What is OPTI?

  • Educational enhancement
  • OMM
  • Research
  • Faculty development
  • Resident recruitment

The Osteopathic Postdoctoral Training Institute is a consortium of teaching hospitals who have partnered with Des Moines University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) in pursuit of excellence in internship and residency training.

The Health Education and Residency Training Network (HEARTland Network) has been developed to ensure the educational continuum for DMU’s osteopathic medical graduates. The HEARTland Network was established to support and promote excellence in the continuum of osteopathic medical education that begins with matriculation at an osteopathic medical school and extends through residency training and continuing medical education.

Our OPTI members agree to collaborate on areas of mutual interest and benefit, including educational standards, academic programs, grant acquisition, evaluation activities, faculty development, curricular development, continuing medical education, research/scholarly activity, marketing, promotion and recruitment.

The HEARTland Network exists to:

  • Promote excellence in education and training for osteopathic medical students, interns and residents to meet tomorrow’s health care needs for Iowans as well as the nation.
  • Contribute to the advancement of knowledge through the fostering of research.
  • Promote innovation, creativity and excellence along the continuum of osteopathic medical education.

News

Erin Westfall, D.O. accepts the AODME position at the U of MN FM Residency – Mankato

Dr. Erin Westfall assumed the position of Osteopathic Director of Medical Education in February 2013.  She is a graduate of A. T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at the University of Minnesota Mankato Family Medicine Residency in 2009.  Since her residency, Dr. Westfall has worked as a Physician in the Department of Family Medicine at Mayo Clinic Health System – LeSueur, as well as, a Community Faculty Preceptor- Mankato at the University of Minnesota Department of Family Medicine and Community Health Family Medicine Residency, Mankato.  Her interests in medicine include full spectrum family medicine, community health and wellness, mental health, and osteopathic medicine.  Dr. Westfall’s personal interest embrace outdoor activities, amateur archaeology and spending time with her family.

Leatrice Olson, D.O. named the AOA Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency, Iowa Medical Education Collaborative

Dr. Leatrice Olson was named the Osteopathic Program Director of the new Internal Medicine Residency Program, housed at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.  The new IM residency program was approved in November and has accepted ten residents starting July 1, 2013.  Dr. Olson is a graduate of COMS (Des Moines University), interned at Grand Prairie Hospital, Grand Prairie, TX and completed her IM residency at Des Moines General Hospital , Des Moines, IA.  Dr. Olson was previously the program director of the Internal Medicine Residency program at Des Moines General Hospital from 1988 to 2000.  She has long established relationships with Des Moines University recruiting students, student teaching and skills lab.  Dr. Olson is lifetime Board Certified, American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine with added qualifications in Geriatric Medicine (1995).

David Plundo, D.O., M.P.H., FACOFP becomes acting Dean of College of Osteopathic Medicine at DMU

In July, David Plundo, D.O.’85, M.P.H.’11, FACOFP, associate dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM), was appointed the college’s acting dean.

In addition to his DMU degrees, Plundo holds an undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Pittsburgh. He was an assistant professor of family medicine at DMU from 1988 to 1992. After serving as director of a family medicine residency program in Toledo, OH, and vice president of medical education at Garden City Hospital in Michigan, he returned to DMU in 2006 as associate dean for clinical affairs. He became associate dean for medical education in 2008.