Alumni, friends and donors of Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences gathered Sept. 17-18 for something big: a Grand Celebration.
This year, the event brought together the annual Alumni Awards and donor celebrations for two days of reconnecting, reminiscing and recognizing the people who help make great things possible at DMU.
The festivities kicked off Thursday with a reunion welcome reception at The Rewind Hotel in West Des Moines. Members of the classes of 1976, 1986 and 2001 celebrated their 50-, 40- and 25-year reunions, respectively, and reflected on how much has changed since their time as students.
“For some of you, it was the College of Osteopathic Medicine. For others, it was the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences. And today, it is known as Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences. The names may have changed. The campus and its location have certainly changed. But one thing has remained remarkably consistent: the absolute commitment to providing the highest quality medical education and producing competent and compassionate health care leaders.”
Eric Neverman, DO’12, MHA’11
President of the DMU Alumni Board
The celebration continued Friday with a reunion breakfast and tours of DMU’s 88-acre campus at 8025 Grand Ave. Alumni had the opportunity to explore the Simulation Center and get a firsthand look at the technology and learning experiences available to today’s students.
Visitors tried their hand at ultrasound technology used by DMU students and even helped “deliver” a baby in one of the center’s simulated clinical spaces. Both experiences offered attendees the opportunity to earn continuing medical education credit.
At lunchtime, alumni, donors and friends joined faculty, staff and students for an all-campus picnic, providing another opportunity to reconnect with DMU while getting to know the people who make up the university today.
The trip down memory lane continued that afternoon with a bus tour through Des Moines, including stops at DMU’s former campus locations and other local landmarks.
Friday evening brought everyone together for a Grand Celebration, recognizing the donors and supporters who fuel DMU’s mission, as well as honoring the 2026 Alumni Award recipients(opens in new tab) and reunion year attendees.
“Seeing so many alumni, donors, faculty, staff and friends together in one room reminds me how fortunate Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences is to have such a dedicated community of supporters. As I reflect on the past 15 years, what inspires me most is not simply the milestones we’ve achieved, but the people who made them possible. Tonight, we celebrate those people. We celebrate you.”
Angela L. Walker Franklin, PhD
President and CEO of DMU
Putting Research in the Spotlight
Research at DMU also took center stage throughout the evening, including a video(opens in new tab) highlighting work underway across campus.
During the cocktail hour, Heather Garvin, PhD, interim chair of the department of anatomy and a forensic anthropologist, gave attendees an up-close look at her work with a display of bones that sparked plenty of questions and conversation.
Garvin concluded the evening with a presentation about her career and research, from serving as an expert witness(opens in new tab) to her involvement in the discovery and study of Homo naledi(opens in new tab) and her work at DMU.
Together, the two-day reunion and Grand Celebration offered attendees a chance to look back at the people and places that shaped their DMU experiences while seeing firsthand where the university is headed next.