Des Moines University Names Regional Simulation Center Director

WEST DES MOINES, IA (01/22/2025) Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences appoints Beth Culross, Ph.D., RN, GCNS-BC, CHSE, as the inaugural director of its new Des Moines University Regional Simulation Center at 3200 Grand. Culross, a nationally recognized expert in simulation-based education and health care training, will lead the development and operations of the simulation center, currently under construction and slated to open in late Fall 2025.

The regional simulation center, at DMU's 3200 Grand Ave. campus in downtown Des Moines, is a groundbreaking initiative designed to address critical health care workforce challenges. With support from community partners, including Polk County, Mercy College of Health Sciences and Des Moines Public Schools, this state-of-the-art, 90,000-square-foot facility will feature cutting-edge simulation technology and training spaces for health care education programs across Central Iowa.

"Dr. Culross brings unparalleled expertise in simulation-based education and a deep commitment to advancing health care training," says Angela L. Walker Franklin, Ph.D., DMU president and CEO. "Her leadership will ensure that the regional simulation center becomes a national model for collaborative, high-impact health care education."

Culross joins DMU from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing, where she served as the director of the learning resources center and associate director of the interprofessional academy of educators. She has extensive experience in gerontological nursing, simulation technology and interprofessional education. She also has led numerous initiatives to enhance clinical competencies and improve patient care outcomes.

"I am honored to join Des Moines University and lead this visionary initiative," Culross says. "The regional simulation center is poised to transform health care education and address workforce shortages by providing innovative, experiential learning opportunities. I look forward to collaborating with DMU and regional partners to achieve this mission."

The center will support the training of future health care professionals while engaging rural partners and emergency services personnel in Central Iowa. In addition to providing advanced learning opportunities, the center's goal is to build a pipeline of skilled health care workers and foster retention through innovative programs and community partnerships.

The regional simulation center represents a multi-million-dollar investment in health care education and is a cornerstone of DMU's commitment to addressing regional and national workforce needs.

Located in West Des Moines, part of Iowa's capital metro, Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences 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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