Des Moines University and the Polk County Health Department have formalized a partnership to expand training and workforce development for future public health professionals in the region.
Local training tied to county public health work
The institutions signed a memorandum of understanding this week to create an Academic Health Department partnership aimed at giving students hands-on experience while supporting the county’s public health efforts. The Polk County Board of Supervisors approved the agreement during a meeting where university leaders and county officials spoke in favor of closer collaboration.
Polk County Health Department Director Juliann Van Liew said partnerships are essential because the problems public health teams face are increasingly complex. In a news release, she said the collaboration will help strengthen the local workforce, prepare future leaders and bring academic expertise into everyday public health practice.
“This collaboration with Des Moines University allows us to strengthen our workforce, support future public health leaders and bring academic expertise into local public health practice to better serve our community.”
University officials said the arrangement will create and expand student internships and field experiences, support workforce development efforts, and open opportunities for collaborative research and evaluation projects focused on community health.
Local alumni and practical opportunities
Des Moines University representatives highlighted the local impact of the partnership. Wallace Boeve, dean of the university’s college of health sciences, spoke during the public comment portion of the supervisors’ meeting to express support. University leaders pointed out that about 2,000 DMU alumni live in Polk County, presenting a local pool of experience and potential mentors.
Rachel Reimer, department chair of public health programs at Des Moines University, said the partnership will give students real-world experience and strengthen their ability to address public health challenges.
- Student internships and field placements in Polk County public health settings
- Workforce development initiatives to bolster local public health capacity
- Joint research and program evaluation projects to inform county health efforts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Partnership type | Academic Health Department memorandum of understanding |
| Local alumni | ~2,000 DMU alumni in Polk County |
Officials noted the partnership builds on existing data and research collaborations between the county and the university. For Des Moines residents, the agreement promises more visible links between academic training and local public health services — from internships that place students in county departments to research that could shape local health programming.
As public health needs become more varied and immediate, local leaders see such partnerships as a practical step to prepare new professionals while strengthening services for the community they will serve.
