(Radio Iowa) – Thanks to a new partnership, Des Moines University’s medical programs may soon have more students from Voorhees University in South Carolina. In DMU’s first collaboration with a historically-black university, Voorhees students who apply and meet admissions requirements will be guaranteed interviews in eligible masters and professional doctorate programs. Molly Moeller, DMU’s senior director of admissions and recruitment, says the medical school began looking for partnerships in 2017 to support long-term growth — and Iowa’s workforce. “We’ve been open to that more recently, and we have a handful of agreements out there with other institutions,” Moeller says, “and so when this organically came up with Voorhees, it was very, very natural.”

The list of programs includes doctorates in osteopathic medicine, podiatry, and physical therapy, as well as master’s programs in biomedical sciences and physician assistant studies. Moeller says the partnership supports the university’s mission to produce competent and compassionate healthcare providers. Providing culturally competent care is critical,” she says, “and so that cultural competency, one of the best ways is to have a class that is diverse so they can learn from one another directly.”

DMU also has three graduate programs where Vorhees students can earn credits towards their undergraduate and graduate degrees at the same time.