Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
Be the Expert Behind Every Step Forward
Champion Mobility
At Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences, our four-year Doctor of Podiatric Medicine program combines science, surgery and patient care from day one. You’ll gain hands-on surgical training, advanced clinical skills and real-world experience to treat a range of lower extremity conditions — from pediatrics and sports medicine to surgery, biomechanics, trauma and wound care.
Your future helping others starts with a single step. Feet, ankles and lower limbs carry more than weight — they carry quality of life. As a doctor of podiatric medicine, you’ll help people move freely, relieve pain and get back to doing what they love.
You’ll graduate prepared to pass your national board exams, begin your residency and step confidently into a rewarding career.
4 Years
Program Length
$47,578
Annual Tuition
7.5 : 1
Student-to-Faculty Ratio
100%
Residency Placement
Since 2003
Am I on Track for the DPM Program?
A Quick Check. You Might Be More Prepared Than You Think.
Undergraduate Coursework
A minimum of 90 credit hours is required. A bachelor’s degree is not required.
GPA
A minimum grade point average of 2.7 is recommended.
Prerequisite Courses
Coursework must be completed before matriculation; pending coursework during the application cycle is acceptable.
MCAT
You must complete the Medical College Admission Test to be considered for admission.
Exposure to Medicine
Competitive applicants should have exposure to medicine documented in a letter of recommendation from a podiatrist.
Application
Submit through the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine Application Service. Applications open each August and close June 30.
Why DMU?
DMU’s accredited DPM program combines early clinical experience, close faculty mentorship, meaningful interprofessional education, hands-on research and strong preparation for boards and residency to prepare graduates for careers in podiatric medicine.
Close-Knit Academic Environment
Accessible faculty provide personalized mentorship to support your success inside and outside the classroom.
Transformative Research Opportunities
DMU’s Summer Research Program and other opportunities empower you to engage in meaningful, hands-on research.
Learn for the Real World
Collaborate with peers to apply evidence-based medicine in real-world clinical scenarios and build essential diagnostic and critical thinking skills.
Support from Day One
Your faculty advisor will mentor and guide you throughout your DPM program journey.
“DMU provides the outcomes you would expect from one of the top podiatric colleges in the nation when it comes to board scores, residency placement and graduation rates. These results help our graduates to obtain the best residency programs in the nation.
This world-class education also occurs in an environment that supports students.”
Kevin Smith, DPM’95, PhD, FACFAS
Dean, College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery
What You’ll Learn
At DMU, you’ll prepare to lead in podiatric medicine through hands-on learning, collaboration and cutting-edge technology.
Here’s what your journey will look like:
- Learn in a collaborative environment where you’ll work closely with peers from our Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Master of Science in Anatomy and Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences programs.
- Build your clinical confidence early through labs and simulations that include cadaver dissection, suturing, surgical instrumentation, IV insertions, diagnostic skills and more.
- Step into patient care in your second year at the Des Moines University Clinic — Foot and Ankle, while rotating through specialties like internal medicine, emergency medicine simulation, vascular surgery, orthopedics and wound management.
- Take the lead in your fourth year with advanced clinical rotations and clerkships that open doors to nationwide residency opportunities.
Quick Facts: Curriculum and Courses
-
Integrated Curriculum With Osteopathic Medical Students in Year One
-
Progressive Focus
On foot and ankle care, biomechanics and clinical diagnostics
-
Evidence-Based Learning
Through case discussions and research immersion
-
Extensive Clinical Rotations Nationwide
Starting after year two
Where Will Your DPM Take You?
Ready. Set. Go.
As a student in DMU’s DPM program, you’ll focus on the lower extremities while gaining broad medical knowledge in areas like vascular, surgical, therapeutic and dermatological care. This well-rounded expertise prepares you to assess and treat patients in both clinical and hospital settings.
When you graduate, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running in hospitals and multidisciplinary clinics, open a private practice or teach and mentor in academic settings — entering a field with an average annual salary of $446,060.*
*Source: American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
Labs That Power Your Learning
Throughout the DPM program, you’ll sharpen your surgical and clinical skills using cutting-edge tools in immersive learning environments, like our state-of-the-art Simulation Center.
Rakowski Surgical Skills Lab
Practice various surgical techniques in a space designed to replicate the high-pressure settings of both operating and emergency rooms.
Wojciechowski Trauma Lab
Train in an environment that reflects the urgent atmosphere of emergency medical care while learning to respond to life-threatening injuries and medical emergencies.
Clinical Exam Rooms and Human Simulation Lab
Gain hands-on experience in one of 16 rooms equipped with exam tables, cameras, microphones and computers, which allow you to refine your clinical skills and receive faculty feedback.
Anatomy Lab
Deepen your understanding of human anatomy through prosected cadaveric review.
“One of the defining features of DMU’s DPM program is its board pass rates, which says a lot. It shows how well the school takes care of its students.
DMU also emphasizes quality of life and well-being, which I saw as soon as I interviewed.”
Katie Nguyen, DPM’29
“At DMU, you’re going to find a community. You’re going to be part of a family.
Everybody here wants you to succeed and is willing to do everything they can to help you achieve success.”
Tassia Harvey, DPM’28
“I always knew I wanted to help people, and podiatry is a great way to do that. We get a great mix of foot and ankle surgery — from simple procedures to sports medicine and complex reconstructions.
Nothing is better than helping patients return to a pain-free life or getting athletes back to the things they love. I couldn’t be happier with my choice to become a podiatrist.”
Travis Langan, DPM’15, FACFAS
Feel the Connection
When you’re not in class, training in the field or studying for exams, there’s no shortage of ways to get involved on campus and beyond.
- Join one of 50+ student clubs and organizations to connect with peers and build community.
- Get involved with the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs to practice patient-centered care with cultural humility and learn to lead with empathy.
- Explore everything the Greater Des Moines community has to offer, from cultural events to outdoor activities and local favorites.
Connect With the DPM Program
The Stories That Define DMU
One Day for DMU Raises More Than $220,000
The Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences community came together for the eighth annual One Day for DMU campaign — held from noon Wednesday, April 22, to noon Thursday, April 23 — raising an impressive $222,612 from 278 individual donors in just 24 hours.
Become Who You’re Meant to Be
Earn your DPM from DMU and step into your career with confidence and purpose.