DMU Magazine

VIP Campus Tour: The Plaza

September 22, 2026 / 2 minutes of reading

From sunny spring days to crisp fall mornings, there’s no place on DMU’s campus more lively than The Plaza.

Aerial view of The Plaza at Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences, with students walking between campus buildings, outdoor seating areas and the bronze sculpture "The Gathering."

The Life of a Philanthropist: How to Save a Life

September 17, 2026 / 4 minutes of reading

A visit to Kenya during medical school sparked Parag Patel’s mission to expand access to care and improve global health.

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Parag Patel, DO’92, stands with a Global FICCS volunteer, holding hands in front of a Global FICCS display at an event focused on health care education and training.

Life After DMU: Life of a … Public Health Officer

September 15, 2026 / 4 minutes of reading

Caitlin Suginaka, MPH’13, is uniting real-time community impact and academic study while serving at Marathon County Public Health and pursuing her DrPH.

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Caitlin Suginaka, MPH’13, stands with her husband, Alex Suginaka, DO’14, and their two children on a grassy field in front of a wooden fence and tree-covered hills. The family poses outdoors beneath a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Life After DMU: Life of a … Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

September 11, 2026 / 4 minutes of reading

As a plastic surgeon, Benjamin Lam, DO’92, helps patients gain confidence in their appearance while also restoring function.

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Benjamin Lam, DO’92, seated in a blue blazer with an embroidered crest, looking toward the camera in a professional studio portrait.

Life After DMU: Life of a … Scientist

September 10, 2026 / 3 minutes of reading

As the first student in DMU’s Biomedical Sciences PhD program, Elizabeth McConnaha, PhD’25, helped shape the curriculum and now teaches others.

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Elizabeth McConnaha, PhD’25, wearing doctoral regalia and standing in a campus hallway while pregnant during the end of her doctoral studies at DMU. Photography by Lauren Spooner, Love + Light Photo Co.

Life After DMU: Life of a … Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences

September 8, 2026 / 3 minutes of reading

Austin Teel, DO’24, MSBS’20, found that a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences was the perfect stop on his path to becoming a doctor.

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Austin Teel, DO’24, MSBS’20, stands beside his significant other in a formal interior with a stone fireplace and framed painting in the background.

Life After DMU: Life of a … PA

September 4, 2026 / 3 minutes of reading

As she weighed becoming a physician assistant or doctor, Makenzie Driscoll, MSPAS’21, was drawn to the PA profession’s flexibility and shorter training.

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Makenzie Driscoll, MSPAS’21, poses outdoors with her husband, Logan Driscoll, MSPAS’21, and their young child among evergreen trees. The family stands together in coordinated fall clothing in a natural setting.

Life After DMU: Life of a … Podiatrist

September 3, 2026 / 3 minutes of reading

Tiphani James, DPM’16, spends her days healing patients dealing with foot or ankle pain at her private practice at Upperline Health.

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Professional portrait of Tiphani James, DPM’16, wearing a dark blazer and light blue shirt, standing in front of a softly blurred indoor background.

A Routine Visit That Changed Everything

September 1, 2026 / 3 minutes of reading

Sarah Tallman, DO’09, trusted her instincts when routine lab results didn’t feel quite right. That decision helped uncover Karla Peiffer’s cancer diagnosis early and paved the way for a remarkable outcome.

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Karla Peiffer stands outdoors between her son, Vance, and husband, Mark, in a grassy field. The family is shown together in a portrait featured alongside illustrated paper-cut elements in shades of purple.

Life After DMU: Life of a … Physical Therapist

August 31, 2026 / 3 minutes of reading

As a practicing partner at Core Physical Therapy in West Des Moines, Iowa, Kirsten Radke, PT, DPT’15, draws on her specializations in pelvic health rehabilitation, craniosacral therapy, concussion management and vestibular therapy.

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