Des Moines University forms faculty development academy with alumni gift

Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences is utilizing donor dollars to expand the knowledge and skills of faculty with a new development initiative.

The private medical university announced Wednesday the launch of the Dr. Robert and Brenda Good Faculty Development Academy, a campus-wide initiative to “advance excellence in teaching, educational research and leadership among its faculty members,” according to a news release.

“This is a bold, forward-looking initiative designed to support faculty throughout their professional growth,” said DMU Assistant Vice President for Academic Innovation and Enhancement Nehad El-Sawi in the release. “From peer-led consultations to faculty workshops on cutting-edge topics like artificial intelligence and enhanced preceptor development, the academy fosters a collaborative ecosystem for academic excellence.”

According to the release, the initiative will focus on six areas relating to faculty training and development, including improving onboarding, offering continuous professional development, encouraging educational research, furthering collaboration across campus and bettering teaching skills.

El-Sawi said in the release this initiative will help the college invest in the future of health care by investing in its own faculty.

A gift from 1977 DMU graduate Robert Good and his wife, Brenda, is funding the program, the release stated. DMU Director of Marketing and Communications Denise Lamphier said in an email the university is not providing the gift amount at the request of the donors.

The Goods said in the release DMU needs to give the students who will eventually be caring for Iowans and others the best start they can, and a way to do that is to ensure faculty have the best training and skills to pass onto their classes.

“Their generosity will ripple through future generations and help prepare the health care heroes our world so urgently needs, including rural physicians, groundbreaking researchers and compassionate therapists,” said DMU President Angela Walker Franklin in the release. “This is more than a gift. It’s a promise of hope and innovation. The entire DMU community is grateful to the Goods for believing in our mission and investing in its future.”