Dr. Heilskov was born and raised in Hampton, Iowa, where he was an All-state athlete and class valedictorian.  He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Iowa and entered medical school after three years of undergraduate study. While at the University of Iowa College of Medicine he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society, was awarded the Lange Medical Publisher award for outstanding achievement and graduated in the top 5% of his medical school class.  After concluding an internship in Tucson, Arizona, Dr. Heilskov completed his ophthalmology residency at the renowned Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, Florida, which has been routinely rated the top ophthalmology training program in the country.  He returned to Iowa to complete a two-year vitreoretinal fellowship at the University of Iowa.  While there, he developed a strong working relationship with Christopher F. Blodi, M.D., who was on the vitreoretinal faculty at the time.  In 1991, Dr. Blodi and Dr. Heilskov co-founded Iowa Retina Consultants, making Iowa Retina the first full-service private vitreoretinal group practice in the state.  To further his education, he earned an M.B.A. degree from the University of Iowa and was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society recognizing top performing students.

During his 30-year affiliation with Iowa Retina Consultants, Dr. Heilskov has actively participated in organized medicine.  Shortly after co-founding Iowa Retina Consultants, he served as President of the Iowa Academy of Ophthalmology and later was appointed by Governor Branstad to serve on a state-wide healthcare reform committee.  He has been a long-standing member of county, state and national medical societies and has served on leadership committees for the Iowa Medical Society.

Having undertaken his general ophthalmology and vitreoretinal training at academically rigorous programs, Dr. Heilskov has published multiple articles in a variety of peer-reviewed ophthalmology journals.  He has instructed fellow physicians, optometrists, nurses and ophthalmic technicians at national, state, and local conferences and meetings.

When not working, Dr. Heilskov enjoys spending time with his wife, three daughters and grandchildren.