Great stories happen at Iowa

Graduate spotlight: Marshawn Gunn
Marshawn Gunn had early dreams of being a meterologist, but he soon discovered he loved something more: telling stories. “I was aiming to tell people about weather, so I’m glad that I was able to find a different way to tell people stories and inform them about things going on in their community,” says Gunn, who will graduate with a BA in journalism and mass communication and a minor in sport and recreation management.

Graduate spotlight: Olivia Kopp
While many students are surprised to discover they can participate in research during their undergraduate studies, Olivia Kopp went looking for a university where she could do just that. “I like the idea of constantly finding out new things and learning more, so I wanted to go to a research school specifically," says Kopp, who will graduate with a BS in psychology.

Fall 2024 graduate spotlights
Year after year, Iowa students push to achieve more and come together for the greater good—that’s the Hawkeye Way. Several members of this year’s cohort of new graduates share what made their experiences special.

Iowan sees new life after innovative cancer treatment
By participating in cutting-edge research at University of Iowa Health Care, Linda Jacobs beat cancer. Now, she is relishing time with her grandchildren, exploring new hobbies, and training a puppy.

Lung transplant allows mom to see her kids grow up
A Quad Cities-area mother has been able to experience many milestones in the 13 years since her lung transplant with University of Iowa Health Care experts.

Grateful for world-class cancer care close to home
When Quad Cities resident Christen Schulte Phelps was diagnosed with a rare breast cancer, she only had to drive a few minutes to receive treatment from University of Iowa Health Care.

Meet Kid Captain Lukas Hazen
After Lukas Hazen’s parents learned their son might not survive childbirth, they prayed they’d have even a few minutes with him after he was born. Thanks to care provided by UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital, they’ve had 12 years and counting.

Meet Kid Captain Raelyn Miller-Ramirez
With expert care at University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Raelyn Miller-Ramirez learned to thrive after losing her eyesight following surgery to remove a cancerous, fast-growing tumor.

Iowa grads share new film at their Quad Cities theater
Directing and screenwriting partners Scott Beck and Bryan Woods say a class they took at the University of Iowa about nonverbal communication continues to inspire their screenwriting — even in a film with as much talking as “Heretic.”

Meet Kid Captain Nataleigh Mochal
Nataleigh Mochal’s mother had little warning that her daughter would be born early, when she was taken by ambulance to University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital after a prenatal test showed her pregnancy, and her own life, were both at risk.

From Cubs dreams to Hawkeye success
Brandee Britt leads social media strategy for 22 Hawkeye sports teams — and it’s all because an internship while a University of Iowa student changed her career path.

Meet Kid Captain Hunter Mickelson
UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital experts diagnosed Hunter’s extremely rare condition and developed a plan that allows the Clive, Iowa, youngster to enjoy a multitude of sports and live his life with a smile.

Meet Kid Captain Adeline Lovell
With expert care at University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Adeline Lovell found a safe, supportive care team to help her overcome leukemia.

From farm migrant beginnings to full-fledged scientist
Jorge Moreno is on a dizzying life ascent. The University of Iowa alumnus was born into a migrant family and entered Iowa as a first-generation student. After faltering initially, he has earned multiple degrees and now is a research scientist attempting to unlock the molecular secrets to immortality.

Working to safely bring automated driving to rural roads
Researchers at the Driving Safety Research Institute at the University of Iowa have completed more than three years of testing to learn the challenges automated vehicles encounter when operating on rural roads.

Meet Kid Captain Hudson Ferris
With expert care at University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Hudson Ferris of Eldridge, Iowa, overcame an aggressive cancer.

The No. 1 children’s hospital in Iowa
Nine University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital specialties are listed in the “U.S. News & World Report” 2024-25 rankings of “Best Children’s Hospitals.”

Meet Kid Captain Jackson Casteel
With expert care at University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Jackson Casteel continues to defy the odds of his rare genetic condition.

Newspaper acquisition benefits Iowa journalism students
In addition to helping two community newspapers stay afloat, the purchase of the “Solon Economist” and the “Mount Vernon–Lisbon Sun” by “The Daily Iowan” is giving University of Iowa students more on-the-job training — and a taste of journalism practices in a small town.

New eCPR program helps save Iowa man’s life
When traditional CPR wasn’t enough to restart Ken Platt’s heart after cardiac arrest, UI Health Care teams leaped into action to initiate extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Clinical trial helps Iowa grandmother beat colon cancer
Specialists at UI Health Care helped Mary Harris of Marion, Iowa, avoid major surgery. Now cancer free, she’s focused on spending time with family, traveling, and working on her dancing skills.

Meet Kid Captain Haidyn Ulrich
Haidyn spent two years at UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital while being treated for leukemia as a child. Now she’s working toward becoming a CNA, with hopes of working with pediatric cancer patients.

Writing across disciplines: Among elite company
Iowa’s unmatched writing-related resources prepare its graduates for success in many fields. This level of excellence positions Iowa as the best public university for writing and communication.

The quiet pleasures of a career in rural medicine
Carver College of Medicine grad Kyle Glienke reflects on his calling to rural and agricultural medicine and his place in Storm Lake, Iowa — the community he loves.

Meet Kid Captain Aiden Washburn
Aiden Washburn has had several life-saving open-heart surgeries at UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital. The 8-year-old boy’s family cherishes the UI staff’s expertise and compassion.

Iowa’s 2024 incoming class, by the numbers
This fall, the University of Iowa welcomes another academically accomplished class of students, one of the largest first-year cohorts in university history.

Meet Kid Captain Mya Gilchrist
Mya Gilchrist grew up at UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital, overcoming cancer several times. Her family is grateful for her care and continue to inspire others with Mya’s positive attitude.

Author’s debut allows mother to unleash inner animal
One of the most anticipated premieres at this fall’s Toronto Film Festival is “Nightbitch,” an adaption of University of Iowa alumna and professor Rachel Yoder’s novel about a mother who finds herself turning into a dog.

Opera puts spotlight on campus collaboration
“Fierce,” an opera composed by a University of Iowa jazz studies faculty member, debuted in Iowa on the Hancher Auditorium stage, ushering in a new era of collaboration among performing arts units on campus.

Meet Kid Captain Atlas Coleman
After specialists at UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital determined Atlas had a rare, aggressive cancer, UI doctors worked with a partner program to design a custom plan to fit Atlas’ care needs.

Meet Kid Captain Carter Schmidt
A random bone marrow donor combined with expert health care at UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital saved the life of a young boy from Iowa who was diagnosed with a rare cancer.

First-in-the-state heart procedure saves Iowa man’s life
When an Iowa man developed a bacterial infection on the wires of his implanted cardiac device and a nearly impenetrable layer of calcium surrounding it, a heart specialist at University of Iowa Health Care performed a rare procedure that saved the patient’s life.

Prepping schools for cardiac emergencies
The Project ADAM: Iowa Heartland program based at University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital has designated 16 schools in eastern Iowa as Heart Safe schools and has provided training to UI athletic programs.

UI alum innovating health care delivery in southeast Iowa
Maria Story, MD, has launched two significant programs while working with Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center: one bringing a home hemodialysis option to southeast Iowa for the first time, and one to help primary care physicians follow patients with chronic illness more effectively and efficiently from home.

Iowa’s top hospital, once again
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center was once again ranked the top hospital in Iowa and recognized nationally in eight specialties in the 2024–25 “Best Hospitals” rankings published by “U.S. News & World Report."

Teeing up a career in golf
A unique practicum gives University of Iowa students behind-the-scenes access to golf venues and events, including a tournament on the PGA Tour.

UI Sports Medicine gets ISU athlete back in action
After being diagnosed with a mysterious and painful condition by a sports medicine physician with University of Iowa Health Care, an Iowa State athlete quickly got back on the court following a specialized procedure.

Hawkeyes make a difference all along RAGBRAI route
From the west to the east, the University of Iowa and its alumni provide expertise in areas as varied as health care, education, and law.

Paying it forward as a physician assistant
Jenny Stegen got exactly what she needed at the University of Iowa to return home to northeast Iowa and give back to her community — an education in a top-notch physician assistant training program.

Neurosurgery eliminates facial twitch, restores smile
For seven years, a hemifacial spasm took over half of John Mark Feilmeyer’s face. A neurosurgeon at University of Iowa Health Care eliminated it.

Tiniest preemie in U.S. goes home after lifesaving care at UI
Survival outcomes for extremely premature infants at UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital are among the best in the world. Evelyn Eilers of Solon, Iowa — born at just 240 grams — is an extraordinary example.

Student journalists publish book on women’s basketball
When photographers at The Daily Iowan were granted exclusive access to the Iowa women’s basketball program in the fall of 2023, they got a front-row seat to a historic season and a hands-on workshop on book publishing.

From near-fatal accident to college graduate
Four years after suffering massive head trauma in an automobile accident, requiring lengthy surgery and facial reconstruction at UI Health Care, Maggie McQuillen left the Carver-Hawkeye Arena stage as a University of Iowa grad.

Students seek to bridge rural-urban health divide
A group of graduating students from the University of Iowa College of Public Health have laid a solid foundation for a student organization that focuses on reducing health disparities in rural communities — like the ones they call home.

Persistence leads to diagnosis of ultra-rare disease
Three-year-old Liam Mattson is always on the go. His parents say that is in large part due to the expertise and advocacy of pediatric specialists at UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Graduate spotlight: Abbi Shekleton
Treatment for a childhood stutter led Abbi Shekleton to her future professional passion. “I had a great experience with my speech-language pathologist. She really cultivated a love of the field within me. I saw a lot of potential in what can happen with a therapist who is kind, compassionate, and knowledgeable. I thought, ‘I want to be that person for someone else.’”

Graduate spotlight: Benton Renaud
Graduating UI student Benton Renaud can thank rapper Cardi B, in part, for inspiring him to go down his planned career path. “She said to always take a business class,” Renaud says. “She said they would always be important because you’re going to use business in every aspect of your life. So, I switched to finance and political science and fell in love with the two.”

Graduate spotlight: Brian Damman
Brian Damman sought an MBA program that could help him be fluent or at least conversive with clients so that he could give the most resonant legal advice. “The Iowa MBA program jumped out to me because it is so highly regarded, it’s in-state, and it offers flexibility with the online format,” he says.