Providers

Robert Fornoff, MD

Robert Fornoff, MD is a pediatrician who has been with Des Moines Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic since 2004. He received his undergraduate degree from Drake University, and then attended the University of Minnesota Medical School. After graduating in 2001, he completed his residency at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines.

Dr. Fornoff grew up in central Illinois, but he considers central Iowa to be his home. He wanted to be a pediatrician since he was a teenager, and he considers working at Des Moines Pediatrics to be living the dream! He has special interests in asthma, sports medicine, mental health, and newborn care.

He lives in Ankeny with his wife, and his two daughters are now in high school and college. He enjoys watching and playing basketball, reading, watching sci-fi shows, and spending time with family and friends.

Laura Delaney, MPAS, PA-C

Laura Delaney is a Physician Assistant who worked as a registered nurse for 18 years at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines in the newborn intensive care unit. Laura’s registered nursing diploma was received from the Iowa Methodist School of Nursing in Des Moines, Iowa in 1982.  She graduated from Des Moines University’s PA Program in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in Physician Assistant studies.  She worked in the emergency room and general pediatrics before joining the faculty at Des Moines University in 2008. She completed her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2009. Laura worked part-time in the ER and worked with Dr. Bilgi in a pediatric clinic for 10 years full-time before transitioning to one day a week as she took an academic position, teaching at Des Moines University in the PA program.  Laura has participated in many medical mission trips in the past and is an active volunteer for many local community service outreach activities.

Laura is currently the Director of Clinical Education for the DMU PA program and continues to work at Des Moines Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic. Laura is active in the Iowa Physician Assistant Society, volunteering on the CME committee and the legislative committee, and is an active Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Physician Associates.

Laura loves working with infants, children, and adolescents of all ages. She has special interests in asthma management, behavior, and mental health issues, and overall preventative health initiatives.

Amanda Ostergaard, ARNP, PNP-PC

Amanda Ostergaard ARNP PNP-PC is a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Amanda received her BSN from Grand View University and worked as a neonatal nurse at Blank NICU before pursuing further education. She graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center specializing in Pediatrics. Amanda has a passion for helping families with newborn care and breastfeeding. Her knowledge extends through adolescents and into young adulthood; the variation of developmental stages of patients is one of the attributes she loves most about serving the general pediatric population.

Amanda is the mother to three littles. Becoming a mother has made her more empathetic. Her mom’s job has provided a great wealth of real-time knowledge for families seeking advice, a listening ear, care, and guidance. She lives in Johnston with her husband, children, and family pup. She grew up in the Beaverdale area and loves the local area. She is an active volunteer with Lawson Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization as well as within her neighborhood. She does make time to read and likes to nap in her few and far free time.

Amanda has a passion for lifelong learning. Her acceptance of nurse practitioner students aids in the growth of the future of clinical pediatrics. Her favorite princess is Rapunzel and a dinosaur is brachiosaurus and loves to discuss these, as well as other topics, with her patients. Amanda is accepting new patients and is available for new patient consultations.

Lauren Ropp, ARNP, CFNP

Lauren Ropp, ARNP is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner who joined the Des Moines Pediatric and Adolescent team officially in October of 2021.  You may have seen her before this time as she started helping out back in 2019, took some time off to be with family, but is now back as a permanent part of the team.

She received her undergrad at Des Moines Area Community College and began work as a registered nurse working with pediatric patients at Blank Children’s Hospital in 2013.  After years of experience in the hospital setting, she went on to work in a clinical setting specializing in pediatrics while she completed her Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner degree in 2019 from Walden University in Minneapolis, MN.

Lauren loves caring for all ages, but the pediatric population has always been her passion to care for.  She loves seeing patients as newborns and watching them grow through the years and assisting them with their healthcare needs along the way.

She lives in Grimes with her husband and 4 boys.  She enjoys camping, spending time with family and friends, and cheering for the Cyclones!

Sally Twedt, ARNP, CPNP

Sally Twedt, ARNP is a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP) who joined the Des Moines Pediatric and Adolescent team in 2003 and has over 20 years of pediatric experience. She completed her undergraduate studies at UNI and Allen College in Cedar Falls, IA. She started her nursing career as a NICU/PICU nurse at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital and from there, completed her Master’s in Nursing degree from the University of Iowa, specializing in Pediatrics.

Sally has always had a passion for the pediatric population. She especially loves the generational care aspect. She enjoys watching patients grow from infancy to young adulthood then have families of their own. She believes in providing individualized care that fits the patient and family dynamics.

Sally lives in Ankeny with her family and two dogs. She enjoys reading, traveling, enjoying the outdoors with her family, and attending all her children’s activities.

Sarah Barnhart, ARNP, CPNP

Sarah Barnhart, ARNP is a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner who joined the Des Moines Pediatric and Adolescent team in 2019. She completed here undergraduate studies in 2014 at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, IA. She started her nursing career as a NICU nurse at Mercy Hospital here in Des Moines, followed by a few years of travel nursing with her now husband. She then went on to complete her master’s degree in nursing in 2019 from Maryville University in St. Louis, MO where she specialized in pediatrics.

Sarah is a Des Moines native that has always had a passion for the pediatric population and loves serving her hometown community. She believed in a holistic approach that encompasses caring for her patients and their entire family. With her background in newborns, and having young children of her own, she especially loves helping new parents navigate their new roles.

She lives in Waukee with her husband, twin daughters, and her German Shepard, Gracie. She enjoys cooking/baking, traveling, reading, game night with friends, and spending time with her family.

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