Waukee APEX Program Opens Doors to DMU

The Waukee APEX program exposes high school juniors and seniors to different pathways of success after high school. Students partner with local businesses and organizations in health services, finance, engineering, technology and biosciences to take on-site projects, gain real-world experiences and explore careers.

"I was on the fence between physical therapy, pharmacy and becoming a medical doctor, and I got to shadow all those roles and more in APEX," Duncan says. "I learned that physical therapy and pharmacy were not for me, so I was able to frame my college education in that context."

Duncan learned about Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences through APEX. DMU has been a founding partner of the Waukee APEX program since its inception in 2014, which entailed bringing Waukee APEX students to campus every week to learn about health careers and perform research with DMU faculty.

"When I was approached by APEX leaders, they asked for a two-year commitment from us to provide faculty mentors and dedicated space on campus," says Angela L. Walker Franklin, Ph.D., who became DMU's president and CEO in 2011. "I got a little nervous because those were my early years, too. But everyone was supportive, and it's been a valuable partnership. It's a model for what we can and need to imagine in education innovation."

"DMU is one of our most cherished partners that has been with us since the beginning," Michelle Hill, APEX work-based learning director says. "Before we even started with students, DMU administration and faculty helped us dream about what the program might look like. They provided valuable input on curriculum, resources and experiences for the program."

Hill shared over half of APEX participants are in the health and human services sector and have partnered with DMU in some way. Duncan is among several APEX graduates who later enrolled at DMU. "APEX is the reason I came here," she says. "I liked the smaller school setting and felt more of a connection here. It felt like a place where I could succeed."

For Meaghan Greteman, D.O.'25, Waukee APEX enabled her to confirm her longtime interest in a medical career.