Speaker: The ABCs of Accountable Care Organizations

Speaker: New Manager Boot Camp: Managing Money and Projects

Amy Bethel began her career in health care as an orthopedic staff nurse with progressive management positions as Department Head, Director and Executive Director in Surgical Services for over 35 years.

Amy served as Executive Director of Surgical Services at Unity Point Health Des Moines for 17 years ( Iowa Methodist Medical Center , Iowa Lutheran Hospital and Blank Children’s Hospital ) which included responsibility and accountability for the strategic and operational aspects of Surgical Services which included 29 operating rooms, Central Sterile Processing, PACU, Out Patient Surgery, Endoscopy and one free standing ambulatory surgery center with a combined annual volume of over 28,000 procedures. She also served as a board member for 2 joint venture Surgery Centers for over 10 years and various co – management committees.

In addition to Surgical Services leadership positions, Amy has also led educational initiatives in the Clinical Education Department serving other procedural areas outside of surgery. She has also provided consulting services to the rural partners regarding surgical operations.

Amy has extensive experience in supply chain management, establishing and managing value analysis processes, and recently served on the Vizient National Supply Chain Council for 6 years.

Her work with OR Manager includes over 20 years of presenting at OR Manager Conferences, is a member of the Advisory Board for the OR Manager publication and has been a member on multiple Planning Committees for the OR Manager Conference. She most recently has published articles and blogs in the OR Manager publication.

Amy earned her nursing diploma from Iowa Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing, and a bachelor’s degree in Science and Nursing from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. She completed a Master’s degree in Public Administration with a health care focus from Drake University. In addition she is ANCC certified as a Nurse Executive, is a member of Drake University’s Honor Society for Nursing and is a member of Pi Alpha Alpha Honor society for Public Affairs and Administration also at Drake. She also holds current memberships in AORN and Sigma Theta Tau.

She currently serves on the non profit community board for Link Associates ( provides services for individuals with intellectual disabilities ) and previously was a board member for the Ronald McDonald House for 10 years.