School of Dental Medicine

About the New School of Dental Medicine

The PNWU School of Dental Medicine (SDM) is the newest dental school in the Pacific Northwest. The school is based in Yakima, Washington as part of a vibrant health sciences university, whose mission is to educate and train healthcare professionals emphasizing service in rural and medically underserved communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. The SDM will support this mission by providing a comprehensive and unique dental education program focused on graduating primary care dentists.

The SDM can deliver on this promise due to its strong partnerships. These include the Yakima Neighborhood Health Services, the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, the SeaMar Community Health Centers, Delta Dental of Washington, and the Washington State Dental Association. Of note, the WSDA featured the new dental school in the May 2022 issue of its membership journal.

Register now for one of the Information Sessions below where our Dean, Dr. Panagakos, will provide background on PNWU, and share the vision of and the progress of the School of Dental Medicine including a review of application requirements. To find out more about tuition costs and other questions you may have, please register for an information session below. The sessions are 4:00-5:00 pm PST on the respective day.

A Unique Education Program

The Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree will integrate comprehensive dental care training with primary care practices related to oral and systemic health. The program embraces access and equity, academic success, community service, and collaboration. The DMD program will utilize a recruit, educate, and return model for dental education. The SDM will offer pathway programs to support recruitment efforts in oral health professions, particularly for students from rural communities and underrepresented ethnic and minority groups. This will facilitate our goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Didactic training will emphasize a strong basic science foundation underlying competent clinical practice. Coursework taken with other PNWU health professional students and dental hygiene students from partner institutions will promote the interprofessional understanding necessary for optimal patient care. Graduates will be enabled to work in various practice settings to increase access to dental care, particularly in small, rural, and underserved areas. The program will emphasize a problem-based curriculum, team learning, small group sessions, DEI and multicultural awareness, evidence-based care, interprofessional activities, simulation/standardized patient technology, and teledentistry.