Des Moines University

Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences Graduates First Class of Occupational Therapy Students

DMU's Newest Alumni Will Help Address OT Shortages

West Des Moines, IA (06/03/2026) — At Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences' 126th Commencement, the longstanding institution celebrated a first by awarding 22 Doctor of Occupational Therapy degrees.

Occupational therapists are skilled health care professionals who help people of all ages who, for diverse reasons, have been impaired from doing the meaningful activities of daily life. Nationally and in Iowa, there are significant shortages of occupational therapists in hospitals, clinics, schools and especially rural communities.

DMU's three-year OTD program welcomed its first class in Fall 2023. Students complete five semesters of classroom learning, two semesters of supervised fieldwork, plus a final semester-long capstone experience and project.

"As I reflect on this first graduating class, I am filled with an immense sense of pride and gratitude," says Diana Feldhacker, OTD, PhD, OTR/L, BCPR, who serves as director and department chair. "DMU's first OTD graduates represent the realization of our vision and the foundation upon which this program, and its future impact, will be built. They are an exceptional group of hardworking, driven practitioners and passionate advocates who will change lives."

Kassidy Hackbarth, OTD'26, who earned DMU's first Outstanding Service and Advocacy in OT Award, chose DMU because of its focus on medical education. She was inspired by the faculty she met during the admissions process and throughout her program.

"Everyone I met at DMU - the professors, the faculty - are all very passionate about helping others, and that is what I am also very passionate about," Hackbarth says.

Hackbarth will begin her career at 21st Century Rehab at Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson, Iowa, and will treat individuals who are inpatient, outpatient or receiving skilled nursing care.

"Service is something the OT professors at DMU really teach us - to be client centered, build rapport and truly engage with people during some of the hardest moments of their lives," she says.

Josie Nordhagen, OTD'26, who earned the Clinical Excellence Award, also chose DMU because the program's leaders inspired her. She credits the dedicated faculty for her level of knowledge and preparation.

"With their encouragement, I've presented posters at multiple national conferences, applied for fieldwork positions that seemed daunting and successfully pursued an interdisciplinary capstone project to improve safety for patients living with dementia," Nordhagen says.

"DMU's OTD program goes beyond teaching us how to be clinicians," she adds. "It teaches us the importance of advocacy and how we can get involved in making a better change for the profession and the world of health care."

Nordhagen will begin her career at On With Life in Ankeny, which specializes in neuro rehabilitation, and Azria Health Park Place, a skilled nursing facility in Des Moines.

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that employment of occupational therapists will increase by 17% by 2030. DMU's new campus offers OTD students intentionally designed facilities, innovative technology and other features including a teaching kitchen, home care laboratory space and simulation facilities.

Located in West Des Moines, part of Iowa's capital metro, Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences offers graduate-level professional degree programs in anatomy, biomedical sciences, health care administration, occupational therapy, osteopathic medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, podiatric medicine and public health. Founded in 1898, the institution offers superior academics in a collaborative environment. DMU students' scores on national examinations, pass rates on board certifications and match rates for medical residency programs are consistently higher than national averages and rates at peer institutions.