The ADEA AADSAS Portal opens May 13, 2025 and application submissions begin June 3rd, 2025.
Community Clinics
Our community clinics are not yet open and running. If you are interested in being a patient, please check back on this page when our clinics will have student dentists in August 2026.
DMD Program Overview
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SDM Admissions Timeline
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DMD Curriculum
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Doctor of Dental Medicine Program
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School of Dental Medicine Admission Requirements
Inside PNWU's 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 we 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.
See the latest WSDA News column on the School of Dental Medicine.
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Give to the SDM
To request a tour of our campus, please visit our PNWU website to register. These tours are scheduled on the fourth Tuesday of the month, excluding PNWU's Open House dates. PNWU-SDM tours are intended for those who are not applying for the current admission cycle.
Accreditation
As of August 2024, the SDM has received initial accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
Contact Us
We welcome all queries. For admissions related questions, please email admission@pnwu.edu. All other inquiries, feel free to contact us at SDM@pnwu.edu, and we'll get back to you shortly.
A Unique Education Program
The Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree integrates comprehensive dental care training with primary care practices related to both oral and systemic health. The program promotes access and equity, academic success, community service, and collaboration. The DMD program utilizes a “recruit, educate, and return” model for dental education. The SDM’s recruitment efforts target aspiring dental students from rural areas and underserved communities in Washington, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. Applicants with a strong, demonstrated desire for community engagement and to provide care for those lacking access are encouraged to apply.
Our program prioritizes providing dental students with an inclusive, supportive, and humanistic learning environment featuring faculty and staff dedicated to student success. This commitment enables our students to excel in their studies and patient care. Didactic training will focus on developing a strong foundational knowledge of basic, clinical and behavioral sciences, which is essential for competent clinical practice. Collaborating and learning with other PNWU health professional students and dental hygiene students from partner institutions will foster the interprofessional understanding necessary for optimal patient care. Graduates will be prepared to work in various practice settings to improve access to dental care in rural and underserved areas. The program will emphasize a problem-based curriculum, team learning, small group sessions, multicultural awareness, evidence-based care, interprofessional activities, simulation technology, and teledentistry.
