his Iowa roots.

Washington is in Washington County, Iowa, which includes:

1,028 UI alumni
203 UI-educated teachers and school administrators
10 UI-educated physicians
7 UI-educated dentists
12 UI-educated pharmacists

Discover how the UI impacts the lives ofIowansborder to border, river to river, at outreach.uiowa.edu.

“When I had the opportunity to come back to this area, I jumped at the chance,” he says. “It’s a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”

Hunger, a native of Winfield, Iowa, received a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University. He returned to Iowa and received a Master of Health Administration from the University of Iowa College of Public Health in 2004.

The MHA program prepared him well for his postgraduate career, Hunger says.

“The college has a wonderful reputation and a network of engaged alumni. As a health care administrator, it’s a terrific benefit to have those resources available to me.”

Washington County Hospitals and Clinics is a 25-bed critical access hospital and 43-bed nursing home providing inpatient, outpatient, long-term care, and emergency services for Washington County and surrounding areas.

“I’ve always enjoyed working in a hospital setting,” he says, “especially one so closely tied to the area. It’s gratifying to be part of an organization that provides quality health care to individuals and is such an integral part of the community.”

Prior to his position in Washington, Hunger was the chief executive officer at Logan Medical Center in Guthrie, Okla.

“It feels great to be back in Iowa,” Hunger says. “It’s a good fit professionally and personally.”

Did you know? A third of all University of Iowa College of Public Health alumni live and work in Iowa.

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Hometown Hawkeyes are University of Iowa alumni, students, faculty, and staff living, working, and making a difference in Iowa. Know a Hometown Hawkeye you’d like to see profiled in Iowa Now? Email your suggestion to us at now@uiowa.edu.