Think you might want to be a physical therapist? Learn more about our 34-month program and about physical therapy careers.

Interviews for the class of 2014, which will start classes August 2011 start later this month. We have a rolling admission policy, so the sooner you apply, the better chance you have of being invited for an interview. The application deadline is January 14, 2011.

The business model is based on the idea of  bike sharing. You can rent a bike from convenient bike stations around the city, encouraging people to ride instead of drive to locations that may be too far to walk to. There are currently 4 bike stations in downtown Des Moines. All bikes include a basket too!

There are two membership levels, 30 day or annual or you can pay for a 24-hour rental ($5) at a B-station. This qualifies you for 24-hour bike passes for the set amount of time. Bikes can be returned to any B-station, kind of like Redbox movies.

Check out the website for more details and a map with pick-up and drop-off locations. They are offering free 24-hour passes through Sept 7.

Who already rides their bike to school and around town?

Keep in mind that you should also plan to take the MCAT around the same time (if not before) you apply. MCAT scores are required of all applicants for the admission committee to make a final decision. Check out our class profile for the class of 2014 to see how you compare with students starting classes at DMU next week.

It’s also time to figure out who you’re going to ask to write your letters of recommendation. DMU requires one letter from a doctor of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.) and one letter from a science professor or adviser. If you’ve never shadowed a D.P.M. before, a good way to locate one is the D.P.M. Mentor Network.  You can also locate D.P.M. students on the mentor network who you can contact with questions regarding their experience. I strongly encourage everyone to shadow at least one D.P.M. prior to applying.

Applications are accepted August 2010 through June 2011 for students planning to begin school in August 2011. I encourage you to apply before April 2011 for best consideration. We plan to interview about 200 students for the 58 seats available in our incoming class – will you be among the first to schedule your interview?

Also, be sure to check out TodaysPodiatrist for information on every aspect of podiatric medicine – especially their video about today’s podiatrists!

Contact DMU with questions regarding the doctor of podiatric medicine program, and we hope to see your application this year!

That first step will be taken on Tuesday, when my fellow D.O. ’14s and I attend orientation. Less than a week later, our first courses begin, and the “fun” can truly commence. How is it that so many before us have made the transition with their sanity intact? What goal or aspiration to which they might desperately cling was sufficient to drive them to press on, day after day and year after year, to that moment when they might finally call themselves doctors? What anguish and nightmares were suffered as they worked to stay on top of their schedules (which, each year, were stuffed with an almost-sarcastic number of credit hours)? We might only hope to invoke this power ourselves as we too are baptized in the fires of medical education.

Ok, all gloom and brimstone aside, I can’t deny that I (and likely the rest of my classmates) have waited long enough for this moment. Med school may be foreboding, yes, but it’s also an exciting opportunity for which we fought among countless other equally-well-qualified applicants. Of course, having cast a rather wide net myself (how else did I end up here from all the way in Pittsburgh…), I can safely say that there’s no other place where I’d rather take this journey than at DMU. I had the privilege of working on my M.P.H. here this past year, a time during which it quickly became obvious that the environment at this school was of a distinctly different nature than any other. The students here were different – it almost seemed like they were actually happy, as though no one had told them they were in med school yet. They didn’t have that dreary look across their face of a mere mortal attempting to assimilate the collective wisdom of one of mankind’s oldest professions. They didn’t have that empty and defeated appearance of a marathon runner who took the wrong turn to the finish line. They seemed, legitimately and consistently, happy. I’ll never forget that spark, since I found it nowhere else.

Maybe it was the extensive wellness program, maybe it was the approachable faculty and advisors, or maybe it was the unparalleled academic support system, but something special was keeping these students alive and sane. Personally? I think it was the fact that the students at DMU are all in it together. There’s nothing competitive about the classes here – there’s no race to hit that top quartile and outshine your peers. Why bother, after all? Besting everyone else in your class won’t make you a good doctor, but besting the material will. That’s a goal that everyone can achieve, not just the top 10% who scored “honors” on their rotations. Taking on medical school is taxing enough – taking on your own peers at the same time, your greatest allies, would be simply too much work for too little reward.  After my interview at DMU, I knew that a school’s recognition of this fact had become an indispensable criterion in my decision. There should never be a reason to cut throats…unless of course we’re performing a cricothyrotomy on a patient in critical respiratory distress for whom basic airway management protocol was unsuccessful.  Then, I suppose, cutting throats might be an indicated procedure (just a little D.O. humor for ya).

In short, yes, the road will be long and difficult, but it’s been traveled many times before. Let’s not forsake our most valuable assets, the classmates who go alongside us and our elder-and-wiser predecessors who made the voyage before us. We all share a common goal, so there’s no need to work towards it alone.

Employment: School is pretty much a full-time job, but if you moved with a spouse or significant other who’s looking for a job check out DesMoinesHelpWanted.com and Iowa Workforce Development. There are some campus jobs for students here.

Other things to know about your new home:

Schools
Utilities
Faith-based organizations
Libraries
Hospitals
Trails and recreation

Des Moines Juice is a free publication for young professionals that includes lots of reviews and entertainment listings. MetroMix is another great source for local event listings.

And don’t forget to read the Dose of DMU for campus events and local attractions! You can also check out our student services website for more campus resources.

During their time at DMU, students will hear lectures, tour the labs and simulation center, shadow doctors in the DMU Clinic, check out our Mobile Clinic, have mock medical school interviews, get tips on preparing for medical school and hang out on our beautiful campus. They’ll also get to see how cool Des Moines is while catching an iCubs game, visiting the Downtown Farmers Market and going to the Science Center.

The early contributions of African American surgeons is called “Opening Doors” and the exhibit about global health is “Against the Odds.” Both displays come from the National Library of Medicine and can be seen Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The library is open to the public and there is no charge.

Offices are closed. The Clinic is closed. (If you have an emergency, visit your local ER) Even the Wellness Center is closed.

Cya tomorrow! Enjoy this glorious summer day.

You should consider being a doctor of physical therapy. Now is the time to apply to Des Moines University! The Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) is now accepting applications for the 2010-2011 cycle (classes start August 2011). Due to our rolling admission policy it is best to submit your application early in the process.

Here are some of the features of our 34-month D.P.T. program:

• Combines didactic (classroom) coursework with clinical experiences
• Strong focus on manual therapy
• Hands-on experience in our high-tech labs

Don’t forget to review our prerequisite courses and observation requirement before applying. If you have any questions about the application cycle or the D.P.T. program contact us.

Also, check out this story in the Des Moines Register about one of our physical therapists in the Des Moines University Clinic, Lance LeFurge and his 15-month deployment to Afghanistan.

DMU is doing its part by educating doctors and physician assistants to meet the growing needs of Iowans and Americans. As the largest medical school in Iowa, Des Moines University has more than 800 students in its doctor of osteopathic medicine program and 100 students in its physician assistants program.

Another interesting fact is that more doctors of osteopathic medicine (D.O.s) are primary care physicians than M.D.s. Did you know that?

Find out what some of our faculty and alums think about health care reform in a recent issue of DMU Magazine.