Fall is my favorite time of year. It’s not just that I love the crisp temperatures, forests changing colors to vibrant reds and oranges or even the fantastic college football (GO HAWKS!)  I also love fall because it’s a busy and exciting time around campus. Fall is when we start our interviews for our clinical programs, and it’s also when our enrollment staff starts traveling to undergraduate schools to recruit new students. We visit classrooms, talk with student groups and attend fairs and expos. It’s an exciting time of the year!

I love fall because as a director of admissions I get to travel around the country and meet so many interesting students. People from all walks of life across the country are preparing for graduate school right now, and I have the pleasure of getting to meet many of them when I’m out traveling.

Last week I got to see the sunrise over the Sierra Nevada Mountains as I drove to the first recruiting event of the fall in Reno, Nevada. As much as I enjoyed the beautiful early-morning vistas, I was more excited to meet some students that day and introduce them to Des Moines University. Right now, I’m back in Des Moines, but I’ll soon be heading to Wisconsin (first thing next week) to visit students in Green Bay, River Falls, Eau Claire and Menomonie.  So, if you’re in central Wisconsin, you should find some time to stop by and say hi!

Posted in Anatomy, Biomedical Science, Health Care Administration, New Students, Osteopathic Medicine, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Podiatric Medicine, Prospective Students, Public Health, Research, Rural Health | View Comments

Lindsay in St. Lucia

My two-week global health rotation in St. Lucia was an amazing experience.  I had the opportunity to work in outpatient and inpatient physical therapy, as well as complete home visits and visit a senior citizens’ home.

This was such a great experience because I was challenged by working in a new culture as well as being challenged to be flexible and see all kinds of diagnoses throughout my experience.

I would recommend the global health experience to all students!  I think this gives you a heart for your given profession and strengthens your skills.

Posted in Current Students, Global Health, Physical Therapy, Student Bloggers, Student Life | View Comments

I didn’t know how many different types of apples exist in this world. I thought the variety was only red and green. Well I learned about the variety of apples when I started to grocery shop for them and when I tagged along with my neighbor buddies, Clint Cummings, D.O. ’11, and wife Brandie (see picture). We had a great time picking out our apples (Golden Delicious & Empire) and all for only $5 a “peck” ( approx. 25 apples).

They are the perfect size and tastes so crisp, sweet, with a slight tart. The best part was not only the price (& supporting local growers) but that it was only 25 minutes from Des Moines in Norwalk. I almost don’t want to buy my apples from anywhere else.

Where are your favorite orchards near Des Moines?

Posted in Current Students, Life in Des Moines, Student Bloggers, Student Life | View Comments

Posted in DMU Events, Des Moines Events, Public Health | View Comments

This piece came out in the Wall Street Journal with a few descriptions of local eateries. It’s always interesting to hear what people are looking for when they want to try “Iowa cuisine.” Where do you take family & friends to eat when they visit Iowa?

Posted in Life in Des Moines | View Comments

I’ll be honest, usually when I’m craving Chinese food I order out rather than make my own, but this recipe looks pretty easy. The great thing about stir fry is that once you find a sauce you like you can add any meat and vegetables.

What’s your favorite take-out in Des Moines?

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Serves: 6

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1-inch chunks
12 oz. asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch-matchstick strips
2 cups red or green bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1 medium onion, sliced
2 tablespoons sugar
¼ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
2 tablespoon light soy sauce
Rice for serving

Posted in Healthy Cooking | View Comments