Each year, graduate and undergraduate students from the local scientific community have the opportunity to apply to participate in an intensive Mentored Student Research Program (MSRP) at Des Moines University (DMU). Selected students are able to choose from more than 30 mentors from a wide variety of specialties to fit their research and career goals. Students are involved in short-term or on-going research and training, and are required to present their studies to their peers and DMU faculty researchers via one or more poster or oral presentations.
The DMU Office of Research has worked tirelessly to promote a culture of research in our community. The 2015 MSRP closing ceremony held on Friday, July 17 attested to this effort and was elevated to new heights this year. The closing ceremony included a keynote address on treating the high risk diabetic limb, four diverse student keynote speakers, and nearly 30 poster presentation sessions in the topics of public health, education, movement science, and biomedical science. DMU welcomed internationally renowned podiatric surgeon and limb salvage specialist, David G. Armstrong, D.P.M., M.D., Ph.D., as the program’s keynote speaker. The closing ceremony is just one of the ways that students gain confidence and meet the requirement of presenting their research to the medical community. A link to the pictures from this year’s MSRP closing ceremony can be found here.
A special thanks and congratulations to our student keynote speakers:
- Ellen Barton, D.P.M. ‘18, Des Moines University
- Elizabeth Kunjummen, D.O. ‘18, Des Moines University
- Blair Tilkens, D.O. ‘18, Des Moines University
- Ashley Torres, undergraduate student, Mercy College of Health Sciences
Many students will continue their research and mentorship into the fall and throughout the year. In December 2015, the DMU Office of Research will host its sixth annual DMU Research Symposium to further showcase the efforts of these students and their faculty mentors. We are proud of the work that has gone into the 2015 summer program and are eager to see the astounding display of knowledge and commitment that is yet to come later this year. Research is vital to the advancement of the scientific community; and at DMU, students are vital to research.
