Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences

Type	Private, medical school
Established	2005
Budget	$33.0 million [1]
President	Michael J. Lawler, MSW, PhD
Provost	Wayne C. Miller, PhD
Dean	Thomas A. Scandalis, DO
Academic staff	51 [2]
Administrative staff	69 [3]
Students	650 [3]
Location	Yakima , Washington , United States 46°36′20″N120°27′23″W / 46.6055°N 120.4564°W / 46.6055; -120.4564
Campus	Urban (mid-sized) [4] 64 acres [2]
Colors	Pacific Blue   Forrest Green   Vineyard Green   New Leaf Green   Cloud Blue
Website	www.pnwu.edu

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) is a private osteopathic medical and health professional school in Yakima, Washington. The university focuses on educating health care professionals to serve "rural and medically underserved communities throughout the Northwest". ^[5] Founded in 2005, the university's inaugural program was the first new medical school to open in the Pacific Northwest in sixty years. PNWU grants the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree and graduated its first class of physicians in May 2012. Since then, PNWU has continued to expand and now includes the School of Physical Therapy (SOPT), School of Occupational Therapy (SOT), and a School of Dental Medicine (SDM).

History

The Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences opened in 2005, after planning and fundraising to open a new osteopathic medical school in Washington State. ^[6] In 2007, PNWU received provisional accreditation. In 2008, the first courses began, and the university's main building, Butler-Haney Hall, opened at a cost of $13 million. ^[7] In 2009, the university received a $400,000 federal grant to expand the College of Allied Health Sciences. ^[8] In 2012, the inaugural class of 69 students graduated, earning the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. ^{[9] [10]} In 2021, the inaugural Master of Arts in Medical Sciences (MAMS) class began with approximately 40 students. The School of Physical Therapy opened in 2022 and the School of Occupational Therapy opened in 2023. The School of Dental Medicine is planned to accept its first class in 2024. ^[11]

Initially, PNWU encountered challenges finding rotation sites for medical students, as hospitals already offering training to students from the University of Washington refused additional students. ^[12] The school now has established rotation sites for its medical students across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, and Montana. ^[13]

Academics

* Matriculants from PNWU's 5-state catchment area - 70% (2023-24) ^[14]

	Matriculants
Alaska	2%
Idaho	3.6%
Montana	1.5%
Oregon	8.6%
Washington	54.3%

The largest program at the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences is the College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM), which grants the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. It is a four-year program. Years 1 and 2 of the DO program consist primarily of classroom-based learning in Yakima, which focuses on gross anatomy in a live cadaver lab, Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, the basic sciences, and an in-depth study of the body systems. Years 3 and 4 of the DO program consist of clinical rotations in off-site communities. ^[15] The school currently has 18 sites for clinical rotations over the five-state region of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.

The university also provides a one-year Master of Arts in Medical Sciences, two-year Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, three-year Doctor of Physical Therapy, and a four-year Doctor of Dental Medicine programs. ^[14] PNWU is partnered with Washington State University and hosts WSU Nursing and PharmD students on its campus. ^{[16] [17]}

Campus

Butler-Haney Hall is the home of the College of Osteopathic Medicine and provides an anatomy lab, OMT and physical skills lab, large classroom auditoriums, bench research space, and a library. A new addition to Butler-Haney Hall was completed in 2013. Cadwell Center opened in January 2011, and provides classrooms, study space and a lab for the WSU PharmD students. ^[18] University Conference Center was complete by the spring of 2015 ^[19] and provides additional classroom, conference and study space. In 2016, PNWU purchased the Iron Horse Lodge, where the administration is currently housed. Watson Hall opened its doors in 2019 and is the home of the School of Physical Therapy and WSU College of Nursing - Yakima. In 2023, the Multicare Learning Center was opened. The 53,000 square foot building contains in-patient and out-patient simulation labs, an occupational therapy performance lab, a pediatric sensory gym, individual and group study areas, and social gathering spaces. ^[11] Starting February 2024, the Delta Dental Equity Hall will open and house the dental program. ^[20]

Students

PNWU Student Demographics 23-24 ^[14]

	Students
American Indian or Alaska Native	0.5%
Asian	27.9%
Black/African American	0.5%
Hispanic	15.2%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander	0.5%
Two or more	6.1%
White/Non-Hispanic	49.2%
Undeclared	0.5%

There are a total of 650 students as of Fall 2023. Of the 2023 matriculants, 52.8% are female and 46.7% are male. The average age is 26, 23% are from a rural area and 29% are from medically underserved areas. ^[14]

Students at PNWU participate in a number of clubs on campus and an active student government association. Students can volunteer at the Union Gospel Mission Medical Clinic and with the Roots to Wings co-mentorship program. There are also research opportunities with faculty and the Office of Scholarly Activity. ^[21]

Accreditation

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities ^[22] and the College of Osteopathic Medicine is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association's Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation. ^[23]

See also

• List of medical schools in the United States

References

1. "Fiscal Year 2017 Revenues and Expenditures by Osteopathic Medical College" (PDF). AACOM. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 15, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
2. "Chief Advancement Officer: Overview" (PDF). Academic Search, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-30. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
3. "Fast Facts". Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences. Archived from the original on 2019-03-25. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
4. "Pacific Northwest University of Health Science, College of Osteopathic Medicine (PNWU-COM)" (PDF). American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. pp. 72–73. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-08-20. Retrieved 2016-07-25.
5. "Fast Facts". Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
6. Daily Sun News (15 April 2005). "New Medical School Planned for Yakima". Archived from the original on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
7. Ward, Leah Beth (August 9, 2009). "It's Year Two for the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences". Yakima Herald. Archived from the original on 2009-08-13. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
8. "Pacific Northwest University receives $400K federal grant". Yakima Herald. December 22, 2009. Retrieved April 9, 2012.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
9. Shannon McCann (May 9, 2012). "PNWU First Graduation". KVEW TV. Archived from the original on May 3, 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
10. Molly Rosbach (May 12, 2012). "With first graduating class, Pacific Northwest University's medical dream is realized". Yakima Herald. Archived from the original on 2012-05-17. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
11. "University History". Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
12. Walters, Daniel (December 1, 2014). "A Difference of Mere Degrees". The Inlander. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
13. Rosbach, Molly (Jul 23, 2015). "PNWU lands grant to pursue 'team care'". Yakima Herald-Republic. Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
14. "Fast Facts - Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences". PNWU Health Sciences. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
15. Central Washington Family Medicine Residency Program (2015). "Student Rotations". Community Health of Central Washington. Archived from the original on 5 December 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
16. "WSU Pharm.D. in Yakima | Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | Washington State University". 2023-12-25. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
17. "College of Nursing in Yakima moving to PNWU campus". College of Nursing. 2023-12-25. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
18. "Cadwell Student Center Gift". Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences. Archived from the original on 2012-02-29. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
19. Rosbach, Molly (January 20, 2015). "New building a step forward in PNWU's master plan". Yakima Herald. Archived from the original on 2015-04-15. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
20. "PNWU Begins Construction on one of the Country's "Most Innovative" Dental Schools". Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
21. "Extracurricular Activities". Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
22. "Directory". NWCCU. Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Archived from the original on 2018-06-27. Retrieved 2018-05-29.
23. "Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine" (PDF). AOA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2019.

External links

• Official website