How Des Moines University Is Redefining Medical Education and Powering Innovation in Greater Des Moines

Redefining What It Means to Be a Modern Medical University

At Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences, we believe the future of health care depends not only on the quality of today’s education but also on the vision and innovation we embed into that education.

We are proud to lead a new model for health sciences universities — one that doesn’t just react to change, but anticipates it, shapes it and leads it.

A Campus That Reflects Our Vision

When we opened our new campus at 8025 Grand Avenue in West Des Moines in 2023, it wasn’t just a move; it was a milestone. The 88-acre campus was intentionally designed to support modern, collaborative and technology-driven learning. Powered by more than 88% renewable energy and surrounded by restored prairie, it’s a place where innovation and sustainability coexist by design.

Our Innovation building brings together state-of-the-art clinical labs, a high-fidelity simulation center, advanced research and anatomy spaces and immersive learning environments. It sets a new standard for what medical education can and should look like.

 

Preparing the Workforce of the Future

This May, we celebrated the graduation of more than 400 students across medicine, health sciences and research programs, including physicians, physical therapists, researchers, public health experts, physician assistants and more. These graduates are entering a workforce that needs them yesterday, especially in rural and underserved areas across Iowa and the nation.

Our students leave DMU trained in the science of care and the art of collaboration, cultural competence and problem-solving. They are equipped to lead and ready to serve. And many will do so right here in Iowa.

Innovation in Action: DMU32 and the Regional Simulation Center

At our 3200 Grand Avenue property — DMU’s former campus — we’re creating something entirely new: DMU32 Health and Business Complex. Named for its location, DMU32 is designed to foster collaboration across health care, education and industry.

Anchoring the complex is the Des Moines University Clinic and our soon-to-be-open Des Moines University Regional Simulation Center at DMU32. The simulation center will serve our students as well as regional health care professionals, educators, EMTs, high school students considering careers in health care and first responders in the Greater Des Moines area.

Thanks to strong partnerships with Polk County, Des Moines Public Schools, Mercy College, Des Moines Area Community College and others, the regional simulation center will open later this year, with an open house planned for early 2026. It will deliver immersive education from pre-college through advanced clinical training to ensure our region is prepared for the health care challenges ahead.

DMU32 also offers premium leasable space for organizations that share our passion for innovation and community impact. Whether you’re in health care, business or education, there’s room at DMU32 to grow, collaborate and shape the future. Current tenants include the Iowa Wolves, who are already using the complex’s fitness space for training. If your organization is interested in leasing opportunities, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can do more than share space — we can shape the future.

The DMU Clinic, the regional simulation center and DMU32 are investments in Iowa’s health care services, workforce, community partnerships and economic development. And we’re just getting started.

Research That Makes Headlines — and a Difference

We are proud of the research being done at DMU to address real-world health challenges, including:

• Groundbreaking discoveries in cervical cancer treatment, exploring how SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins may inhibit tumor growth, conducted by Yujiang Fang, M.D., Ph.D.
• Investigations into rural health issues, including rising HPV-related cancers and the impact of nitrates on pre-term birth in Iowa, carried out by Jason Semprini, Ph.D., MPP.
• National Institute of Health-funded development of novel peptide therapies to enhance cardiovascular health, spearheaded by Kim Tran, M.D., Ph.D.
• An American Heart Association-backed study on estrogen and exercise motivation, led by Li-Lian Yuan, Ph.D., and Sarah Clayton, Ph.D.

Our faculty members are driving innovation that impacts patient care, policy and public health across the country and around the globe.

DMU in the Community: From Ice Rinks to Motion Labs

DMU’s expertise extends beyond our incredible campus. DMU Clinic providers are out in the community, supporting local teams and delivering next-level care.

This fall, the Des Moines Buccaneers will hit the ice with new support from the DMU Clinic, which will serve as the Bucs’ official athletic training partner for the 2025-26 season. The Bucs join a growing roster of local teams cared for by our clinicians, including the Oak Leafs, Capitals, Iowa Phoenix, Iowa Demon Hawks and others.

At the DMU Clinic — Physical Therapy in the MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex, we’ve added the metro’s only portable 3D motion capture lab, thanks to a generous gift from Andy and Katie Snook, inspired by their son Drew’s rehabilitation journey. This new system helps our physical therapists analyze movement patterns in real time, both in the clinic and on the field, offering game-changing precision.

 

Know a Future Health Care Leader? Tell Them About These DMU Programs

We’re also opening our doors to the next generation of providers — and we need your help spreading the word.

High School Pre-Health Summit
When: Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025
Where: Virtual
This interactive event invites high school students to hear from current DMU students about their journeys into medicine and health sciences, including how to get started.

Mini Medical School
When: Tuesday evenings in February 2026
Where: On campus at 8025 Grand Avenue, West Des Moines This free, four-session program gives high school students hands-on insights into the medical field. Participants work with DMU faculty and students to solve real-life medical scenarios.

Know a student who wants to learn more about a health care career? Invite them to learn more at dmu.edu/admission/high-school-pathways to sign up.

Looking Ahead

As we continue to grow and evolve, our commitment remains to serve, innovate and lead. We are proud to call Greater Des Moines home and even prouder to contribute to its future.

Job opportunities and career resources are abundant in Greater Des Moines (DSM). Whether you're looking to find an internship, a job, develop professionally or grow as a student, we have the resources to help you thrive.