Target Audience

Iowa Medical Society members.

Learning Objectives

1. Summarize the key legislative actions and policy changes from the 2026 Iowa Legislative Session that impact healthcare delivery, physician practice, and patient care in Iowa.
2. Discuss the goals, current progress, and strategic priorities of Operation I.O.W.A., including its role in advancing physician advocacy and addressing workforce challenges statewide.
3. Identify opportunities for physicians to engage in Operation I.O.W.A. tactics and other strategies to improve Iowa's physician recruitment and retention.

Speakers

Seth Brown, JD
Government Relations Director, Iowa Medical Society

Mr. Brown is a relationship-oriented, disciplined, and strategic-minded attorney and government relations professional who specializes in health care law. Mr. Brown serves as Director of Government Relations and leads IMS’s advocacy efforts in the Capitol. In his role, he educates on and represents the interests of Iowa physicians to state and federal lawmakers, regulators, and other stakeholders in the healthcare, legal, and health insurance spaces. Mr. Brown also oversees fundraising efforts for the Iowa Medical Political Action Committee (IMPAC).

Mr. Brown previously served as the Director of Public Affairs for the Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA), where he led IPA’s advocacy efforts and focused on regulatory and insurance reform impacting pharmacist practice. During his time with IPA, he was sworn into the Iowa Bar. He still maintains his Iowa law license. 

Mr. Brown graduated from Drake University Law School, where he specialized in the Legislative Practice program. As part of the program, he worked one session in the Iowa House of Representatives under Representative Bobby Kaufmann [HD 82] and one session in the lobby with Mr. Michael Triplett. Mr. Brown obtained his BBA from Baylor University in Waco, TX, where he majored in Supply Chain Management and competed on the track-and-field and cross-country teams. During his time at Baylor, he earned First Team Academic All-Conference honors in the Big 12 and served as Baylor’s representative to the Big 12’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Mr. Brown grew up in the rural farming town of La Plata, Missouri, and attended La Plata High School, where he was valedictorian.

Fadi Yacoub, MD, FASN
Internist and Nephrologist, Mercy Cedar Rapids

Dr. Yacoub has extensive experience in clinical care, medical education, and healthcare leadership. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Tishreen and completed residency training in Family Medicine and Internal Medicine at Baptist Medical Center and the University of Illinois. He completed an internship in Gynecology at the University of Damascus and fellowship training in Nephrology at the University of Iowa.

Dr. Yacoub currently serves as Medical Director of Mercy Dialysis and Rivervalley Dialysis in Marengo. He also serves as Assistant Medical Director of the Mercy Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit. He is a member of the American Medical Association and the Iowa Medical Society. His professional contributions have earned him nominations for the Michael Daly, MD, Humanitarian Award and the Mentor/Educator Award.