Clinical rotations begin at the end of second year in June and continue until graduation. Students will spend year three immersed in clinical training in our DMU Foot and Ankle Clinic, as well as with distinguished DMU alumni throughout the Des Moines area. Year four is spent rotating at approved sites nationwide. Students work with the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs to establish their schedule of rotations.
Rotations competencies have been developed to maximize your clinical experiences in basic podiatric medicine, podiatric radiology, podiatric surgery and podiatric orthopedics/biomechanics. Students rotate at a variety of patient care facilities whose population base varies with respect to socioeconomic and cultural diversity.
D.P.M. third year clinical rotations
Locations:
- Des Moines University Foot and Ankle Clinic
- Central Iowa Veterans Administration Medical Center
- Iowa Methodist Medical Center
- Iowa Clinic
- Des Moines Orthopaedics
- Regional hospitals and clinics
Objectives:
- 40 weeks of rotations in Des Moines and the surrounding area
- Develop basic clinical skills required to properly evaluate and manage the podiatric patient
- Develop diagnostic skills and perform common office-based procedures
- Observe and participate in outpatient and inpatient operative proctocols
- Complete your third-year clinical objectives after clinical faculty members observe you successfully interacting with patients and supervising the delivery of medical care
D.P.M. fourth year clinical rotations
During the fourth year you complete 11 months of clinical rotations that begin in June of your final year, including:
- Six months of podiatric medical and surgical rotations
- Three month core hospital rotation, must include one non-podiatric specialty rotation
- One month of Internal Medicine
- One month of podiatric private practice
- Podiatric radiology
- Electives, including: Pediatrics, Global Health, Dermatology, Orthopedics, Emergency Medicine, Vascular Surgery, DMU-CPMS Academic Medicine clerkship, DMU Research clerkship
The College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery (CPMS) recognizes the paradigm shift in medical education resulting in greater external educational affiliations. Although this concept has been embraced by osteopathic and allopathic medical institutions for years, it has not been widely accepted by podiatric medical education. CPMS has established affiliations with more than 25 medical centers throughout the United States, which serve as core hospitals.