There are many ways to mark the passage of time: calendars, birthdays, weddings, births, gray hairs … the list goes on.
But for some, another way is by giving back to an organization year after year. Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences is proud to be the recipient of this kind of lasting generosity from many dedicated alumni and friends.
John Mattern II, DO’68, has supported DMU through an annual gift to the DMU Fund for more than 30 years. (He has also named DMU as a beneficiary of his estate, which makes him a member of DMU’s Legacy Society.)
Mattern was inspired to make his first annual gift after graduating to give back to the school that gave him a strong foundation. He also followed the example of his father, John Quincy Mattern, DO’36, who was a generous donor and a former member of the Board of Trustees.
“I think it’s imperative that those of us who got a good education and were successful in our endeavors give back to the university,” Mattern says. Mattern believes alumni and friends play a key role in ensuring the health and longevity of DMU by giving regularly to their alma mater. He hopes his support helps DMU students pursue careers in areas of greatest need, particularly in rural communities across Iowa.
Mattern knows his own son, John Mattern III, DO’00, will also carry forward the tradition of supporting DMU. “Without people giving money to support the university, you can’t move ahead,” Mattern says. “It’s either lead, follow or get out of the way is what I like to say to people about how medicine is going.”
A Legacy of Gratitude
Like Mattern, Samuel Lizerbram, DO’70, has also given back to DMU for more than 30 years.
After earning his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree, Lizerbram began a long and fulfilling career in family medicine in Philadelphia. Over 47 years, he treated generations of the same families.
“I loved every minute of it,” he says. “I always felt it was Des Moines University that gave me the opportunity to do this in my life, and I was very grateful for that opportunity. I feel it’s only right to show some gratitude for that.”
For Lizerbram, giving annually to the DMU Fund is his way of expressing that appreciation. More importantly, he hopes his generosity — and that of others — strengthens what DMU is all about: educating the next generation of health care heroes.
“I just hope that each graduating class produces medical professionals who will go out and enjoy their practice, have a wonderful future and be as grateful as I was for how it worked out for me,” he says.
The Power of Giving
Annual giving is powerful. While major gifts build the future, annual gifts sustain the present.
Beyond the financial impact, consistent giving strengthens the connection to DMU’s mission and to the people whose lives are transformed by such generosity.
“We’re training the next generation of compassionate, highly skilled health care leaders — and that work doesn’t happen with one-time gifts alone,” says Dave Williams, MBA, director of development and planned giving. “When you give each year, you provide reliable, flexible funding that helps us respond to immediate needs, support students with scholarships, enhance facilities and invest in innovative programs.”
Mattern puts it even more bluntly:
“You’ve got to give back because that’s the only way we can perpetuate ourselves and grow the medical community,” he says.
Keep DMU’s mission moving forward — year after year. Explore how your annual gift can make a difference at dmu.edu/giving or call 515-271-1454.