World Health Organization
In 2008, DMU global health department developed a partnership with the Department of Reproductive Health and Research at the World Health Organization (WHO), which includes summer internship opportunities for our students and research collaboration. Select students will have the opportunity to travel to Geneva for 8 – 12 weeks in the summer during their second and third years to work with WHO faculty for the purpose of conducting systematic reviews or creating evidence-based educational materials for worldwide distribution.
In 2009, DMU had the opportunity to bring the WHO art exhibit “Art for Health” to Des Moines for an extended tour throughout central Iowa. The kickoff for the exhibit was in Des Moines during the World Food Prize symposium. After that, it was displayed at the capital building, as well as Iowa State University, University of Iowa, Simpson College and Des Moines University library.
Heartland Global Health Consortium
Des Moines University is committed to expanding global health opportunities for DMU students to expose them to other cultures while honing their clinical skills. This commitment let to the creation of the Heartland Global Health Consortium (HGHC), a collaboration of education institutions with this mission: to establish and expand multidisciplinary educational, research and service opportunities to inspire and equip students to become leaders in global public health. In January, 2009, seventeen members of the consortium traveled to Merida, Mexico for a strategic planning conference.
The group’s activities include planning a global health conference which will be held at DMU on October 13, 2010. The conference will tie in with the annual World Food Prize Symposium also held in Des Moines during that time. Participating HGHC members will invite students, faculty, staff as well as community members to attend the conference.
World Food Prize
DMU and the World Food Prize (WFP) are working together in several arenas to enhance global awareness regarding a variety of global issues.The annual DMU global health conference will be held during the week of the WFP to offer opportunities for speakers and guests to participate in multiple events. In 2009 student interns from the WFP Youth Institute visited the DMU campus as part of their three-day colloquium. Anatomy, simulation lab, and DMU research were just a few of the activities that were highlighted during their visit to the campus. View photos from their visit
Exchange students
DMU has hosted three students, Rene Palomo Hoil from UADY, Merida, Mexico as well as Denise Kyomugisha Lwamafa and John Boxco Matovu Jr., from Makerere University in Uganda. While at DMU, the students took classes at DMU, shadowed physicians in the DMU clinic and then had a three-week rotation at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Makerere University and UADY have signed agreements with DMU for student exchanges. The agreements create clinical sites for DMU students and offer international medical students opportunities for rotations in Des Moines.
Four students came in 2010. On March 22 through April 14, DMU will be hosting Julliet Allen and Gilbert Elijah from Uganda and in August, 2010, Jessica Rivero and Anelia Baqueiro are arriving from Mexico for a one-month stay.
