WEST DES MOINES, IOWA (February 18, 2026) — Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences will host a public open house for the Des Moines University Regional Simulation Center, 3-6PM, Thursday, March 5.
The public is invited to explore the state-of-the-art facility designed to strengthen health-care education, training, and workforce development across Central Iowa.
The regional simulation center was made possible through collaboration, including a multi-million-dollar investment from the Polk County Board of Supervisors to DMU.
The simulation center is housed in Ryan Hall, part of the DMU32 Health and Business Complex at 3200 Grand Ave.
The facility features innovative simulation technology to provide training spaces for the region's professional and scholastic health-care programs.
Other partners include Des Moines Area Community College, Des Moines Public Schools, and Mercy College of Health Sciences.
"The DMU Regional Simulation Center is about giving people the chance to practice critical skills, decision-making and teamwork before they face those situations in real life. It allows learners to make mistakes safely, to train together across disciplines and to build confidence in environments that look and feel like the real world. It's also a place where high school and college students can come together to learn whether a health care career is for them," says Angela L Walker Franklin PhD, president and CEO of DMU.
The open house will feature guided tours, live demonstrations using high-fidelity manikins and opportunities to meet the professionals who will lead training in the space.
"What sets this center apart is its focus on real-world scenarios, competency training and interdisciplinary teamwork," says Beth Culross PhD MSN, the center's director. "Participants learn by practicing to respond using critical thinking skills to care for a wide variety of patients and high-stakes situations using the latest technology."
