Meet Our Team

DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY

At Hy-Vee Health Exemplar Care, our providers and team members deliver care differently. Much differently.

Meet members of our care team

Jesse Becker

ARNP

Jesse is originally from Michigan and graduated from MidMichigan Community College with her Associate’s degree in Nursing in 2003.

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She spent the next 13 years learning and practicing Medical/surgical, ER, ICU, Telemetry, and Pediatric medicine in a small rural hospital. After graduating from Walden University in December 2016 earning her Master’s of Science Degree in Nursing with a Family Practice focus she and her family moved to Iowa. Initially working at the Polk County Jail Medical Clinic, she later transitioned into weight loss medicine but ultimately found her calling in primary and urgent care medicine.

Jesse strives to provide passionate and exceptional care to every patient she interacts with no matter their situation, illness, or complaint. She understands that while life can throw you curve balls accommodating your individual healthcare needs should never be one of them.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time and getting the most out of life with her husband and two children. Together they enjoy taking on new adventures ranging from raising deer on their farm to riding quads and side-by-sides to cheering her daughter on in wrestling or her son in basketball or football.

Adam Bjornson

ATC, PA-C

Adam graduated from the Des Moines University Physician Assistant Program and has been practicing Emergency and Urgent Care medicine in Des Moines for the last 15 years.

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Prior to that, he graduated from the University of North Dakota as an Athletic Trainer. He worked in a physical therapy office and was an Athletic Trainer and head strength and conditioning coach for a private school in Washington DC. He has also earned a Fellowship in Wilderness Medicine and is certified in Travel Medicine.

Adam continues to enjoy working with athletes and sports-related injuries and has a passion for wilderness and travel medicine.

Away from work, he enjoys traveling to beaches and mountains to hike and snowboard with his family. A great day for Adam starts with reading about cars while drinking coffee and eating donuts.

Melanie Choos

PA-C

Melanie graduated SUNY Buffalo with her B.S. in Exercise Science in 2000 and graduated Barry University with my MCMSc, and Physician Assistant Studies in December 2004.

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Her special interests are urgent care and pediatrics. Melanie loves being able to help people feel their best and live their best life. She enjoys being able to care for individuals to get them back to their life as quickly and efficiently as possible when they are not feeling their best.

Outside of work, Melanie is a busy mother of three boys who are all involved in sports, so most days that she is not working she is at a game of some sort cheering them on or driving them all over town to practice. Melanie’s family loves hiking, camping, and taking their dog Lily on walks. They also love beach vacations.

Carol Graves

ARNP, FNP-C, DNP

Carol is a dedicated healthcare professional with a rich background in various medical settings. Born in Fairfield, Iowa, and raised in northern Illinois, Carol began her healthcare journey with a BSN from Texas Woman's University in Houston. She furthered her expertise with an MSN from Maryville University of St. Louis in 2016 and achieved her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in 2020.

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Carol’s diverse career spans from working as a Registered Nurse in Emergency and Pediatric Emergency Rooms to specializing in ambulatory care at the University of Virginia. Her roles included Student Health, Orthopedics, and Pediatrics. As a Nurse Practitioner, Carol has extensive experience in Rural Health Care, Urgent Care, and has recently taken on travel assignments to broaden her impact.

What sets Carol apart is her commitment to patient-centered care. She excels in listening to patients, educating them about disease processes, and promoting effective home care strategies. Carol is passionate about preventive healthcare and motivates her patients to take proactive steps to achieve optimal health outcomes.

Beyond her professional achievements, Carol is a proud mother of two successful grown daughters. She enjoys gardening, antiquing, and traveling. At home, Carol is accompanied by two Corgis and she owns American Saddlebred horses, who trained in Kentucky. Her enthusiasm for Saddlebreds reflects her dedication to the sport and her love for horses, as Carol also breeds these remarkable animals.

For compassionate, knowledgeable, and preventive-focused care, Carol is a trusted choice for anyone seeking expert healthcare guidance.

Taylor Ferguson

ARNP

Taylor joined Hy-Vee Health Exemplar Care in October 2023 as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). She earned her master’s degree in nursing from Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa.

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Taylor started her career in healthcare as a staff nurse at the University of Iowa Hospital, where she developed a special interest in the management and care of patients with chronic illnesses, as well as patient education.

With a compassionate approach and effortless communication, Taylor easily engages with patients and their families. Her focus extends beyond traditional healthcare models, prioritizing collaborative care to understand each patient distinct health needs. Taylor’s goal is to work alongside patients to understand their health needs and goals to provide them with personalized care plans that empower them to achieve their healthiest selves.

Beyond her professional life, Taylor enjoys spending time with Marley, her Golden Doodle, staying active, spending time with family, cooking new recipes, and traveling.

Michael Line

MD, MMM

Michael Line, MD, completed his medical education at the University of Wisconsin, followed by pediatric residency at Blank Children’s Hospital.

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Mike became a pediatrician because he loves helping children and enjoys working with families to ensure their child receives the best care possible. He has been a practicing pediatrician for over twenty years. His goal is for patients to leave the clinic feeling heard, informed, and confident in their care plan.

He is excited to join Hy-Vee Health Exemplar Care leadership team as he is motivated to do whatever it takes by providing high quality care and making a difference to the families that we serve. He is motivated by the impact that he can make in a child’s life and ensuring every child has access to the best care possible.

Outside of work, Mike enjoys attending his children’s events, spending time outdoors and travelling with his family. Some of his favorite places to visit are Colorado or the North Woods.

Jen Milby

ARNP

Jen graduated Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, IA in 2014 and she holds a Board Certification by AANP in Family Practice and a second Board Certification by CBIC in Infection Prevention.

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Jen is very interested in serving underserved populations, homeless populations, missionary work in underserved/underdeveloped countries and caring and researching infectious disease.

Jen has always enjoyed caring for people. She likes to get to know her patients and do her best to provide quality care and making a positive impact on her patient’s lives. She enjoys the challenges that healthcare brings and loves that she is on a constant learning. Jen also likes to pass her knowledge to her patients, by educating and helping patients learn and understand more about their illnesses, chronic conditions, etc. and how best to manage their healthcare.

Away from work, Jen loves to spend time with family & friends, scrapbooking, photography, traveling and being outdoors.

Tammy Rebhuhn

ARNP

Tammy Rebhuhn is Board Certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and has been working as a nurse practitioner since 2006. Her diverse background includes years of experience in urgent care, family practice, management, and internal medicine.

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Tammy is passionate about treating the whole patient. Tammy thrives on meeting patients where they’re in their health journey, collaborating to establish meaningful goals that enable them to meet their utmost potential, both mentally and physically. Tammy’s approach is marked by encouragement and genuine listening, ensuring that her patients feel heard and understood.

Beyond her professional life, Tammy loves to spend time with friends and family. She’s enthusiastic about staying active and enjoys going on walks, biking, and playing pickleball. Her interests embody the same energy and vitality she imparts to her patients.

Steph Reinhart

ARNP

Steph Reinhart graduated from the University of Iowa and earned her Master’s degree from Allen College.

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Steph has been a nurse for 17 years and a nurse practitioner for nine of those years. Prior to coming to Exemplar care, she worked in the emergency department at MercyOne. Steph enjoys working in urgent care because she enjoys connecting with patients and she is passionate about caring for others in their time of need.

Outside of work, Steph enjoys spending time with her family and their two doodle puppies. More specifically, she enjoys spending time on the lake, hosting friends & family, and traveling as much as possible. She is an avid podcast listener and loves a good paperback book.

K McCord Tierney

DNP, FNP-C, ARNP

K McCord has worked in trauma and emergency nursing for 12 years. He received his Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Creighton University and has worked in emergency departments as a nurse practitioner in Nebraska and throughout western Iowa. He is certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

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K McCord enjoys fast-paced work environments, complex decision-making, and helping patients when they’re most in need. He has always enjoyed working with patients in urgent care and emergency departments.

When he is not working, K McCord loves to travel! He immerses himself in new places and cultures frequently and has even provided healthcare in both Central America and Africa.

Maggie Siegel

PA-C

Maggie received her undergraduate degree from Iowa State University, and she graduated with a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Iowa in 2010. She is board certified by the NCCPA.

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Prior to working at Exemplar Care, she had been at MercyOne in the Emergency Department and at MercyOne Connect.

Maggie enjoys working in Urgent Care and being able to help patients in their time of need. She enjoys connecting with patients and she strives to provide personalized, high-quality care to all her patients.

Outside of work, Maggie enjoys spending time with her four children, husband, and extended family. She enjoys attending her kids' activities, being active outdoors, traveling, and going to sporting events.

Dr. Jon Van Der Veer, DO

Hy-Vee Health Exemplar Care Founder

Internal medicine physician Jon Van Der Veer, DO, started Exemplar Care in Des Moines, Iowa, to give patients access to effective, affordable health care they deserve. Dr. Van Der Veer understands how his investment of time and attention to patient-focused care makes all the difference. He has taken the administrative red tape and insurance roadblocks out of direct primary care to give individuals a highly personalized experience.

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Dr. Van Der Veer is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Before starting his own practice, he served as chief medical officer at both Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson, Iowa, and CareMore Health in Des Moines, Iowa. Dr. Van Der Veer also worked as a primary care provider at UnityPoint Clinic Internal Medicine in Des Moines.

Earning his medical degree at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Van Der Veer completed his residency in internal medicine at Central Iowa Health System – Methodist in Des Moines. In addition to his clinic work, he is the co-author of several articles published in medical journals.

Elli Vore

PA-C

Elli started at Hy-Vee Health Exemplar Care as a Direct Primary Care Physician Assistant in December 2020. She graduated with her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from College of Saint Mary in Omaha, NE in August 2020.

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When she heard about what Dr. Van Der Veer was doing and the ways he wanted to change healthcare, she could not resist the opportunity. She believes taking care of the patient should always come first, and she felt that Hy-Vee Health Exemplar Care would be the best place to live this out. Elli has loved working with the team and getting to know all of her patients on a more personal level. She is passionate about delivering high-quality and personalized healthcare to all of her patients, and is looking forward to growing with Hy-Vee Health Exemplar Care.

Elli works with children ages 2 through adult.

When she is not at work, Elli loves spending time with her husband, children and her dogs, working on home projects, and traveling.

Teresa Ward

ARNP

Teresa is a Nurse Practitioner with a wealth of experience and a genuine passion for patient care. Raised in Sioux City, Iowa, she graduated and later as a mother of two, she pursued her nursing education, driven by a deep commitment to helping others.

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Teresa's professional journey includes significant experience at the Iowa Heart Center and 13 years in the pediatric emergency room. These roles have equipped her with extensive skills in both adult and pediatric care. Recognizing the need for advanced knowledge, she returned to school as an adult learner to become a Nurse Practitioner. Her focus is on providing comprehensive and personalized care to patients during times of illness and health.

Teresa is dedicated to delivering quality healthcare with compassion, emphasizing the importance of individualized attention for each patient. She has a strong background in managing chronic conditions, providing acute care, and supporting overall wellness. Her approach is patient-centered, ensuring that everyone receives the care and support they need to lead a healthier life.

In addition to her professional endeavors, Teresa enjoys an active lifestyle, including biking, yoga, walking, and spending time at the beach. Family is a central part of her life, and she cherishes time with her five grandchildren. Her personal and professional experiences reflect a commitment to nurturing and supporting those around her.

Teresa is committed to being a reliable and caring healthcare provider, dedicated to enhancing the well-being of her patients with expert and compassionate care.

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