Des Moines University Clinic will provide free back-to-school physicals and backpacks for students heading into kindergarten through incoming high school seniors. This one-day event will be Wednesday, July 22, 2026. No insurance is needed. Interpreters and interpretation services will be available. These physicals are designed to help K-12 students prepare for the upcoming school year and fall sports.
“Annual physicals for children and adolescents are so very important to tracking their growth, development, safety and readiness for school sports and activities,” says Seth Quam’09, DO, DMU Clinic — Family Medicine and clinical department chair of primary care at Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences.
The free physicals will be conducted by DMU students under the supervision of licensed clinicians including clinic providers and faculty. Free eye exams will also be available along with information on dental health provided by community partners. Plus, DMU podiatric medicine students and faculty will offer foot and ankle consultations.
DMU has been hosting this back-to-school event for over 10 years, providing free physicals to over 150 students per year.
“Our DMU students enjoy working with members of the community. This event gives them a chance to apply the examination and patient communication skills they’re learning in the classroom,” says Sarah Parrott, DO’02, FAAFP, chair and associate professor of primary care at DMU. Parrott adds, “I like to ask the participants what grade they’d give their DMU student, and they always say, ‘A-plus!’”
About This Event
Free Back-to-School Physicals Event at Des Moines University Clinic
Wednesday, July 22, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (registration closes at 5:45 p.m.)
Olsen Center at DMU32 Health and Business Complex, 3200 Grand Ave., Des Moines
As part of Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences, Des Moines University Clinic is a community dedicated to improving lives and training tomorrow’s health care leaders. Located in the heart of Des Moines, Iowa, with select services offered in West Des Moines, DMU Clinic provides a range of specialties. Our clinicians are more than just providers — they are researchers, mentors and educators, ensuring patients receive personalized care from dedicated professionals at the forefront of medical science. Learn more at dmuclinic.org or by calling 515-271-1700.