News Releases

February 19, 2010

Mercy Board Welcomes Mark Nylen and Dr. Lawrence Volz

Mercy Medical Center—Sioux City has announced that Mark Nylen and Lawrence Volz, M.D. have joined the ministry organization’s board of directors.

A Sioux City native, Nylen is president and CEO of Hepar BioScience, LLC, a biological company that develops biochemicals isolated from animal by-products. Nylen does business regularly in the international pharmaceutical and allied industries to create solutions for both human and animal biological needs.

Prior to starting Hepar BioScience, Nylen created and led Mobren Biological. When he and his wife, Mary Ellen, sold the company in 2007 it was the world’s largest manufacturer of heparin intermediates.

Nylen, his wife, and their two children live in Jefferson, South Dakota. They have long supported Siouxland charities including medical and educational non-profit organizations. Nylen also previously served on the board of directors of the Western Iowa Technical Community College Foundation.

Dr. Lawrence Volz is a general surgeon in practice with Midlands Clinic in Dakota Dunes, South Dakota. He is board certified by the American Board of Surgery.

Volz graduated with honors from the University of San Diego before attending the Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha. He completed his residency training at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass. During that time, he earned an appointment as a Clinical Associate in Surgery at Tufts University School of Medicine.

While serving in the United State Air Force at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Volz was named Chief of General Surgery, Director of Endoscopy, Chairman of the Infection Control Committee, Medical Director of Surgical Flight, Medical Director of Anesthesia, and Director of Surgical Rotation for Family Practice Residents and PA Students.

Volz was also appointed a special clinical instructor in the Department of Surgery at the Creighton University School of Medicine and as an adjunct assistant professor in the Departments of Surgery and Family Practice at the University of Nebraska School of Medicine.

Nylen and Volz take the places of Dr. Gary Carlton and Dr. Patrick Walsh, who retired from the board in December.

Ron Peterson, publisher of the Sioux City Journal and Journal Communications, will continue to serve as chairperson of Mercy Medical Center’s board in 2010. He was appointed chair one year ago.

Peterson has been a Mercy board member since 2002. He previously served as the body’s vice-chair for two years, and as the board’s treasurer for two years.

Ron Kunkel, CEO and general manager of Woodbury Rural Electric Cooperative, will continue to serve as vice-chair of Mercy’s board of directors. Kunkel, who joined the board in 2004, was previously its treasurer for two years. He has also served as chair of Mercy’s Finance Committee.

Dr. Gregg Galloway, a pathologist in practice with Siouxland Pathology Associates, will continue to serve as the board’s secretary.

Sister Maurita Soukup, a representative for the Religious Sisters of Mercy, continues to serve as the governing board’s treasurer.

Also serving on Mercy Medical Center’s board in 2010: Milt Avery, a partner in Avery Brothers Outdoor and Avery Brothers Sign Company in Sioux City; Dr. Patrick Beck, president of Mercy’s Medical Staff and a pediatrician in practice with Prairie Pediatrics and Adolescent Care in Sioux City; Sister Mary Corita Heid, a representative for the Religious Sisters of Mercy; Bob Houlihan, president of Houlihan & Associates, P.C. in Sioux City; Barbara Orzechowski, an attorney and partner in the Klass Law Firm, L.L.P.; Bob Peebles, Mercy’s interim president and CEO; Sister Dolores Preisinger, a health information management consultant; Dave Vellinga, president and CEO of Mercy Medical Center—Des Moines, the board’s representative for the Mercy Health Network; and Dr. Diane Werth, a cardiologist in practice with Cardiovascular Associates.

The board provides leadership to Mercy Medical Center—Sioux City, Baum Harmon Mercy Hospital in Primghar, Iowa, Oakland Mercy Hospital in Oakland, Neb., and Mercy Medical Services, which directs 42 owned or managed family practice and specialty clinics and two managed hospitals in western Iowa and eastern Nebraska.

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