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Des Moines University Professor Named a Fellow, National Academy of Osteopathic Educators

Sarah Clayton Joins Community of Educators to Foster Scholarship, Learning

by Des Moines University

West Des Moines, IA (05/16/2024) — Sarah Clayton, Ph.D., associate professor of physiology and pharmacology at Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences, was accepted as a fellow in the teaching and evaluation category in the National Academy of Osteopathic Educators. Her term as a NAOME fellow began in March and is effective through April 2029.

Part of the Society of Osteopathic Medical Educators, NAOME is a community of educators who have met rigorous academic excellence standards within the last five years. Its purpose is to foster the scholarship of teaching and learning, provide role modeling and support for educators in osteopathic medical education programs and provide a forum for exchanging ideas about teaching, evaluation, curriculum design and implementation, faculty development and other aspects of education.

"I look forward to opportunities to network with others at peer institutions and gain wider perspectives on what is happening in osteopathic medical education on a national level," Clayton says. "Osteopathic institutions likely face similar challenges and have come up with various solutions, so I'll get to bring some of that knowledge back to our campus while also contributing ways DMU has been innovative in teaching. I consider the role to involve continual learning and continual improvement."

Clayton, who joined DMU in 2014, received her Ph.D. in integrative physiology from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Iowa. Her research interests include the role of life experience in modulating cardiovascular disease risk. She also is interested in research on best practices for teaching physiology in medical education and effective teaching strategies and delivery methods to enhance student comprehension in various settings.

Several other DMU faculty regularly contribute to the osteopathic profession as NAOME fellows:

  • Craig Canby, Ph.D., associate dean of academic curriculum and medical programs, College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Matthew Henry, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the physiology and pharmacology department
  • Martin Schmidt, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry and nutrition
  • Lisa Streyffeler, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the behavioral medicine, medical humanities and bioethics department
  • Wayne Wilson, Ph.D., professor and chair of the biochemistry and nutrition department and assistant dean for assessment and research, College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Leslie Wimsatt, Ph.D., COM associate dean for academic assessment, quality and development

    Located in West Des Moines, part of Iowa's capital metro, Des Moines University offers 10 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.

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Sarah Clayton, Ph.D.

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