Des Moines University (DMU) is a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...

medical school A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, professional school, or forms a part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, ...

West Des Moines, Iowa West Des Moines is a city in Iowa, United States. Most of the city is in Polk County, Iowa, Polk County, some of it is in Dallas County, Iowa, Dallas County, and small portions extend into Warren County, Iowa, Warren and Madison County, Iowa, Madi ...

. Founded in 1898, Des Moines University is the second oldest osteopathic medical school and the fifteenth largest medical school in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. DMU's three colleges—the College of Osteopathic Medicine, College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, and College of Health Sciences—offer nine academic degrees, including master's and doctorate degrees. Annual enrollment is approximately 1,550 students, and the university has more than over 14,000 total alumni in all 50 states. The unaffiliated

Des Moines College Des is a masculine given name, mostly a short form (hypocorism) of Desmond. People named Des include: People * Des Buckingham, English football manager * Des Corcoran, (1928–2004), Australian politician * Des Dillon (disambiguation), sev ...

used the name Des Moines University during the 1920s until its closure in 1929.

History

Des Moines University was founded in 1898 as the Dr. S.S. Still College and Infirmary of

Osteopathy Osteopathy is a pseudoscientific system of alternative medicine that emphasizes physical manipulation of the body's muscle tissue and bones. In most countries, practitioners of osteopathy are not medically trained and are referred to as osteo ...

& Surgery in downtown Des Moines. In 1905, it was renamed Still College. In the 1940s, it was renamed Des Moines Still College of Osteopathy and Surgery. In 1958, the institution was renamed the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery. In 1963, the first satellite clinic was established. In 1971, the Dietz Diagnostic Center, then a specialty clinic, began operation. In 1980, the university was renamed University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences. In 1972, the school moved to its present site in Des Moines. In 1980, the College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery and the College of Biological Sciences (now the College of Health Sciences) were both established by the college's board of trustees. In 1981, the university changed its name to the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences. In 1981, the College of Health Sciences established the

physician assistant A physician assistant or physician associate (PA) is a type of non-physician practitioner. While these job titles are used internationally, there is significant variation in training and scope of practice from country to country, and sometimes be ...

program. In 1988, the

physical therapy Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is a healthcare profession, as well as the care provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through patient education, physical intervention, disease preventio ...

program was established. In 1986, the 10-story, multi-specialty DMU Clinic opened on campus. Its services include family medicine, foot and ankle care, physical therapy and osteopathic manual medicine. The college adopted the Des Moines University name on September 18, 1999. In 2003, former Iowa Governor Terry E. Branstad became the university's president. In 2005, the university opened a $24 million Student Education Center, with a medical library, new classrooms, study rooms, a cafeteria and wellness center with a teaching kitchen and basketball court. After Branstad retired in 2009 in order to pursue running again for governor of Iowa, Stephen Dengle was selected to serve as Interim President for the second time. A year and a half later Angela L. Walker Franklin, Ph.D., became the university's 15th president and the first African American woman to lead a stand-alone medical/health sciences university. In December 2018, she launched Purple and Proud, a $25 million fundraising campaign. In 2018, DMU became the first medical school to partner with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to offer its provider training program to

D.O. Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO or D.O., or in Australia DO USA) is a medical degree conferred by the 38 osteopathic medical schools in the United States. DO and Doctor of Medicine (MD) degrees are equivalent: a DO graduate may become lice ...

students. The university is among the nation's top producers of primary care physicians. DMU is the first and only college or university in the country to twice receive platinum status for its wellness program, the highest honor offered by the Wellness Councils of America. In 2019, the university moved to expand its campus with additional parking and a generator, which resulted in conflict with neighbors regarding flood risk concerns. Thereafter, the university announced plans to relocate to West Des Moines by 2023. The same year, DMU purchased the 88-acre campus from W&G McKinney Farms. The university relocated to its new West Des Moines campus in June 2023.

Academics

Through its three colleges, DMU offers 9 academic programs. All programs are post-baccalaureate and focused on health sciences. All are accredited by the respective national accrediting body. The university itself is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Doctoral degrees are offered in osteopathic medicine, physical therapy, podiatric medicine, and biomedical sciences. Master's programs are offered in physician assistant studies, anatomy, biomedical sciences, public health, and health care administration. *

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO or D.O., or in Australia DO USA) is a medical degree conferred by the 38 osteopathic medical schools in the United States. DO and Doctor of Medicine (MD) degrees are equivalent: a DO graduate may become li ...

Doctor of Podiatric Medicine A podiatrist ( ) is a medical professional devoted to the treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and related structures of the leg. The term originated in North America but has now become the accepted term in the English-speaking world for ...

Doctor of Philosophy A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil; or ) is a terminal degree that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of Postgraduate education, graduate study and original resear ...

Doctor of Physical Therapy A Doctor of Physical Therapy or Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) degree is a qualifying degree in physical therapy. In the United States, it is considered a graduate-level first professional degree or doctorate degree for professional practice. In the ...

* Master of Health Care Administration *

Master of Public Health The Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH), Master of Medical Science in Public Health (MMSPH) and the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), International Masters for Health Leadership (IMHL) are interdisciplinary profes ...

Master of Science A Master of Science (; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree. In contrast to the Master of Arts degree, the Master of Science degree is typically granted for studies in sciences, engineering and medici ...

Accreditation

The university is accredited by the

Higher Learning Commission The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an institutional accreditor in the United States. It has historically accredited post-secondary education institutions in the central United States: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa ...

(HLC). The College of Osteopathic Medicine is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). The College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery is accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education of the

American Podiatric Medical Association The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) is a professional medical organization representing Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (podiatrists) within the United States. The organization was founded in 1912 and is headquartered in Bethesda, Ma ...

. In the College of Health Sciences, the doctor of physical therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. The master's degree program in physician assistant studies is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant. The master's degree program in health care administration is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education and the only M.H.A. program selected to partner with the American Osteopathic Association. The master's degree program in public health is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.

Notable alumni

* William G. Anderson, D.O., civil rights activist, founder and first president of the

Albany Movement The Albany Movement was a desegregation and voters' rights coalition formed in Albany, Georgia, in November 1961. This movement was founded by local black leaders and ministers, as well as members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Commi ...

; first African American to serve as president of the American Osteopathic Association. * Amy Foxx-Orenstein, D.O., past president of the

American College of Gastroenterology The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) is a Bethesda, Maryland–based medical association of gastroenterologists. The association was founded in 1932 and holds annual meetings and regional postgraduate continuing education courses, est ...

and an associate professor of medicine at

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine The Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (MCCMS; formerly known as Mayo Clinic College of Medicine) is a private graduate-only research university based in Rochester, Minnesota, United States. It trains physicians, scientists, and allied ...

* Ivan Raimi, D.O., an American screenwriter * Kevin Moore, D.O., professional musician and former keyboardist of the progressive metal band

Dream Theater Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 in Boston, Massachusetts. The band comprises John Petrucci (guitar), John Myung (bass), Mike Portnoy (drums), James LaBrie (vocals) and Jordan Rudess (keyboards). Dream Theat ...

* Omar B. Lateef, D.O., current president and CEO of the Rush University System for Health

References

External links