On Wednesday, Oct. 22, Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences and the Des Moines community came together for an evening of celebration, inspiration and powerful storytelling at the 2025 Glanton Event presented by UnityPoint Health.
Hosted at The Meadows Events and Conference Center in Altoona, Iowa, the event honored the legacy of Judge Luther T. Glanton Jr. and Willie Stevenson Glanton while raising support for the Glanton Fund. The fund invests in the next generation of health care leaders by supporting students and training opportunities across all 10 of DMU’s academic programs.
The evening carried a deep sense of momentum and mission. DMU President Angela L. Walker Franklin, Ph.D., welcomed guests with a message that reflected on the university’s longstanding values and enduring commitment to belonging and patient-centered care.
“We’ve never shied away from doing what’s right,” Franklin said, “because our students are preparing to serve a world that needs more empathy, more cultural understanding and more voices at the table.”
This year’s event celebrated the students whose journeys have been shaped by the generosity of donors through the fund. Second-year osteopathic medical student Maddie Westendorp and podiatric medicine student Tassia Harvey brought the impact to life with heartfelt remarks about their experiences, passions and aspirations. Their words reminded attendees that the future of health care is in capable, compassionate hands.
Gregory Johnson, M.D., system vice president and chief medical officer at UnityPoint Health, was the keynote speaker. His address on community-centered care underscored the event’s theme of building a health care system that serves everyone, everywhere.
Two featured videos added powerful storytelling to the evening. A video tribute to DMU’s legacy highlighted trailblazers like S.S. Still, D.O., and Ella Daughtery Still, D.O, who co-founded DMU, as well as Sara “Sally” Sutton, D.O., a 1953 DMU alumna, and Murray Goldstein, D.O., M.P.H., a 1950 DMU graduate. A second video featured William G. Anderson, D.O., a 1956 DMU graduate and one of the most inspiring voices in the university’s history.
The evening also recognized generous sponsors, including presenting sponsor UnityPoint Health, and highlighted the $4 million in student support awarded through the Glanton Fund since its inception 22 years ago. The fund’s growing endowment is now valued at over $6.1 million and will continue the goal of supporting promising students from all backgrounds.
President Franklin shared in her closing remarks that the Glanton Event is more than a celebration. It is a call to action. “Our students are preparing to care for all of us. They are preparing to care for you.”
Save the date for the Glanton 2026 event, which will take place Oct. 15, 2026, at The Meadows Event Center.