WEST DES MOINES, IOWA (February 11, 2026) — Central State University, a historically Black college and university in Wilberforce, Ohio, and Des Moines University Medicine (DMU) and Health Sciences in West Des Moines, Iowa, announced a partnership that expands access and priority pathways for CSU students into DMU's graduate medical and health-science programs.
The collaboration bridges CSU's mission of fostering academic excellence in a nurturing environment with DMU's commitment to educating highly competent and compassionate health professionals. The partnership allows the two universities to strengthen the future health-care workforce by expanding access and offering clear, merit-based pathways for students to transition from undergraduate success to professional medical practice.
"This partnership recognizes the mission of both our institutions in supporting and carrying out the common good," says Kimberly Brown PhD MEd, vice president for academic and student affairs at DMU.
"It also emphasizes a mutual commitment to fair access and the development of quality programs that put students first."
The partnership includes interview guarantees or reserved seats in highly-competitive fields for qualified CSU students, including:
- DMU will reserve one seat annually for the most competitive qualified CSU student in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program.
- One reserved seat is available annually for a CSU student to participate in the Health Professions Advanced Summer Scholars, DMU's premier summer program that helps undergraduate students explore careers in medicine, health-care, and science.
- Qualified CSU students are also eligible for guaranteed interviews in the following programs:
- Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
- Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
- Doctor of Physical Therapy
- Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
- Master of Science in Anatomy and Biomedical Sciences
- Interdisciplinary PhD in Biomedical Sciences
CSU students must meet rigorous academic benchmarks, including specific GPA and standardized test score requirements, and undergo DMU's standard background and medical screenings to be eligible.
For more information about DMU's programs and admissions requirements, visit dmu.edu. To learn more about Central State College, visit centralstate.edu.
Located in West Des Moines, part of Iowa's capital metro, Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences offers ten graduate-level professional degree programs in anatomy, biomedical sciences, health-care administration, occupational therapy, osteopathic medicine, physical therapy, physician-assistant studies, podiatric medicine, and public health. Founded in 1898, the institution offers superior academics in a collaborative environment. DMU students' scores on national examinations, pass-rates on board certifications, and match-rates for medical-residency programs are consistently higher than national averages and rates at peer institutions.
