Student Clubs

FMIG collaborates with GME for residency networking; We provide events to students interested in FM; and work with 3 large family physician organizations (ACOFP,  AAFP,  WAFP) and are a chapter of ACOFP and WAFP.

Activities: (free) National memberships to ACOFP and WAFP, Primary Care Week, Family Medicine Residency Panels, Punch Biopsy Clinic, Dinner with a Doc, Collaboration with Central Washington Family Residency, WAFP Student-Resident Retreat,  Red Cross Blood Drive, Volunteer opportunities with Memorial Hospital, regular monthly meetings, and many more!

Dues: Free

Open to Non-Medical Students? No, but we occasionally invite Pharm, PA, and Nursing students to some of our events at no charge

Contact: Emily Crose

The purpose and mission of the PNWU AMMSA is to provide a space for students at PNWU that identify with, or are interested in, the Islamic faith. The AMMSA aims to create such a space where students can connect with one another, have access to Muslim resources in the Yakima area, and establish an organization that will be a liaison between PNWU and the Muslim student body. AMMSA also aims to inform future healthcare providers on the customs and traditions of Islam to provide quality healthcare for patients of Muslim faith. 

Dues: None
Open to non-medical students: Yes
Contact: Asna Ali

The primary goal of the Anesthesiology Club is to bring exposure to the field of anesthesia to campus.  We also aim to gain broad interest by focusing on topics and skills that apply across many fields.  Close communication with peers will be key to maximizing this goal.

Activities: TBA

Dues: None

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes.

Contact: Tristan Maass

The goal of this club is to promote dissemination of information relative to Asian Pacific American issues in the field of medical education, explore/resolve challenges specific to Asian Pacific American medical students and physicians, and provide opportunities for Asian Pacific American medial students to give back to their community through service.

Activities: TBA

Dues: Local Chapter: Free; National Chapter: $15

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes

Contact: Angelica Palaganas

The mission of the Biomedical Ethics Club is to establish and maintain a safe and respectful environment for thought-provoking discussion regarding medical ethics using emotional intelligence and critical thinking that will allow for reflection, mindfulness, and growth.

Activities: TBA

Dues: None

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes

Contact: Benjamin Wohlers

With an emphasis on private practice, this club aims to acquaint students to challenges outside of medicine to prevent financial mistakes. This club hopes to invite doctors, their group, team, and/or associates for different medical/business/law specialties and geographic areas to discuss how to start and maintain a practice and essentially a career. Passing on lessons from experience is essential for the growth of PNWU individuals and the community they serve.

Activities: TBD

Dues: None

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes

Contact: Darrow Felsted

The CMDA Club motivates, educates and equips Christian healthcare professionals to glorify God by serving with professional excellence as witnesses of Christ’s love and compassion to all people, and advancing biblical principles of healthcare within the church and to our culture.

The views, information, and opinions held by the CMDA do not necessarily represent those of PNWU and its employees. PNWU is not responsible for and does not verify any of the information contained within the CMDA.

Activities: BBQ, Worship Nights, Physician Speakers, Outreach at UGM

Dues: None

Open to Non-Medical Students? No.

Contact: Caleb Field

It is the purpose of the PNWU Dermatology Club to present aspiring osteopathic dermatologists. This is accomplished through the following activities:

1. Providing osteopathic medical students with an early exposure to the field of dermatology.
2. Stressing the understanding of osteopathic principles in relationship to disease in the practice of dermatology.
3. Contribute to the interest, knowledge, welfare, and education of osteopathic medical students in the specialty of dermatology.
4. Familiarize its members with the purpose and ideals of osteopathic medicine and dermatology.
5. Keep members informed of the latest developments in the field of dermatology.

Activities: TBA

Dues: None

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes.

Contact: Emily Huynh

To serve the Yakima community by providing PNWU student volunteers who are passionate about diabetes education and prevention.

Activities: TBD

Dues: $5.00

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes

Contact: Gangandeep Rai, Dan Jennings, Mandy Li

The Pacific Northwest University Emergency Medicine Club (PNWU-EM Club) was established to provide Health Professional Students attending Pacific Northwest University with information and opportunities related to emergency medicine. PNWU-EM club strives to further students’ knowledge and interest in emergency medicine as well as interprofessional medical practices. PNWU-EM is a student chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians (ACOEP) Resident Student Organization (RSO) and a registered Emergency Medicine Interest Group (EMIG) associated with the Emergency Medicine Resident’s Association (EMRA).

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Activities: Guest Lectures (EM alumni residents and attendings, PD/FD/EMS, critical care flight teams, other Allied Health Professionals), Skills Labs (splinting, management of the trauma patient, airway labs, MCI provider training, resuscitation team dynamics), suture clinics, chest tube/pigtail catheter lab (cadaver lab), central line training, focused radiology and ultrasound training, residency resources, community education events, journal clubs..

Dues: 

• ACOEP student dues -$10 annually

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes.

Contact: Austin Toole

The mission of PNWU Global Health Club is to enhance students understanding of Global Health issues and how to actively participate in solutions as medical students.

Activities: World Wise Wednesdays, Summer International Travel Event, Run For Your Life, Guest Speaker

Dues: None

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes.

Contact: Sam Harris

The Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) chapter at PNWU-COM serves to recognize students and faculty who exemplify leadership, dedication to service, and humanistic attributes of integrity, compassion, altruism, respect, excellence, and empathy in clinical care. Membership in GHHS carries a lifelong responsibility to model, serve, support, and advocate for compassionate, patient-centered care.

Activities: PNWU Didactic Lecture Series, Solidarity Week, Tell Me More, Virtual Peer Mentoring, Remember Your Why, Walk with a Doc

Dues: None

Open to Non-Medical Students? No

Contact: Joshua Christianson <jchristianson@pnwu.edu>

The goal is to allow students to interpret the facts of a given case and use their own clinical reasoning to move forward in a stepwise fashion.  We provide bi-weekly physician speakers.

Activities: Physician lectures and cases

Dues: Free!

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes

Contact: Matthew Cortner

The purpose of this club is to help build and expand infectious disease knowledge among PNWU-affiliated professional students.  The goals of the club include prevention and treatment of infectious diseases most prevalent in the PNW, raising awareness about global infectious diseases, and promotion advancements in the field of infectious disease.

Activities: Yakima Trolley Tours, Case Discussions, Review Papers, Speaker Series, a TBD Fundraiser, PPD Clinic, Flu Clinic, and more!

Dues: None

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes

Contact: Anna Song

The purpose of this club shall be to foster professional growth and career development of osteopathic medical students of the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine who are interested in the field of internal medicine and its sub-specialties.

Activities: Guest speaker events with Internal Medicine subspecialists. Community service events. connections to two national organizations. Inter professional collaborations.  Mentorship program connecting current medical students with school alumni in internal medicine residency. Case study sessions.  

Dues: None

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes

Contact: Tori Hensley

The LDSSA helps students and their families attending PNWU have a balanced secular and spiritual educational experience during their years of formal education emphasizing mind, body, and spirit. Weekly meetings brings constant nourishment to the draining healthcare studying experience.

Activities: We host a weekly meeting to provide spiritual balance for club members. We also host an annual Trunk-or-Treat event for the campus community.

Dues: No dues

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes

Contact: Carl Brown

The Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) is a network of students, alumni, and health professionals who are interested in the health and well-being of the Latino community, dedicated to providing social and professional support for Latino students and committed to increasing cultural awareness within our medical school community. LMSA was founded in 1986 to increase the number of Latinos and other underrepresented students in medical schools throughout the country.

Anyone, Latino or not, is welcome to participate. If you are interested in working with underserved populations as a medical student/future physician, and/or if you want to reduce healthcare disparities through cultural awareness and community service involvement, then this is the group for you.

Dues: Interested students can pay membership fees to become a member on the National LMSA website here: https://national.lmsa.net/join/member-registration/. These fees are annually renewable.

Open to Non-Medical Students: Yes

Contact: Karina Cardenas

The LGBTQ+ Alliance for Health is a platform for education regarding LGBTQIA+ issues and interests as they pertain to the medical field. As student doctors, we unite to promote these interests in our school, the Yakima community, and the nation. We recognize the general lack of competence with LGBTQIA+ healthcare and the repercussions it has on our community. By providing education and advocacy, we will work to improve current protocols and promote best practices that are inclusive of diverse genders and sexual orientations.  We approach the challenges experienced by the LGBTQ+ community with an intersectional perspective to acknowledge disparate hardships, especially for people of color, transgender and gender-nonconforming patients, and we are committed to promoting equality and respect for all. 

Activities: Yakima Pride, guest speakers, and social events.

Dues: None.

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes

Contact: Phoebe Wright

• Increasing awareness and educating PNWU students about the breadth of cancer medicine and pathological advancement in the US, and its expanse across numerous specialties.
• Increasing awareness and understanding of the burden of cancer and its pathology in the Yakima Valley through community outreach and support, positioning PNWU to be a community resource.

Activities: TBA
Dues: none
Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes.
Contact: Niv Bhide and Melissa Yap

We are dedicated to exposing you to the countless opportunities in pediatrics. Our focus is to increase student awareness of the pediatric population’s needs and what life is like as a pediatrician through bringing guest speakers and discussion panels to PNWU. We have a strong connection with our community and plenty of volunteer opportunities where we interact with kids. These opportunities and interactions will undeniably add purpose and joy to your journey through medical school.

Activities: Mini medical school, Jane’s House gingerbread house building, Pediatric OMT clinic, PNWU Easter Egg hunt, YMCA ASPIRE, Lynchpin
Dues: It’s free! (unless you want to join the National Organization, ACOP, which is $30).
Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes. It’s free!
Contact: Atley Shapiro

To raise awareness of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation’s role in patient care. Create an avenue for students to develop skills and knowledge that will benefit them in a career as a sports medicine physician.

To educate the PNWU student population about PM&R and Sports Medicine to increase their knowledge of the specialties.

To create opportunities for student participation in PM&R and Sports Medicine activities and facilitate placement of first-year members into related PM&R summer opportunities.

To serve as a resource for students interested in pursuing PM&R and Sports Medicine to increase successful matches into PM&R and Sports Medicine residencies.

Activities: PM&R residency director/practicing physician discussion on what is PM&R and when should a primary care doctor refer to a PM&R doctor. Sports Medicine: assist school sports events, Taping clinic, Concussion recovery info session, First aid at RFYL 5K
Dues: Free
Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes.
Contact: Cameron Williams

The Partner Support Assocation is an organization created for and run by the significant others of PNWU students.  As spouses, fiances, boyfriends/girlfriends, partners and families of students, we support not only one another, but also our students as they become doctors! 

The PSA provides regular activities, events, and sub-clubs as a major resource of support to those supporting PNWU students. The PSA also serves to form friendships, find support, build networks, promote and contribute to the community, and discover the exciting things Yakima has to offer.

Please feel free to direct membership inquiries to saa.pnwu@gmail.com and a member of the current presidency will get back to you as quickly as possible!

The PNWU Surgery Club was established as an avenue for the students of PNWU to gain insight and exposure to the world of surgical specialties. Yearly club events include national conference attendance, suture clinics, guest speakers, and community outreach events. PNWU Surgery Club is also a chapter of the Student Osteopathic Surgery Association. SOSA represents and educates future osteopathic surgeons. SOSA stresses understanding of osteopathic principles in relationship to disease in the practice of surgery and provides a forum for discussion among students and surgeons.

Activities: Suture Clinics, Suture Competition, Surgeons Panel, Speakers, Run For Your Life First Aid Booth

Dues: National – $30, Local – $20

Open to Non-Medical Students? yes

Contact: Hannah Cornwell

Prevention & Lifestyle Medicine club is the SGA affiliated club and interest group of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine that promotes accessible nutrition, fitness, and mental wellness on campus and to the community we serve, though education, outreach, and creative partnerships.

Activities: Culinary Medicine classes,  Walk with a Doc, fitness classes, needs drive, group outdoor activities, educational guest speakers, bi-monthly newsletter, and much more!

Dues: none

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes

Contact: Maria Tan

1. Our mission is to advance the understanding of the neurological basis of psychiatric disorders, the psychiatric manifestations of neurological disorders, and/or the evaluation and care of persons with neurologically based behavioral disturbances.
2. By working with community members and professionals who have lived or worked with neurological, psychiatric and behavioral disorders, we strive to increase the quality and quantity of medical school education on behavioral medicine & to develop a network of trained mental health professionals as advisors for medical students. 
3. To educate medical students about the relevance of mental health and its pertinence to physical health & to promote student awareness and participation in issues within Neuropsychiatry Behavioral Medicine.
4. NPBMC is dedicated to bringing opportunities to PNWU students that will enrich their understanding of neurological disorders & to provide information regarding educational opportunities to students interested in incorporating psychiatric medicine in their practice
5. NPBMC aims to offer alternative perspectives in furthering our understanding on the implications associated with a neurological, psychiatric, and behavior diagnosis. Through community outreach we hope to facilitate conversations which integrate opportunities for empathy, reflection and education

Activities: TBA

Dues: None

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes.

Contact: Valentina Apostol-Maughan

Radiology club is a fun an low-key club to reinforce your knowledge of all systems, eat pizza and just have fun! We meet monthly to discuss fun radiology cases related to each classes current system, eat FREE pizza and other low-stress radiology related learning. We also host awesome pool parties and host a yearly trip to the Washington state radiologic conference in Seattle for anyone who is interested. Remember, you will all be sometimes-radiologists in whatever field you enter so might as well start today!

Activities: pool party, Washington State Radiologic Society field trip, monthly radiology discussion/pizza night

Dues: None

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes

Contact: Oanh Nguyen

The purpose of the SAAO is to provide students with a way to enhance their OMT education at PNWU by participating in various different activities on campus and in the community.  Our mission is to encourage and educate on different ways osteopathic manipulation can be used in practice, as well as to help educate others on what the osteopathic profession is and the special tools we have to offer.

Activities: Meet and Treat, Staff demos for interviews, Fascial Distortion Module, OMT at community events, OMT speakers (OMT in the ER, OMT in Pediatrics, Visceral OMT), Booth for Run for Life 5K, and mini med school.

Dues: $50- National (Optional) for a 4-year membership that expires upon graduation

Open to Non-Medical Students? Open to Non-Medical Students: Non-DO students are allowed to attend any event, unless otherwise specified, and as well as any FDM Modules held on campus. Please reach out to the contact below about attending in-person, OMT-focused events.

Contact: Nikki Zamani

Sigma Sigma Phi is the only national osteopathic honor society.  Acceptance is based on academic achievement, community service, and leadership.  Our club is dedicated to leadership through service and academic excellence.

Activities: OMS I Mentorship Seminars, Be The Match, Take Back Your Meds Event, Homeless Outreach (clothing and food drive)

Dues: National – $50 (dues include entire medical school career)

Open to Non-Medical Students? No

Contact: Gavin Kremian

Establishing a SAMSA chapter will serve as a means to encourage diversity and unify South Asian medical students at PNWU. SAMSA will be guided by the following principles:

1. To promote the dissemination of information relative to South Asian issues in the field of medical education.
2. To foster discussion of South Asian culture, health, advocacy on culturally competent care, and racial health disparities.
3. To represent and foster an inclusive, integrated community of diversity and growth amongst the South Asian students attending PNWU.
4. To guide intercultural fluency conversations and knowledge sharing opportunities amongst general members.
5. To provide general members with opportunities for academic, cultural and peer mentorship.

Activities: TBD

Dues: None

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes

Contact: Ritvik Vudathu

We are a group of students who want to develop and practice our skills in Spanish so that we can better serve our future patients.

Somos un grupo de estudiantes que quieren desarollar y practicar nuestros habilidades en español para que podamos mejor servir nuestros pacientes futuros. Y también nos gusta comer tacos!

Activities: Casa Hogar volunteering, translation practice, and Cinco de Mayo festival

Dues: None

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes

Contact: Liam Smith

Our club serves as a resource for current and past military members, providing a supportive network between HPSP students and our peers interested in supporting the military and veterans of our community.

Activities: Lunch discussions about Military Medicine, Networking with past and present HPSP members, Volunteering with local veterans

Dues: None

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes

Contact: Lexy Murphy

SNMA: an interdisciplinary group of PNWU-COM students working together with the local and academic community to serve as a credible and accurate source of information relevant to minority issues in the field of medical education.  To encourage and foster the development of minority faculty in order to increase the presence of minority mentors and biomedical researchers in academic health centers. To evaluate and cultivate the necessary measures to eradicate practices in the field of health profession education that compromises the goal of providing quality education to minorities and women.  To empower those in the community who feel less privileged and may not feel that they may be able to receive higher education.

First Generation: our mission is to reach out to pre-med students who are the first generation in their families to pursue higher education. Our leadership realized that despite our diverse cultural upbringings, we faced and overcame similar obstacles when navigating through the medical school path and system. Our hope is to inspire students that a path to medicine is possible and to be a resource/mentor for high school and undergraduate students.

Activities:  TBD

Dues:  None are required except at the national level

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes

Contact: Emma Saint-Preux, Shrida Sharma

PNWU-COM is located in Yakima in the heart of Central Washington characterized by medically underserved and rural populations. Our SOMA chapter remains committed to maintaining an active role in health policy, with annual advocacy events through DO Day where PNWU students meet with state legislatures to advocate for pertinent topics for the community and healthcare. We advocate for patients and the future of the Osteopathic profession by working closely with state legislators to address issues such as loan forgiveness, residency placement for medical students, rural healthcare access, and more. Our chapter focuses on providing tools, resources, and workshops geared towards developing the professional identity of current medical students as advocators both on a local and a national level. Moreover, PNWU-COM SOMA is invested in the local community through various programs and projects targeted towards mentoring underprivileged students in science, caring for special needs, advocacy panels, premedical outreach, resolution writing workshops, and raising awareness on topics pertaining to social justice and health disparities.  PNWU-COM has been a strong voice in advocacy and resolutions to National SOMA and the AOA and work closely in collaboration with SGA and clubs on the PNWU campus. As PNWU-COM SOMA continues to prosper, students continue to use their passion and their voice in service to the local community, greater healthcare community, and most importantly, their future patients

Activities: Public Health Week

Dues: None – students are automatically enrolled at matriculation.

Open to Non-Medical Students? No

Contact: Otmar Borchard

SNaHP is a student chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) which advocates for a universal, comprehensive single-payer national health program. Our goal is to build awareness and generate discussion among the PNWU student body, advocate for institutional change at a local, state, and national level, and help create a future generation of health professionals who believe high-quality health care is a right of all people and should be provided equitably as a public service rather than bought and sold as a commodity.

Dues: None
Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes.
Contact: Paige Ravelo

Our purpose is to extend the mission of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility (WPSR) and Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) to Yakima, WA. We strive to create a healthy, just, peaceful, and sustainable world by focusing on climate change, community outreach, healthcare education, and health and economic inequity. Additionally, through our unique position as medical students, we aim to provide survivors and witnesses of human rights violations a voice, within the Yakima community and worldwide. To achieve this, we hold the long-term goal of establishing a local asylum clinic, while continually learning how to properly incorporate medical ethics into our future practice as physicians. 

Activities: TBD

Dues: None

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes

Contact: Gleb Sych

1. The Obstetrics and Reproductive Health Club
2. We promote educational opportunities to explore the obstetrics and reproductive health field. This includes prenatal and postnatal care, safe sex, reproductive rights, family planning, and positive advocacy for the LGTBQIA+ community. Our purpose is to increase education, awareness, and open discussion regarding issues within the field. We hope to create opportunities for students to enrich their experience and better understand subspecialties while serving our community.

Dues: None
Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes.
Contact: Robin Pashek

WHAT IS WALK WITH A DOC?

Walk with a Doc is a nonprofit organization that inspires communities through movement and

conversation. With an aim to make health and happiness accessible to all, Walk with a Doc

offers a simple, sustainable solution to address social determinants of health. Healthcare

providers ditch their white coats in favor of a t-shirt and sneakers, and connect with their

patients in a way that is altering the healthcare landscape.

WHAT HAPPENS AT A WALK?

Each month, the event starts with a brief health discussion from a local healthcare provider on a

relevant health topic. Then participants spend the rest of the hour enjoying a walk at their own

pace and distance. During the walk, participants are encouraged to ask health questions in a

relaxed setting and get to know their fellow community members. Walkers and rollers of all

ages, fitness levels, and backgrounds are welcome to attend these free community events!

(from me – please edit)

YAKIMA CHAPTER – WALK WITH A FUTURE DOC

Started by the School of Physical Therapy at PNWU, Walk With A Future Doc is a student-run affiliate that hosts monthly walks every third Saturday of the month at 9:00 am at the Yakima Area Arboretum (inclement weather location is the Valley Mall in Union Gap).

We host a walk each Saturday in October to celebrate Physical Therapy Month.

Dues: None

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes

Contact: Jose Nato Palma

Our purpose is to provide an avenue for education of wilderness medicine and other outdoor skills, including first aid, search and rescue, survival, and other environmental concerns.

Activities: Guest speakers (critical incident stress management, high altitude cases, unique career paths in remote medicine, etc), on-site training opportunities and workshops (improvisation techniques, MCI training with EM, etc), plus member meetings, community events, other social/recreational events throughout the year.

Dues: $5

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes

Contact: Blake Nielson

“The purpose of our organization is to foster and support women in the medical field while creating a professional environment that is beneficial to everyone. The mission of our organization shall be to encourage women, anyone that identifies as female, that careers in STEM are obtainable and inspire them to follow their passions. Finally, to fight against healthcare-related injustices on a local, state, and federal level.”

Activities: Women in Medicine Panel, Bingo with Dr. O, access to regional conferences, trivia nights and more!

Dues: None

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes

Contact: Peyton Lipp

Medicinal Plant Club is an unaffiliated student chapter that strives to build community through a shared, mutual appreciation and interest for our natural world and the direct link it has on human health and disease. Our goal is to educate and increase awareness of these reciprocal and balanced relationships between our environment and health outcomes through service and active engagement with the biosphere. We propose to utilize the PNWU community garden as a learning tool to familiarize students with common medicinal plants that are found locally within the PNW and are often used in traditional and Western practices.

Dues: None

Open to Non-Medical Students? Yes

Contact: James Gilreath