AMGO Member Spotlight

When I first accepted the admin role at University of Iowa Department of OBGYN, I realized very quickly that success would require establishing key relationships. Those relationships included Hospital leadership, College of Medicine leadership and community leadership. When I first became aware of AMGO, I viewed the annual conference trip as a fun business travel perk. My first conference was in Jackson Hole, WY. The conference was amazing from the standpoint of knowledge presented to understanding that we all have the same issues and the conference relaxed atmosphere. However the key takeaway I gained, was establishing key relationships with comrades at other institutions. Those relationships afforded me a conduit for in depth discussions when ‘insurmountable’ issues arose at Iowa. Knowing others that faced these issues and learning the success and pitfalls outcomes from their experiences proved priceless in negotiations with Iowa leadership.

Each successive conference provided valuable insight and knowledge. The last several years I successfully petitioned Iowa leadership to allow support managers within our department to also attend. To a person, they all realized the value AMGO provides and they have also established relationships with colleagues.

I am very grateful for AMGO and the lifelong friendships I have developed from colleagues. I credit AMGO for providing the stabilizing influence to approach all the management issues we admins inherit every day. We catch problems from top admin down and from ancillary staff up every day. However, knowing that I have my AMGO friends just a phone call away provided immense relief. I am proud to be offered Honorary membership status and will plan to attend the conferences to continue the lively interactions.

Thank you AMGO and the collective friends within the organization.  With all that, I will say RETIREMENT IS AWESOME.

Forever grateful,

Dale Geerdes