Meetings are scheduled for the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month from September through April, starting at 7:00 p.m. and ending at 9:00 p.m. Meetings are held in Lecture Hall 1 in the Academic Center on the Des Moines University campus (see campus map and driving directions).
2012-2013 Exploring Post meetings
September 11
Kick off meeting! Welcome! This will be the first meeting of the year and EVERYONE is invited to attend! There will be introductions, information, an application packet, as well as a program. Parents are welcome and encouraged to attend this introductory meeting.
Program: Get a firsthand look at being a doctor! Current DMU medical students will be assisting us for the evening and will be able to walk you through what got them to this place in their medical career, show you ‘What’s in a doctor’s bag?’, and much more. Hope to see you there, and bring your friends!!
September 25
All things Anatomy! Dr. Matz from the anatomy program here at DMU will be presenting tonight, along with some of the DMU students. This will give attendees a close up view of things normally only seen on the inside of a body!
October 9
Screenings! Most providers you see will have one thing in common, basic screenings. This is true no matter what kind of doctor or provider they may be. Tonight’s program will consist of 4 stations of basic screening exams. You will not only learn what your results mean, but you will learn how to perform these basic tasks as well. Work in small groups with DMU medical students to take blood pressure, graph your height on the growth chart scale, read and take pulses and what those numbers mean, figure your BMI and your body fat percentage, and much more.
October 23
Cataracts, respiratory problems, and arthritis! Most of you don’t think about these ailments someday affecting your body, however, they are a reality for our older generation. Come experience them for yourself and see how your world would be different if you couldn’t type as well, run as fast, or see as good as you currently do. We will be doing a hands-on geriatrics simulation as well as hearing from a geriatric specialist who can enlighten us on the needs, careers, and importance of geriatric providers. We will have a contest to see who is the best ‘geriatric patient’ complete with timed simulations and prizes!
November 13
Scrub in, gown up, intubate! Tonight we’ll be spending time in the lab learning the process and procedures associated with surgery and all it entails. You will work with surgery TA students to learn proper techniques for scrubbing in, gowning up, and entering a sterile field. This is a great hands-on activity and always a favorite of our post members!
November 27
Meeting for tonight is CANCELLED.
December 11
Our meeting tonight will include two parts. First, we will have a presentation from a licensed Physical Therapist as well as current physical therapy students about the career of physical therapy and the types of treatments that are often provided during physical therapy sessions. The second part of the meeting will include a tour and demonstration of Des Moines University’s 3D motional analysis lab – the Human Performance Lab. This facility allows medical professionals and researchers to analyze movement in a 3-dimensional space and compare against normative data to better understand human movement and provide better treatments for individuals suffering from mobility limitations.
December 25
No meeting due to Christmas. Have a great holiday!
January 8
Meeting for tonight is CACNELLED.
January 22
Suture demonstration. Work with our sugrical TAs and DMU students to learn about suturing, biopsies, and skin removal. Using pig’s feet, you will have a chance to take your turn with the scalpel and the suture. This is always one of our most popular programs. Join us!
February 12
Happy early Valentine’s Day! LIVE! From the heart. Founded by the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, IL, this program features a video of an actual open heart surgery. Each person will receive a Student Investigation Packet and will take the journey with the patient through the eyes of the cardiologist. Not for the squeamish!
February 26
Meeting for tonight is CANCELLED due to predicted snowfall.
March 12
Join family medicine faculty member, Roberta Wattleworth, for an evening of medical mysteries. A few short case presentations will be presented and you will be the ‘doctor’ helping to diagnose and treat the patients she is talking about.
March 26
Chances are, if you’ve gone to the doctor because you’re sick or to get a general physical, you’ve probably been seen by a D.O. You just didn’t know it. What is the difference between a D.O. and an M.D.? Join us for tonight’s program and find out more about the largest program on DMU’s campus! You will hear from medical students and will get hands-on experience with manipulative medicine. It’s going to be an informative and fun evening!
April 9
Ever wonder about health care around the world? Tonight our global health medical students will be conducting a presentation from one of their recent trips.
April 23
As part of our community service for this year we will be doing an item collection. I have been working on a fundraising project to send kids with cancer to camp through the Children’s Cancer Connection. I plan to send about 20 kids to camp and for those attending for their first time (oncology campers in June and Siblings in August) I wanted them to receive a backpack of general camp items to get them excited for camp! For some it may be their first time away and for many their first time away at camp!
I have 40 backpacks that I need to fill. I need disposable cameras and sunglasses! If you could bring one or more items to the next meeting that would be wonderful!
Disposable cameras you can find at target or Walgreens for around $10 and as for sunglasses they need to be the ray bands look a likes. This style is perfect for all ages and both girls and boys. You can get them at target for around $12 or at Claire’s for $5 (Valley West Mall Claire’s I know for sure has them). Or you can bring money if you wish to donate that I will use to go towards other items, however I encourage you to bring the actual items.