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| Des Moines University | |
|---|---|
| Name | Des Moines University |
| Established | 1898 |
| Type | Private |
| Location | Des Moines, Iowa, United States |
| Campus | Urban |
| Faculty | (approx.) 700 |
| Students | (approx.) 1,900 |
| Colors | Maroon and Gold |
| Mascot | None |
Des Moines University is a private health sciences university located in Des Moines, Iowa. It specializes in graduate programs in osteopathic medicine, physician assistant studies, podiatric medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, public health, and biomedical sciences. The institution emphasizes clinical training through partnerships with hospitals, clinics, and community organizations across Iowa and the Midwest.
Founded in 1898, the institution evolved amid the Progressive Era alongside institutions such as Iowa State University, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and Kaiser Permanente-era clinical models. Early decades saw interactions with regional institutions like Grinnell College and national associations such as the American Osteopathic Association. During the mid-20th century, the university expanded programs influenced by national developments including the Hill-Burton Act and collaborations with entities like Johns Hopkins Hospital and Mayo Clinic. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries the university adapted to changing accreditation standards set by agencies comparable to the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and pursued interprofessional education initiatives paralleling efforts at Harvard Medical School, Stanford University School of Medicine, and University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.
The urban campus occupies multiple buildings near downtown Des Moines and the Des Moines River corridor, adjacent to medical partners such as MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center and UnityPoint Health – Des Moines. Campus facilities include simulation centers modeled on designs from Cleveland Clinic training sites, anatomy labs comparable to those at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, research laboratories, and an on-site clinic serving communities similar to clinics affiliated with Boston Medical Center and Montefiore Medical Center. Student housing and activity spaces are proximate to cultural institutions like the Des Moines Art Center, Pappajohn Sculpture Park, and performing venues that host touring companies such as The Guthrie Theater and New York Philharmonic residencies.
Academic offerings encompass professional degrees including the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Master of Physician Assistant Studies, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Master of Science in Biosciences, and Master of Public Health. Curricula integrate clinical rotations influenced by models at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, problem-based learning methods popularized at McMaster University, and competency frameworks akin to those adopted by Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited programs. Interprofessional education involves collaboration with external partners such as Broadlawns Medical Center, community health centers like Hope Ministries Clinic, and governmental public health entities such as Iowa Department of Public Health.
Research strengths include musculoskeletal health, primary care outcomes, geriatrics, and health professions education. Investigators have pursued projects in areas similar to studies at Mayo Clinic Proceedings and clinical trials networks like National Institutes of Health consortia. Clinical programs operate through affiliations with hospitals and clinics including Blank Children's Hospital, Veterans Health Administration facilities, and rural health sites akin to Rural Health Information Hub partnerships. Simulation-based education employs technologies paralleling those at Society for Simulation in Healthcare member institutions, and community outreach initiatives resemble efforts by organizations like AmeriCorps and Rotary International.
Student organizations cover professional societies such as local chapters of American Osteopathic Association, American Academy of PAs-related groups, and specialty interest groups reflecting national bodies like American Physical Therapy Association and American Public Health Association. Campus activities engage cultural and civic organizations in Des Moines, including collaborations with Iowa Shakespeare Project and volunteer programs coordinated with Food Bank of Iowa and United Way of Central Iowa. Athletics and recreation options connect students to city amenities including trails along the High Trestle Trail and fitness partnerships with community centers like YMCA branches in the region.
Programs are accredited by professional bodies comparable to national accreditors such as the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation for osteopathic medicine, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant for PA programs, and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs for allied health fields. Institutional quality assessments are benchmarked against peer institutions including Quinnipiac University Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine and Western University of Health Sciences. Rankings and evaluations by specialty publications and organizations mirror those produced by outlets like U.S. News & World Report and boards such as the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners.
Alumni and faculty have held leadership roles across healthcare and public service, paralleling careers at organizations like Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and state health departments such as the Iowa Department of Public Health. Former faculty have collaborated with researchers at institutions like University of Minnesota Medical School, University of Chicago Medicine, and Emory University School of Medicine. Graduates have assumed positions in hospital leadership at centers similar to Johns Hopkins Hospital, served in federal service comparable to appointments at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and contributed to scholarship published in journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA.
Category:Medical schools in the United States Category:Universities and colleges in Des Moines, Iowa