Dr. Chad Torstenson grew up in Waukee, Iowa, and graduated from Waukee High School. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Iowa and went on to earn his medical degree from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. During his formal education, Dr. Torstenson discovered his passion for helping others while working as a critical care paramedic with Johnson County EMS in Iowa City, a role he held for eight years.
Following medical school, Dr. Torstenson completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center, one of the nation’s oldest and most sought-after emergency medicine residency programs. Upon graduation, he was awarded the Anthony Skedros Memorial Award by his peers and faculty in recognition of his accomplishments in emergency medicine, professional excellence, and unwavering dedication to patient care. In 2014, he earned an MBA in Healthcare Management from the Loyola University Quinlan School of Business in Chicago.
Before joining Compass Memorial in March 2025, Dr. Torstenson practiced emergency medicine for more than two decades in central Iowa. He also served as Medical Director of Emergency Medicine in Des Moines for a two-hospital system with an annual emergency department volume of approximately 90,000 patients. In addition to his clinical leadership, Dr. Torstenson has extensive experience in emergency medical services. A former paramedic, he currently serves as Medical Director for West Des Moines EMS and has previously held the role of Medical Director for the Des Moines Fire Department and Dallas County EMS. In 2024, he was recognized by an independent agency as one of Iowa’s Top Emergency Medicine Physicians for his outstanding care throughout his career.
Dr. Torstenson is a Diplomate of the American Board of Emergency Medicine, a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians, and an Adjunct Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Iowa. He has been board-certified in Emergency Medicine for over 20 years and is proud to be a part of the Compass Memorial team.
