DES MOINES, IOWA (June 2, 2026) — Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences awarded graduate degrees in medicine and health sciences to over 430 new health-care professionals at its 126th Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 29, 2026.
The event celebrated the achievements of the DMU Class of 2026, including many dual-degree students and the first graduates of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program.
Angela L Walker Franklin PhD, DMU's president and CEO, reminded the new graduates to be strong, patient advocates and help make communities and populations healthier.
"Our health-care and public health systems need you more than ever. Most important, our society needs you," Franklin said. "Today, you are looking forward, but also make a commitment in the years ahead that you will be able to look back, knowing that in ways large and small, you have changed the world."
Keynote speaker George Rust MD MPH FAAFP FACPM, author of Healing in a Changing America: Doctoring in a Nation of Needless Suffering, shared stories of lessons learned, mistakes made, and sacred moments. He encouraged DMU's newest alumni to "go to the people who need you most, where you can make a difference with your knowledge and your skills, your caring, and your compassion."
Military Commissioning Ceremony
Six graduates were honored and officially transitioned as commissioned officers in the US Army, Navy, and Air Force at a ceremony held on Thursday, May 28. The following students will go on to serve as military and medical professionals:
- Captain Ella Kloster DO ('26) — Air Force
- Captain Andrew Mannisto DO ('26) — Air Force
- Captain Matt Mackarevich, DO ('26) — Army
- Captain Dilibe Ekowa, DO ('26) — Army
- Lieutenant Emma Parker, DO ('26) — Navy
- Lieutenant Lydia Sohn, DO ('26) — Navy
Grand Family Society
Twenty-four alumni became members of the Grand Family Society, which recognizes graduates with family members who also received a degree from DMU. The society honors generational alumni for their engagement and support — offering networking opportunities and other ways for Grands to stay connected with DMU through exclusive programs and events. New members include:
- Logan Adam MSPAS ('26)
- Jordan Appel DO ('26)
- Kaci Behrens OTD ('26)
- Lauren Bice MSPAS ('26)
- Sarah Bosch OTD ('26)
- Thomas Bussey DO ('26)
- Jarod Devins DO ('26)
- Danielle Ericksen DO ('26)
- Greysen Foss DO ('26)
- Noelle Greely MSPAS ('26)
- Abigail Holmberg MSPAS ('26)
- Nina Ignatowski MSPAS ('26)
- Alec Jackson DO ('26)
- Lindsey La Rue OTD ('26)
- Zachary Ludwig DO ('26)
- Courtney Maire DO ('26)
- Jack McEvoy MSPAS ('26)
- Tanner Olsen DPM ('26)
- Boden Saikie DO ('26)
- Evan Schmidt DO ('26)
- Brady Schutt DO ('26)
- Kiana Stanek DO ('26)
- Katelyn Stein DO ('26)
- Reed Tisdell DO ('26)
Award Ceremonies
The College of Health Sciences, the College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery and the College of Osteopathic Medicine held award ceremonies. Over eighty students were recognized for awards and/or inducted into honor societies of their fields.
Located in West Des Moines, part of Iowa's capital metro, DMU offers graduate-level professional-degree programs in anatomy, biomedical sciences, health-care administration, medical science, 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.
