JEAN E. ROBILLARD, MD
UI Vice President for Medical Affairs
Dean, UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine

Jean E. Robillard was appointed Vice President for Medical Affairs in January 2007. He directs the strategic priorities of UI Health Care (UI Hospitals and Clinics, the UI Carver College of Medicine, and University of Iowa Physicians), which includes creation of a seamless, efficient, and united organization that provides the highest quality patient care. In addition, he continues to serve as dean of the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, a position he has held since 2003. Prior to joining The University of Iowa, he was chair of and professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Michigan Medical School and physician-in-chief at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.

A native of Montreal, he earned bachelor's and medical degrees from the University of Montreal. He completed an internship at the Hôtel Dieu Hospital, residency training in pediatrics at Ste. Justine Hospital in Montreal, and pediatric nephrology fellowships at the University of California Medical Center in Los Angeles and UI Hospitals and Clinics. He was on the faculty of the UI Carver College of Medicine and staff physician at UI Hospital and Clinics as a pediatric nephrologist from 1974 to 1996.

GORDON D. WILLIAMS
Interim Chief Executive Officer
UI Hospitals and Clinics

Gordon D. Williams was named interim chief executive officer of University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in December 2007. He provides leadership in budgeting, administration, and planning for all aspects of UI Hospitals and Clinics.

He graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in zoology and worked at the Iowa City Veteran’s Administration Medical Center.

Before joining Duke he held leadership management positions at institutions that have also integrated their clinical, academic, and research missions, including Northwestern University and the University of Pennsylvania.

His responsibilities at Duke included School of Medicine budget and finance, resource planning, and grants and contract administration. For the Duke Health System, including the medical center, he managed corporate services, such as human resources, engineering and operations, the Occupational Environmental Safety Office, procurement, Architect's Office, Medical Center Information Systems, and leased properties.

He has also served in the U.S. Air Force and in the Iowa Army National Guard.

PETER DENSEN, MD
Executive Dean, UI Carver College of Medicine

Peter Densen is the executive dean of the UI Carver College of Medicine (CCOM), and professor in the Department of Internal Medicine. In his capacity as executive dean, Dr. Densen oversees day-to-day operations and all research and education functions of the College. Most recently he had served as executive associate dean, UI Carver College of Medicine, and prior to that was the associate dean for student affairs and curriculum from 1994-2001. He joined the UI faculty in 1983, as an assistant professor of internal medicine. Since that time he has served in many administrative capacities, most recently as interim head of internal medicine, acting director of the Division of Infectious Disease, as associate director of that division, and acting director of the Office of Consultation and Research in Medical Education.

Densen earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University, then did an internship and a residency at Johns Hopkins. After serving as a medical officer in the United States Air Force, he returned to Johns Hopkins as a senior resident and then completed a fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of Virginia Hospital.

CRAIG SYROP, MD
Associate Vice President for UI Physicians 

Craig Syrop was appointed associate vice president for UI Physicians in July 2007. In that capacity he oversees development of a fully integrated faculty medical group model of patient-focused care, and leads organizational change to a “best practices” culture of service excellence. In addition, he serves as chief medical officer of UI Physicians, and is a professor and vice chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Syrop joined the UI faculty in 1986 as a specialist in in-vitro fertilization techniques and reproductive endocrinology and infertility. From October 2003 to January 2007 he served as interim head of the Department of Dermatology.

Syrop received his medical degree from The Medical College of Virginia University, did his residency at UI Hospitals and Clinics; and a fellowship at the University of North Carolina.

KEN L. FISHER, MBA
Associate Vice President for Finance
CFO, UI Hospitals and Clinics

Ken L. Fisher was appointed associate vice president for finance with UI Health Care and chief financial officer of UI Hospitals and Clinics in June 2007. In this role, Fisher provides financial leadership and services covering each component of UI Health Care and oversees all major financial operations and related personnel within UI Health Care. Fisher had served in the position on an interim basis since March 2007.

Fisher came to the UI from Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was a director for Navigant Consulting Inc. for the past 11 years, serving as interim chief financial officer and consultant for health care clients in private and academic health care systems. He has more than 30 years of experience in health care financial management, and held financial positions at Grace Hospital in Detroit; East Tennessee Baptist Hospital in Knoxville; Presbyterian Hospital; Charlotte Memorial Hospital and Carolinas Hospital and Health Service, all in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Fisher earned a bachelor's degree in accounting at Baylor University and a master’s of business administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

WILLIAM W. HESSON, JD
Associate Vice President for Legal Affairs

William W. Hesson was appointed associate vice president for legal affairs in July 2007. In this capacity he oversees all legal matters for UI Health Care and its components and works closely with UI General Counsel. He will continue to serve as associate director/legal counsel at UI Hospitals and Clinics, where he has been a staff member since 1979. Hesson also is an adjunct professor in the College of Public Health at The University of Iowa.

He graduated from the UI College of Law in 1979 and is a member of various organizations, including the Iowa State Bar Association, the American Health Lawyers Association, and the Iowa Society of Health Care Attorneys. He is a former member of the Iowa State Bar Association Health Law Section Council and served as president of the Iowa Society of Healthcare Attorneys from 1993 to1994.

LEE CARMEN, BS
Associate Vice President for Information Systems

Lee Carmen was appointed associate vice president for information systems in July 2007. In that capacity he oversees comprehensive information technology services, including technical support, applications development, and clinical applications across the entire UI Health Care enterprise. He joined the UI Carver College of Medicine staff as director of Information Systems in 1994, directing information technology support for academic, research, and administrative initiatives. In 2001, he was named chief information officer and director of Health Care Information Systems for UI Hospitals and Clinics and UI Carver College of Medicine. He is an adjunct instructor in the College of Public Health at The University of Iowa.

Carmen received bachelor’s degrees in microbiology from the University of Oklahoma and in electrical engineering from The University of Iowa.

STACEY CYPHERT, MHA, PhD
Assistant Vice President for Health Policy

Stacey T. Cyphert was appointed assistant vice president for health policy in July 2007. In that capacity he provides leadership and advises the vice president for Medical Affairs on local, state and federal legislative matters. Prior to that, Dr. Cyphert was special advisor to the president of The University of Iowa for health science government relations, special advisor to the dean of the UI Carver College of Medicine, and senior assistant director of the UI Hospitals and Clinics. His other positions at The University of Iowa have been in the Office of the Vice President for Health Affairs, the Office of the Vice President for Statewide Health Services, and in the Graduate Program in Health Management and Policy.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting and a master’s degree in hospital administration from The Ohio State University. He also earned a doctorate in health management and policy from The University of Iowa. He was awarded a fellowship in hospital administration at Duke University Medical Center and also worked in administration at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center prior to joining The University of Iowa in 1989. 

ERIN MINNÉ, MA
UI Foundation Vice President, Health Sciences Development

Erin Minné was appointed to serve as vice president for Health Sciences Development for the UI Foundation in February 2007. In this capacity she is the lead liaison between the UI Foundation and UI Health Care and leads fundraising activities and initiatives for UI Health Care. She reports directly to the UI Foundation Senior Vice President, Development. She joined the UI Foundation in 2001 as assistant vice president for corporate and foundation relations. In 2005 she was promoted to associate vice president for medical center development. Prior to that, she worked for six years as director of foundation relations and stewardship for Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan.

Minné has a master’s degree in philanthropy and development from St. Mary's University of Minnesota, and a bachelor’s degree from Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Michigan.

SARAH ENGLAND, PhD
Special Assistant to the Vice President

Sarah England was appointed special assistant to the Vice President in July 2007. Serving at 20 percent time, Dr. England will advise the Vice President for Medical Affairs on various health policy matters and make recommendations regarding opportunities for pursuing strategic initiatives. In addition, she is an associate professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics. England joined the UI in 1997, and her research focuses primarily on the role of potassium channels in regulating smooth muscle function, particularly as they pertain to women’s reproductive health and premature labor. In 2005 she was one of seven health professionals nationwide to be named to a prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellowship and served in the office of U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton.

England received a bachelor’s degree from Carleton College and a PhD from the Medical College of Wisconsin.

KAREN BUTLER, MA
Executive Assistant to the Vice President

Karen Butler was appointed executive assistant to the vice president in July 2007. In that capacity she provides administrative, organizational, and strategic support to the vice president for Medical Affairs and oversees day-to-day operations of the office. Since 2005 she has served as the chief of staff to the dean of the UI Carver College of Medicine. She joined the UI in October 2004 as assistant director in the Office of Alumni and Collegiate Relations in the UI Carver College of Medicine. Before moving to Iowa in 2003, she was director of communications for the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems. Prior to that Butler served as a legislative aide on health and disability policy to U.S. Senator Alan Cranston of California.

Butler holds a master’s degree in communications management from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, San Diego.