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Medicine has been a part of David Vellinga's life since the beginning. His parents worked as housekeepers at the hospital in his native Orange City. He used to hang out there, helping when possible and letting the atmosphere permeate his soul.
Interest in the field peaked for both him and his brother. One went on to practice medicine. The other became an administrator.
"What I like and enjoy tremendously about hospital administration and the business side," says Vellinga, "is the opportunity to interact with people of all kinds; from the physicians who are focused on the clinical care aspect, to the nurses who look at clinical care from a different vantage point, to the business people I have the opportunity to interact with on a daily basis."
Vellinga, 48, was recently named president and CEO of Mercy Hospital Medical Center. replaces Tom Reitinger, who will take over as president and CEO of Mercy Health Network.
Following his education at the University of Iowa, Vellinga spent three years as an administrator with the university's hospitals and clinics. From there, he moved on to a vice presidency at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Mason City. He was promoted to president in 1986.
In 1993, Vellinga orchestrated the consolidation of North Iowa Medical Center and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital into the North Iowa Mercy Health Center. He became president of that organization.
"The responsibility of the hospital administrator has evolved over the years. We used to strictly work in a hospital and manage the physicians within...