Dr. Laura Cunningham
Laura Cunningham is a physician assistant, healthcare leader, and entrepreneur dedicated to expanding access to mental health care across Iowa. She began her career working in outpatient psychiatry as a nurse before pursuing her education to become a physician assistant, earning her PA degree from Des Moines University and later completing a Doctor of Medical Science degree at University of Lynchburg with an emphasis in healthcare administration. Since becoming a PA in 2015, she has focused her career on rural medicine, primary care, and outpatient psychiatry.
In 2021, Laura founded Focused Life Clinic, where she serves as CEO, President, and practicing clinician. Under her leadership, the practice has grown to five clinicians and now serves patients in 70 of Iowa’s 99 counties. Her clinical work centers on outpatient psychiatry, including medication management, therapy, and clinician-administered ketamine treatments, with a strong focus on providing timely, patient-centered care that helps keep individuals supported outside of already strained inpatient systems.
Beyond her clinical and business leadership, Laura is deeply committed to advocacy, education, and service. She regularly provides clinical rotations and lectures for physician assistant programs across Iowa, volunteers at free clinics, and supports research and academic initiatives. She also played a key role in helping Iowa become one of the first states to allow physician assistants to practice independently without physician supervision, reflecting her dedication to advancing the profession and improving healthcare access for underserved communities.
• Physician Assistant - Certified
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support
• Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers
• Basic Disaster Life Support
• Certificate of added qualifications in Psychiatry
• University of Lynchburg- D.S.
• Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences- M.S.
• University of Northern Iowa- Bachelor's
• AAPA (American Academy of Physician Associates)
• Iowa Physician Assistant Society
• Community school education programs
• Care closet providing essentials to patients in need
• Food security programs for children
• Support for immigrant families
• Free Clinics of Iowa
• Polk County Emergency Mgmt
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to tenacity and understanding that I'm only successful when my patients are successful. Success to me isn't about being bigger, better, or making more money - it's about people getting their needs met. When I go online and look at our Google reviews and see people have nothing but wonderful things to say, that tells me we're doing something right, and that's what we have to keep doing. It's really about being able to see that you've changed somebody's life - watching patients go from not showering, not cleaning themselves, not eating, to coming in wearing makeup and walking with energy. That's an absolutely amazing feeling, to be able to say I was able to help one person, at least. That's what keeps us motivated and keeps us going through the hard days when the calls never stop and the questions never end.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
In medicine, there's a lot of advice that people give, but the best I've received is this: If somebody ever comes back with the same concern that they were initially seeing you for, listen - because you missed it the first time. I've had so many people tell me, 'This is my fifth or sixth visit,' or 'I've seen three dermatologists, and finally they biopsied it, and it was cancer.' Things like that really stop you in your tracks. It's about making sure that you listen and you leave your ego out the door. It doesn't belong in healthcare. You're supposed to be here to serve, and if you're here for any other purpose, somebody's going to get hurt. So if I had to sum it up, it's about reminding yourself to be grateful, to practice gratitude, and be humble.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Young women entering healthcare should make themselves visible, pursue leadership opportunities, and show that women are highly capable and influential in both clinical care and healthcare administration.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in mental healthcare right now is the severe shortage of providers, limited inpatient resources in Iowa, and ongoing access gaps for rural communities. At the same time, there is a major opportunity to expand outpatient services, including ketamine treatment, to reach more patients and improve access to care.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that matter most to me are service to patients, humility, gratitude, tenacity, and truly listening to others. In my personal life, I value family time and love hiking, especially visiting a new national park at least once a year with my children and family.