Representatives from University of Iowa health sciences programs will visit the Iowa State Capitol next week, highlighting the university’s impact on the health of Iowans statewide.
UI health impact facts
• The UI trains about 79 percent of Iowa dentists, 50 percent of Iowa doctors, and 48 percent of Iowa pharmacists.
• UI nursing, physician assistant, physical therapy, ophthalmology, rural medicine, and otolaryngology programs rank among the nation’s top 10 in their fields.
• U.S. News & World Report has lauded UI Hospitals and Clinics as one of America’s best 23 years running.
• 18 UI medical and pediatric specialties rank among the nation’s top 50 according to U.S. News; 151 UI physicians are on the magazine’s best doctors list.
• 200-plus UI Health Care outpatient clinics saw nearly a million visits last year.
• College of Dentistry clinics recorded 145,000 patient visits in 2012.
The annual UI Health Sciences Day will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, in the capitol rotunda. The event offers an opportunity for elected officials, legislative staff, and capitol visitors to learn about the university’s role in training future health professionals, providing advanced patient-care, and conducting research that promises to prevent and treat illness.
“This is a chance to share what’s happening at the university and in health-care outreach clinics across the state, but also to hear from Iowa leaders about what health care concerns are most important to them and their communities,” says Stacey Cyphert, UI assistant vice president for health policy.
Participating programs include UI Hospitals and Clinics, UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, UI colleges of Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health, and the State Hygienic Laboratory at the UI.
This year’s event emphasizes how UI programs work together to provide physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and allied professionals for communities across Iowa. UI leaders also are seeking new ways to keep more graduates in Iowa to begin their careers.
“UI-trained professionals not only help keep Iowa healthy,” Cyphert says, “they also contribute to the social and economic vitality of their communities. They become a fundamental part of the fabric of towns and cities everywhere.”