UCS Healthcare Medical Team Announces Updates
May 13, 2020
TJ Guthrie, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner/Family Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified (ARNP FNP-BC) brings 15 years of health care experience from Missouri to a new opportunity in Iowa with UCS Healthcare, a nonprofit clinic based in Des Moines. He will join an established team of five medical providers that provides integrated care to patients. TJ replaces Dr. Joe Freund who will retire in June after 35 years as a family medicine doctor, the last eight with UCS. Dr. Joe, as his colleagues and patients call him, is a sought-after speaker on LGBTQ+ health care topics and has built a medical practice that is known for compassionate and informed care for all.
TJ’s career spans experience in intensive care and emergency departments until moving to a family practice setting a few years ago. While drawn to emergency care initially in his career, his goal is to work in a family practice setting specifically working with patients in the LGBTQ+ community. He received his Bachelor of Science in nursing from Central Methodist University and his Master of Science degree from Maryville University.
“Working at a nonprofit integrated health care clinic like UCS Healthcare is an incredible opportunity, particularly to be coached by Dr. Joe and the team before he retires,” said Guthrie, who started with UCS in early April. “As I looked for new career options, I assumed I would have to move to the coast to work with the LGBTQ+ community as a medical professional. UCS Healthcare is remarkable organization. We treat patients with the respect they deserve while we help them with chronic medical issues, substance use disorders, medication assisted treatment, mental wellness and psychiatric care.”
Guthrie joins an established team of medical providers including:
· LeeAnn Albright, ARNP, FNP-C
· Dr. David Huante
· Dr. Frank Filippelli, medical director of UCS Healthcare including both the family practice and the medication assisted treatment program.
· Rachel Kroeger, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, ARNP, PMHNP-BC
· Linda Ream, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, ARNP, PMHNP-BC
“We thank Dr. Joe for his years of devoted care for our patients and his education of our staff and the community on specific LGBTQ+ health care issues and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement,” said Jen Pearson, chief executive officer, UCS Healthcare. “Adding TJ to our medical team with his experience and passion for what we do is a great fit and we look forward to introducing him to the Des Moines community.”
ABOUT UCS HEALTHCARE
UCS Healthcare provides behavioral and medical health care to patients in a safe, diverse environment with access to a wide variety of health care professionals. Organized as an Iowa-based non-profit corporation, UCS has provided health care services including substance use disorder therapy, medication assisted treatment, gambling therapy, mental health therapy, psychiatric care and medical care for more than 20 years. Patients are served by more than 100 professionals in 14 locations across Iowa.