FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 25, 2001 CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119 FUTURE OF HEALTH CARE TO BE DISCUSSED AT LET’S DU LUNCH WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7 Dave H. Vellinga, president and CEO of Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, will discuss the future of health care at the final Let’s DU Lunch event of the fall season on Wednesday, Nov. 7. The Let’s DU Lunch series, which is open to the public, is sponsored by Drake University’s Central Iowa Alumni Chapter and the Greater Des Moines Partnership. The luncheon will start at 11:30 a.m. in the Younkers Tea Room in downtown Des Moines. Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines is an acute care facility that includes 24 family practice and specialty clinics and 13 rural affiliate facilities. Mercy employs 5,100 individuals with a medical staff of 730 physicians. Prior to joining Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Vellinga served as president and CEO of North Iowa Mercy Medical Center in Mason City. He also served in various administrative roles at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Mason City, Ellsworth Municipal Hospital in Iowa Falls, Eldora Community Hospital in Eldora and with the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. Vellinga also is president and chairman of the board for Mercy International Health Services in Farmington Hills, Mich., a position he has held since 1993. For reservations, call the Drake Office of Alumni and Parent Programs at (515) 271-3848. The cost of the luncheon is $15.