The Iowa Primary Care Association (Iowa PCA) recognizes individuals and organizations across Iowa that make a meaningful difference in the health and well-being of their communities. The 2026 Community Impact Award honors those whose dedication and efforts help improve access to care and create lasting, positive change.
At Promise Community Health Center, one provider exemplifies this commitment through her compassion, innovation, and dedication to meeting the unique needs of her patients. Stacy Schaap, ARNP, a member of Promise’s Family Medicine team, has been named the 2026 Iowa PCA Community Impact Award recipient for her outstanding contributions to patient care and the communities Promise serves.
Since joining Promise in 2022, Stacy has become a trusted partner to her patients and a respected leader among her colleagues. She continually expands her clinical knowledge and skills to provide high-quality care, while looking beyond the exam room to understand the challenges that affect her patients’ overall health and well-being.
One of Stacy’s most significant contributions has been her commitment to improving health outcomes through quality improvement initiatives. For the past three years, she has participated in Promise’s Quality Improvement Committee, bringing enthusiasm, ideas, and a strong commitment to helping patients achieve better health. In 2025, the health outcomes of her patients met the Healthy People 2030 targets for colorectal cancer screening, cervical cancer screening, and diabetes poor control. Her breast cancer screening and hypertension control rates also exceed state averages.
Stacy’s dedication to hypertension management has been particularly impactful. She sustained a hypertension control rate above 80% from 2023 through 2025, helping contribute to Promise’s strong overall performance. In 2024, only 2.5% of health centers nationwide exceeded Promise’s hypertension control rate. These achievements are especially meaningful given the barriers many of her patients face. More than half of the adults Stacy serves are uninsured and have low incomes, while approximately two-thirds prefer to receive services in a language other than English, primarily Spanish. Helping patients overcome these barriers requires thoughtful coordination, education, and a trusting partnership.
Stacy also has made a lasting impact by improving access to preventive care, particularly immunizations. Recognizing that the cost of vaccines can prevent adults from receiving important protection against disease, she strongly advocated for Promise to become a Vaccines for Adults (VFA) provider for Sioux County. Through her efforts, Promise administered more adult Tdap and Prevnar vaccine doses in the first three months of participating in the VFA program in 2025 than it had administered throughout all of 2024. Stacy continues to champion immunizations in the clinic, making vaccination an important part of each patient’s plan of care.
Her commitment to community impact extends beyond traditional medical treatment. Stacy understands that factors such as food insecurity, medication costs, and limited resources can significantly affect a person’s health. When she identifies these needs, she works to connect patients with community food resources and has championed initiatives that improve access to prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and vitamins. By addressing these challenges, she helps patients manage their health in ways that are realistic and sustainable for their circumstances.
Stacy is also passionate about ensuring rural patients can access specialized services close to home. Understanding that traveling for specialty care can be difficult for many families, she has pursued additional certifications in colposcopies, Nexplanon insertions, and IUD insertions. She has also expanded her expertise in weight management, diabetes, thyroid concerns, prenatal care, and contraceptive care, helping more patients receive the services they need locally.
What truly distinguishes Stacy is her ability to see each patient as an individual. She takes time to understand their circumstances, listen to their concerns, and develop care plans that reflect their personal needs and goals. Her approach builds trust and empowers patients to take an active role in their health. Through her clinical expertise, advocacy, and willingness to find solutions beyond the exam room, Stacy helps make quality health care more accessible and effective for the people who need it most.
Stacy’s influence reaches far beyond the patients she sees each day. Her leadership, commitment to continuous improvement, and dedication to removing barriers to care strengthen Promise Community Health Center and contribute to the health of the surrounding communities. She embodies the belief that meaningful health care is about more than treating illness—it is about understanding people, meeting them where they are, and helping them live healthier lives.