GRMC Embarks on Medical Teaching Institution Program

Des Moines University has entered into an agreement with Grinnell Regional Medical Center that will allow DMU students to complete clinical rotations as part of their medical degree training program. Students will begin their rotations at GRMC on August 3.

Third-year and fourth-year medical students must complete rotations with licensed physicians as a component of their degree. GRMC has 12 medical staff members who have agreed to serve as adjunct professors with DMU so that students may complete training in Grinnell.

GRMC and the GRMCs medical staff committed to host four students for a 40-week clinical rotation. Specialty areas included in the yearlong rotation will be anesthesiology, family medicine, general surgery, internal medicine, pathology, and urology. Each student will spend two to four weeks in each specialty area.

“Des Moines University approached GRMC to serve as a year-long rotation site for students,” says Kathy Szary, GRMC medical staff services coordinator. “Students benefit from greater continuity of their education by working in the same location for one year and a single site makes scheduling easier. The ultimate goal is to give the greatest training opportunities to students. We hope that by welcoming them to GRMC they will realize how great a rural hospital setting can be for their professional careers and family life balance.”

Students audition for a hospital rotation based on their learning goals and the opportunities at the medical center through a lottery process. Des Moines University students who are assigned to GRMC will also complete a portion of their rotations at Skiff Medical Center in Newton.

“GRMC is very pleased that the first class of students will include a Grinnell alumnus, Craig Follette,” Szary says. “We have welcomed many students to GRMC in the past 10 years. This agreement expands our commitment to teaching students.”

GRMC physicians believe that working with students helps keep them in tune with the newest advancements in medical care. In addition as an adjunct professor, they can earn continuing education credit and access the Des Moines University medical school’s resources.

GRMC has welcomed students for two to four week rotations for several years. This agreement is the first time GRMC committed to a full year-long program for students. In addition, Surgical Associates entered into an agreement with Mercy Medical Center for general surgery residents to complete four week rotations.