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Celebrating the Class of 2024
One-Hundred and Twenty-Fourth Annual Commencement Ceremony
Friday, May 24, 2024, at 10 a.m.
The Board of Trustees, faculty, staff and students of Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences are pleased to celebrate with you this one hundred and twenty-fourth Commencement Ceremony. Our academic traditions date back to our founding in 1898 and to the awarding of degrees to the first class of eight in 1899. Our students carry on those distinguished traditions. Amid life’s uncertainties, challenges and changes, including a global pandemic, members of the Class of 2024 have fulfilled their commitment to pursuing careers of service to others. Des Moines University is incredibly proud of our graduates and grateful that they are joining the highly competent, compassionate health professionals our alumni represent.
Ceremony Information
Commencement Ceremony
- The doors to the Iowa Events Center will open at 8:30 a.m.
- There is unlimited seating for guests and no tickets are required for the event.
- Students need to be assembled in Hall B by 9:15 a.m.
- Name cards will be on the chairs, organized alphabetically by program.
- Students must be dressed in regalia and in designated seats by 9:15 a.m.
- The processional will leave Hall B at 9:50 a.m.
- The event is approximately 2 ½ hours long.
A full order of events will be shared closer to the event.
Military Commissioning Ceremony
The following graduates will be honored and officially transitioned as commissioned officers in the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force at 8:45 a.m. in Hy-Vee Hall Room 317.
- Captain Grace Larew, D.O.’24 — Air Force
- Captain Jacob Nguyen, D.O.’24 — Air Force
- Captain Brenna Ryan, D.O.’24 — Army
- Lieutenant Lilly Horst, D.O.’24 — Navy
- Lieutenant Ryan Merideth, D.O.’24 — Navy
- Lieutenant Jiyoon Song, D.O.’24 — Navy
- Lieutenant Timothy Wiess, D.O.’24 — Navy
Speaker and Distinguished Guests
Omar Lateef, D.O.’99
2024 DMU Commencement Keynote Speaker
Dr. Omar Lateef is the system-wide president and CEO of RUSH in Chicago, which includes RUSH University Medical Center, RUSH University, RUSH Oak Park Hospital, RUSH Copley Medical Center and RUSH Health. He has led RUSH in setting the nation’s health care quality, safety, innovation and clinical leadership standards while maintaining its deep commitment to health equity.
Under Dr. Lateef’s leadership, RUSH University Medical Center received unprecedented acclaim for its outstanding multi-year response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The system’s early pandemic innovations were a model for care nationally through the deployment of early testing, a focus on critically ill patients from communities hardest hit by the pandemic and clinical advancements in treatment protocols. In 2021, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot bestowed her office’s Medal of Honor upon RUSH for its extraordinary contributions to the city during the pandemic. In 2023, Dr. Lateef was named one of the “great health care leaders to know” by Becker’s Hospital Review.
An ardent champion in tackling health disparities caused by poverty, systemic racism and other social determinants of health, Dr. Lateef has led RUSH in serving people and communities with services that go beyond clinical care. The organization works to meet critical needs with holistic and culturally responsive solutions, including its Food as Medicine prescription program, community health worker hub of frontline public health professionals, mental health training and efforts to address gun violence.
Dr. Lateef earned his bachelor’s degree in religious studies at the University of Florida-Gainesville and, after graduating from Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences in 1999, completed his internship and residency at New York University Downtown Hospital. He then completed a pulmonary and critical care medicine fellowship at RUSH University Medical Center. He served the organization in leadership roles, including chief medical officer, senior vice chair of the department of medicine and associate dean of medical sciences before taking on his current role in 2022.
Steven Herwig, D.O.’76, M.B.A., R.Ph.
2024 DMU Commencement Grand Marshal
An otolaryngologist in practice for 34 years, now retired, Dr. Steven Herwig served on the planning committee and as the first board chair of Lakeview Surgery Center in West Des Moines, Iowa, and as board chair of the Iowa Clinic. He was a member of the UnityPoint Health — Des Moines Board and the national advisory board of the Drake University College of Pharmacy, from which he graduated before pursuing his medical degree.
Before his retirement in 2015, he was an adjunct associate professor of otolaryngology at DMU and a clinical assistant professor in the department of otolaryngology, head and neck surgery at the University of Iowa College of Medicine.
After graduating from Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences in 1976, Dr. Herwig completed his residency training at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and then served as a medical officer at Malcolm Grow U.S. Air Force Medical Center at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. He was a clinical assistant professor of surgery at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences during his Air Force service.
Dr. Herwig and his wife, Karen, made a leadership gift to DMU’s Purple & Proud Campaign to establish the Steven R. Herwig, D.O., Outstanding Faculty Service Award to recognize and reward faculty who go above and beyond their job descriptions.
Timothy Steele, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Microbiology and Immunology
Dr. Timothy Steele joined Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences in 1999 as associate professor of microbiology and immunology. He was promoted to professor in 2009, awarded tenure in 2014 and served for nearly 18 years as chair of the department. Through the years, he has shared his enthusiasm for the magic and power of microbiology and immunology with students in DMU’s osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine, physician assistant studies and physical therapy programs. Student learning and success have always been his top priorities.
Dr. Steele also contributed extensively to our knowledge of cancer, including leukemia, cancer treatment modalities and immunotherapy. He engaged numerous DMU and undergraduate students and colleagues in his laboratory and his published and presented research. He has been an invited manuscript reviewer for several scientific journals, including the Journal of Immunology, Experimental Biology and Medicine and the British Journal of Cancer. He also was among the reviewers for the 11th edition of the textbook Prehospital Emergency Care.
In addition to chairing the microbiology and immunology department, Dr. Steele has served as a member of many College of Osteopathic Medicine and university committees and an advisor to student organizations. He received several awards at DMU for teaching excellence and research.
Dr. Steele served as a petty officer in the U.S. Coast Guard and then earned his Bachelor of Science degree in medical technology, magna cum laude, at Indiana State University. He earned his doctoral degree in microbiology and immunology at the Indiana University Medical Center, where he also was a teaching assistant. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship in biological sciences at Miami University in Ohio, he was an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Mercer University School of Medicine before joining DMU.
Officers of the Academic Procession
Officers of the Academic Procession
Mace Bearer
Julie Ronnebuam, D.P.T, P.T., Ph.D.
Platform Party Marshal
Melinda Miller, M.Ed.
Faculty Marshal
Sarah Clayton, Ph.D.
Student Marshals
Maria Barnes, Ph.D.
Matt Henry, Ph.D.
Mohamed Spocter, Ph.D.
Catherine Stevermer, P.T., D.P.T., Ph.D.
Readers
Simon Geletta, Ph.D.
Tracy Porter, P.T., D.P.T., Ed.D.
John Bennett, D.P.M., FACFAS
Holland Taylor, MSPAS, PA-C
Craig Canby, Ph.D.
Jennifer Beaty, M.D., FACS, FASCRS
Faculty Hooders
Julie Ronnebaum, D.P.T, P.T., Ph.D.
Cynthia Utley, D.P.T., P.T.
Ashley Dikis, D.P.M., FACFAS, DABPM
Mathew Johnstone, D.P.M., FACFAS, DABPM
Allen Kempf, D.P.M., M.S., AACFAS, DABPM
Jarrod Smith, D.P.M., FACFAS
Thomas Benzoni, D.O., EM, AOBEM, FACEP
Marianka Pille, M.D., FAAP
Timothy Steele, Ph.D., MT
Paul Volker, M.D., FAAFP
Graduate Information
Welcome to the Alumni Association
As a Des Moines University graduate, you are now a member of DMU’s Alumni Association! As a member, you gain access to special perks and join a growing community of 16,000+ alumni around the world.
Watch for more information from DMU’s Alumni Office — your point of contact for future communications and questions.
Graduate Photos
Des Moines University graduate photos are available online by entering a graduate’s last name and graduation year.
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