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A woman with long curly brown hair smiling and showing her teeth, wearing a black blazer and a red and black checkered shirt underneath, with a silver necklace and a large round pendant, against a dark background.

Deborah H. Thompson, MPA

Founder and President

Hi! I’m deborah.

I created DHT Consulting & Training to pursue my desire for a culture of health.

I support leaders in the health and human services sector with work that builds capacity for their organizations as they build the foundation for healthy and thriving communities.

Let's work together

Services

We lend our energy, creativity, and passion to advance the goals of our clients.

I'm especially energized when I am able get people who are in public health and healthcare thinking about their work in new and impactful ways. It also brings me joy to introduce the public, including students, to complex public policy issues in fun, creative, and impactful experiences.

I know it’s possible to create a culture of health. One where people - no matter who they are, where they live, or how much money they have - experience a quality of life on the foundation of a healthy and free society where individuals with the ability to shape their own life and future, create healthy and thriving communities.

If you believe the impossible is possible and everything is figure-outable, let’s go to coffee. I’ll buy.

Learn more about our services
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Featured Speaker

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Facilitation &
strategic planning

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Values-based
communication

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Training,
presentation &
curriculum
development

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Project
management

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Legislative
Process,
advocacy &
civic
engagement

Close-up of Deborah and her family wearing yellow shirts.
A woman with glasses and long hair smiling, sitting on a floral-patterned couch with her arm resting on the back. Behind her is a large potted plant, and a projection screen displaying a presentation titled "Values in the Wild: A reflection of morals and values in policy and politics." The presentation is hosted by Deborah Thompson, Founder/President of DHT Consulting & Training, at a venue named Progressive Palooza, with details of a workshop event on January 20, 2024.
A woman with dark curly hair, glasses, and tattoos on her arm is standing behind a podium with a sign that reads 'VOTE YOUR VOICE MATTERS' in front of a flat screen tv showing a drawing of a balance scale. She appears to be speaking or presenting in a room with wood paneling and beige walls.
A woman with glasses and curly hair smiling at an indoor event, standing behind a table with campaign materials including buttons and brochures. A banner next to her reads 'C4H Consulting & Training' with a photo and information about Deborah Thompson, MPA, Founder and President. In the background, two women are seated and talking, with bookshelves and a piano visible.

Client TESTIMONIALS

“As a facilitator, I find her to be relatable and easy to connect with in a way that is comfortable and open.

Deborah is able to quickly grasp what you are looking for, asks great questions, adds creativity and value to the project goals, and delivers a timely, high-quality product. I am 100% comfortable and confident in referring DHT Consulting & Training to colleagues and other organizations for facilitation, project development and management, and training!”

— Deb Kazmerzak, HealthTeamWorks

“Deborah’s true strength as a leader is her ability to draw upon her vast public policy experience and implement her understanding of the relationship-based nature of policy development.

She meets advocates and opponents alike with a level of respect and empathy that is so often lacking in public discourse today...Deborah’s ability to directly and concisely deliver her thoughts has helped to earn her the respect of even those with whom she disagrees.”

— Dennis Tibben, Formerly of the Iowa Medical Society

“My governmental relations firm was in the midst of a hiring process. I was finding it hard to keep up with all of the pre-session tasks I had.

Deborah has a great deal of experience working with the Iowa legislature, so I was able to unload a lot off my plate. She already knows the process and is familiar with my clients' issues. She helped me with pre-session letters to legislators, legislative agendas, one-pagers, call to action email drafts, and several pre-session presentations for several of my clients.

She saved me a tremendous about of time and I was able to stay on top of meeting the needs of my clients. She's a gem and a lifesaver!”

— Threase Harms, CEO of Advocacy Strategies

A woman standing against a large stone wall with an inscription that reads, 'This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny.' She is wearing a black jacket, white and gray striped shirt, blue jeans, and black shoes. She has glasses, a scarf, and is holding a drink in one hand and a bag with American flag and star designs over her shoulder. She is pointing at the inscription in the wall.
A group of four people, three adults and one child, standing in front of a sign at a vaccine event. The sign reads 'IOWANS ❤️ VACCINES,' with details about a 2022 immunization clinic. The adults are smiling, and the child is holding a teddy bear and has a wide, open-mouthed smile.
A woman with long dark hair and glasses standing at a podium labeled Holiday Inn, giving a presentation. A large screen behind her displays a slide titled 'Hull's 1885 Conclusions' with bullet points and images.
A woman in glasses and a white shirt is standing in front of a whiteboard, giving a presentation to an audience in a conference room. The whiteboard has handwritten notes about purpose. Several people are seated at a long table, listening attentively, with some taking notes and papers on the table.