Longtime clinic administrator remembered for his community impact

Mark Thayer wasn’t a college scout, but he had a strong knack for spotting talent. He spent decades as the administrator of Newton Clinic recruiting providers like Dr. Zack Alexander to serve the community. He wrote a letter of recommendation to the YMCA Board of Directors to hire a young Lucas Hughes to lead the facility. He invested into Jamie Grout’s podcast because he believed in the project. Thayer, 56, died on Nov. 6 at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center, leaving behind a loving family to cherish his memory and a legacy of strong community involvement that stretched beyond his long tenure at Newton Clinic. Thayer was deeply engaged with the community and had a direct hand in shaping it. Dr. Zack Alexander, president of the Newton Clinic, was recruited by Thayer in 2006 to join the medical facility. Most of the physicians and nurse practitioners at the clinic were hired by Thayer.

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