Primary Health Care, Inc.

Medical Director

Dr. Bery Engebretsen has has a distinguished career dedicated to providing quality healthcare to the underserved in Iowa and throughout the country. With a diverse career extending from Florida to New York and Iowa, Dr. Engebretsen has had a profound impact on patients and colleagues alike. 

In 1980, he was instrumental in establishing Primary Health Care, where he served as Medical Director before serving as the Executive Director from 1987 - 2004. Under Dr. Engebretsen's leadership, PHC expanded to a multi-site community health center offering medical, dental and mental health/substance abuse services in Des Moines and Marshalltown.  During that time PHC also expanded to serve HIV and homeless patients.

Dr. Engebretsen also was instrumental in strengthening the community health care system in Iowa and throughout the region by helping establish the Iowa/Nebraska Primary Care Association in 1988 and INConcertCare in 1997.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Engebretsen has been the recipient of numerous awards recognizing his contributions to care for the underserved.  Among these awards are the National Association of Community Health Centers' Samuel Rodgers Achievement Award and the National Health Service Corps Service Excellence Award.

The members of IA/NEPCA extend their thanks and gratitude to Dr. Engebretsen for his commitment to providing the highest quality care for the underserved.