Iowa Methodist Medical Center was established in 1901 in a single building. Today, Iowa Methodist has become an important regional medical center and teaching hospital. Located in downtown Des Moines on a 42-acre campus, Iowa Methodist employs nearly 4,000 people and has 370 staffed beds.??Iowa Methodist is well known throughout the Midwest for cancer care. In 1956, it opened Des Moines' first radiation therapy department. In 1993, the John Stoddard Cancer Center became the first Central Iowa facility to house all radiation, oncology and ancillary services in one location.??Iowa Methodist performed the first open-heart procedure outside of the Mayo Clinic in 1956 and continues to deliver superb cardiology and vascular care. Our cardiac care team performs hundreds of open-heart surgeries each year, as well as other important procedures to correct valvular and coronary diseases. We offer a complete cardiac care program to diagnose, treat and manage heart problems.