After an extensive national search, the College of Health Sciences at Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences has named Julie Ronnebaum, D.P.T., Ph.D., MPT, GCS Emeritus, as the new program director and department chair of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program and P.T. clinics at Des Moines University Clinic.
Ronnebaum, formerly the assistant director of the P.T. program, succeeds Traci Bush, D.P.T., D.H.S., MPT, OTR/L, after her 12 years as department chair.
“It is exciting to see one of DMU’s own rise to the top during this national search process,” says Wallace Boeve, Ed.D., PA-C, dean of the College of Health Sciences. “I look forward to working with Dr. Ronnebaum on a shared and unified college vision for continued excellence in all the health science programs, but especially to build upon the D.P.T.’s strong track record of success.”
Specializing in cardiopulmonary critical care, Ronnebaum began her career with DMU as a preceptor at MercyOne Medical Center, where she welcomed students interested in this specialized field during their clinical experiences. Invited to DMU as a guest lecturer in 2003, she advanced from part-time to full-time positions, then to assistant director, and now serves as director.
“I love helping and educating students, especially with cardiopulmonary and critical care,” Ronnebaum says. “It’s so important for students to not be afraid to treat these patients as they deserve compassionate care especially with their complex illness. I really enjoy teaching students how to be safe and confident in these circumstances.”
When preparing students for their future as health care providers, Ronnebaum has been part of the D.P.T. team at DMU that has worked to revise the curriculum. The goals of this revision were to remove redundancies, embrace the focus on movement system theories and to introduce competency assessments and achievement of entrustable professional activities.
“We’ve been really successful in these adjustments to the curriculum, and I am excited to embrace the use of competency assessments,” Ronnebaum says. “Not many P.T. programs have adopted these practices, but by integrating them, they will help make our program here at DMU stand out.”
In addition to supporting students in the classroom, Ronnebaum wants to see continued growth of the P.T. clinics, located at 3200 Grand Ave. in Des Moines and within the MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex in West Des Moines.
“I’d like to see our clinic become a provider of choice for people of all ages,” Ronnebaum says. “Our approach is evidence based and we have some of the best outcomes in the community. The team at both locations has done a great job of expanding services provided to meet the needs of more individuals.”
“I am eager to see Dr. Ronnebaum’s vision to lead the program into a new chapter in training the new generation of students to meet the growing needs of the P.T. profession today and tomorrow,” Boeve says.
