Des Moines Mini Medical School - Lighting Up Our Brains: Better Understanding Mental Illness Through Advanced Discoveries

This FREE educational program is open to the public. Space is limited, registration is required.

The COVID-19 Pandemic has had a dramatic impact on the health care system. Emergency rooms are flooded with patients with mental illness, addiction, and behavioral problems; the health care workforce is exhausted; remote work is everyday practice; and aging baby boomers are driving an unprecedented increase in demand for care—all leading to rapidly changing health care needs. Meanwhile, advances in brain imaging and genomics are offering new tools to diagnose poorly understood mental illnesses.

In this special statewide Mini Medical School program, learn about developing trends that are dramatically changing health care as we know it and discover what progress and partnerships are being made to address mental health and other health needs in Iowa. 

Part I. The Future of Post-pandemic Health Care in the Roaring 2020s.

Part II. Lighting Up Our Brains; better Understanding of Mental Illness through Advanced Brain Imaging, Hallucinogens, Ketamine and Ecstasy.

A Mini Medical School Program

Mini Medical School is for anyone—you don’t need a science or medical background to participate. Whether you’re a student, teacher, caregiver, retiree, or simply someone with an interest in research and medicine, Mini Medical School is for you!

Gerard Clancy, MD, Senior Associate Dean for External Affairs, Professor of Psychiatry, Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact UI Health Care Marketing and Communications, Division of Outreach and Engagement in advance at 319-335-8886 or email uihealthcare-communityrelations@uiowa.edu.