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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                             

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.

The CCK Project for Community, Connection, and Knowledge is where I invite clients, colleagues, and friends, to process living and leading in complex time.

We’ve created a third space, safe from judgement and we’re continuously building a community within it. Be sure to check for upcoming events!

Let's work together

Services

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

I’m at my best when I get public health and healthcare leaders seeing their work in fresh, powerful ways. And nothing lights me up more than helping students and community members engage with complex policy through experiences that are fun, creative, and genuinely transformative.

I believe a culture of health is possible—one where everyone, no matter their zip code or income, can build a life of dignity, freedom, and opportunity in communities that thrive.

If you believe the impossible is figure‑outable, let’s grab coffee. My treat.

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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The CCK
Project

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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 and

Audience feedback

“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

Feedback from a Student

“I will say that Deborah Thompson was fabulous!

I very much appreciated the time she took to thoroughly explain topics so that the entire class understood. Being able to see and gather her wealth of knowledge in public health, is such a valued asset. She is superb!”

— jessica keely, Alumni, Mount Mercy University

Feedback after a Presentation

I absolutely LOVED this session! It was wonderful😊

— Anonymous

“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

Feedback after a Keynote

“I wanted to thank you and sing your praises a little bit for your talk.

I heard so much positive feedback about it, even (especially?) from folks who are not normally public health people. I just really can't say enough about how amazing you and the work you do are.

Having someone with chops and intellect is one thing but having that along with that "it" quality of being able to capture a crowd's attention and keep them engaged and entertained while they're learning is world-class stuff. 

I'm so grateful to you for making the trip and lending your magic to the event!”

— Lara Paxton, organizer, progress palooza

“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

Feedback from a Student

— Brian Jolly, Alumni, Mount Mercy University

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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.
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