Your Journey to Becoming a Physician Starts Here
At Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences, the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program is designed with you in mind. From day one, you’ll be immersed in a curriculum that emphasizes clinical excellence, osteopathic principles and whole-person care, giving you the tools to become a compassionate and confident physician.
You’ll receive hands-on training in osteopathic manual medicine, physical diagnosis and preventive, evidence-based care. Courses in medical humanities and bioethics are integrated throughout your education, helping you develop a strong ethical foundation and a deeper understanding of the human side of medicine.
Plus, a wide range of electives allows you to customize your learning experience to match your interests and career goals.
A Curriculum Built Around Your Growth
Your four years in the DO program are divided into two key phases: Pre-Clinical and Clinical.
Years 1-2: Building Your Foundation
- In your first year, you’ll dive into the core scientific principles that underpin medicine.
- Your second year takes an integrated organ-system approach, blending basic and clinical sciences.
- You’ll participate in simulated patient encounters, lab experiences and small-group discussions that sharpen your clinical reasoning and hands-on skills.
- Learning happens in classrooms, labs, clinics and community service settings, so you’re always connecting theory to practice.
Years 3-4: Immersed in Clinical Practice
- You’ll step into real-world health care environments through clinical rotations at hospitals and clinics across the country.
- These rotations cover areas such as family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, psychiatry, emergency medicine, and obstetrics/gynecology.
- In your fourth year, you’ll explore specialty rotations that help you discover your passion and prepare for residency with confidence.
Get Ready for Medical Practice
At DMU, your success is supported every step of the way. From your first year through your clinical rotations, you’ll have access to board exam review resources that help you stay on track and feel confident in your progress.
Board Prep Is Integrated Into the Curriculum
You’ll be supported with board preparation along the way. Board-focused materials are integrated throughout the curriculum and complemented by readiness exams and individual and group academic counseling sessions to help you succeed.
Clinical Skills Check-In
After your third year, you’ll return to campus for a weeklong comprehensive clinical assessment. This experience helps you evaluate your clinical knowledge and skills, spot gaps and get the support you need to strengthen them.
The assessment includes:
- A computer-based, board-style exam
- Simulated and standardized patient encounters
- An osteopathic manual medicine patient case
- A written OMM exam
- A residency match process overview and prep session
Residency Match
As a DMU student, you’ll be well-positioned to take the next step in your medical journey: applying to residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
DMU students are highly sought after and match into a variety of specialties.
Research That Matters
Research opportunities are abundant for DO students at DMU. You’ll find meaningful opportunities to explore your interests and advance the field of medicine.
Through structured programs like the
- Mentored Student Research Program
- Mentored Research Elective Course
- Fourth-Year Research Elective Rotations
… you’ll gain hands-on experience in diverse areas of medical research. These programs are designed to help you build your skills, collaborate with faculty experts and explore topics that matter to you.
The DO program works closely with DMU’s Office of Research to continually expand opportunities so you can:
- Strengthen your research and analytical skills
- Publish your findings
- Earn recognition through awards, fellowships and scholarships
Expand Your Impact With Dual Degrees
At DMU, you can take your education even further by pursuing a dual degree alongside your Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. This option allows you to combine your clinical training with advanced expertise in another field, giving you a broader perspective on health care and opening up new career paths.
You can choose from:
- Master of Public Health
- Master of Health Care Administration
- Master of Science in Anatomy
- Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences
- Interdisciplinary PhD Biomedical Sciences
These programs complement your clinical education, helping you develop leadership and management skills, understand population health and health systems, strengthen your research and academic credentials and enhance your career flexibility and professional options.
How It Works
You can apply for a dual degree once you’re accepted into a DMU clinical program. You’ll receive information about available options and the application process during your time as a student, so you can make an informed decision that fits your goals.
University Partnerships
DMU has established partnerships with various universities and colleges in the health sciences field, enabling you to earn credit toward your undergraduate and DO degrees concurrently.
Note: Students must submit separate applications and meet the individual admission criteria for each program.
Program Objectives
Program objectives guide teaching, learning and assessment within the DO program. These objectives emanate from (and link back to) the DMU Learning Goals and AOA/AACOM Core Competencies.
Students will demonstrate: