Research at PNWU

Why Research Matters

At PNWU, research is at the core of our mission. Our communities are our laboratories, and the collective energy of our interprofessional campus drives innovative solutions for the people who call them home.

Together with community partners across the Pacific Northwest and beyond, we tackle health challenges that directly impact rural and medically underserved populations.

Education and Training

We develop the next generation of clinician-researcher by integrating research into education and training programs.

Innovative Research Excellence

We foster a campus environment that promotes research across all health sciences disciplines and research modalities and approaches.

Collaboration and Partnership

We build partnerships with entities such as academic institutions, healthcare organizations, industry, government agencies, and tribal nations to fulfill PNWU’s research mission.

Ethical Responsibility

We promote a culture of integrity, transparency, and accountability in all research activities.

Community Health Impact and Empowerment

We aim to give a voice and representation to rural and underserved communities with our research and scholarship. We conduct research that directly benefits the local and regional communities we serve. By focusing on data driven ways to address chronic and acute illnesses and health disparities in our communities, we can improve access to care, enhance public health, and improve the overall quality of life of all those living in the Yakima Valley and beyond. We are engaging with diverse populations to ensure our research is inclusive and cross-culturally sensitive.

Medical and scientific research, allocation of health funding, and decisions about healthcare policy are often done in urban centers far from Yakima. These decisions are data driven. Without current relevant information and/or studies demonstrating need and impact, decisions on funding of rural or underserved communities will be ill-informed. We can leverage our research and data to be part of those conversations, bringing more resources to our community.