Year: 2025

When Clinical Knowledge Meets Community Reality 

NAMI Partnership Brings Real Mental Health Stories Into Future Healthcare Training  Instead of studying mental health from a distance, PNWU occupational therapy students are learning directly from individuals who have navigated mental health challenges firsthand.  Through a collaboration between the university’s School of Occupational Therapy and the Yakima chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI),…Continue Reading When Clinical Knowledge Meets Community Reality 

PNWU Students and Faculty Represent at OMED 2025

From September 25–28, members of the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) community joined osteopathic physicians, educators, and students from across the nation in Nashville, Tennessee, for the Osteopathic Medical Education Conference (OMED)—the largest annual gathering of its kind.  Among the many PNWU representatives in attendance were student leaders Kirsten Huhl (SGA Executive COM President), Sabrina Vuong (SGA Executive COM…Continue Reading PNWU Students and Faculty Represent at OMED 2025

Honoring Women in Medicine Month: PNWU Students Share Their Voices

Every September, Women in Medicine Month recognizes and celebrates the countless contributions women make across healthcare. At Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU), the celebration carries special meaning. As they train to become the next generation of compassionate healthcare leaders, PNWU’s student doctors are also cultivating a culture of support, empowerment, and advocacy that…Continue Reading Honoring Women in Medicine Month: PNWU Students Share Their Voices

Unlocking the Hidden Story of Bones with Dr. Christian Heck

Bones are more than structural support for the body — they are living records of growth, stress, and survival. For PNWU Assistant Professor of Anatomy Dr. Christian Heck and his co-authors, that hidden history was illuminated by the most unusual of characters: a small antelope species called a springbok. Famous across southern Africa, springbok are…Continue Reading Unlocking the Hidden Story of Bones with Dr. Christian Heck

Low-Risk, High-Reward, High-Praise

PNWU Simulation Center Earns Full Accreditation Pacific Northwest University’s Simulation Center has earned Full Accreditation in Human Simulation from the Association of SP Educators (ASPE)—an international endorsement of a Yakima Valley program built on a clear premise: when learners can practice with Simulated Patients (SPs), receive precise feedback, and try again without harm, they become…Continue Reading Low-Risk, High-Reward, High-Praise

Golf Classic 2025

The annual PNWU Golf Class was a huge success! This year, we had 35 teams registered and raised $82,000. All proceeds go to the Mission Fund, which supports PNWU student scholarships. Thank you to everyone who came out to play and support PNWU students! We couldn’t have done it without our sponsors, including tournament sponsor…Continue Reading Golf Classic 2025

PNWU Sports Physicals Clinic Expands Impact for Children, Families, and Future Physicians

For many children in the Yakima Valley, the start of a sports season comes with an unexpected barrier: finding a timely appointment for a required physical exam. Without it, they can’t join their teams. For families in underserved communities, the challenge can mean a child sitting out entirely. Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU)…Continue Reading PNWU Sports Physicals Clinic Expands Impact for Children, Families, and Future Physicians

PNWU School of Dental Medicine Celebrates Inaugural Professionalism Ceremony

The annual tradition celebrates the values that will guide PNWU’s future dentists. On Friday, August 22, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) marked a historic milestone as the School of Dental Medicine (SDM) hosted its inaugural Professionalism Ceremony. The event, hosted at the Yakima Convention Center, celebrated the SDM Class of 2029, symbolizing their…Continue Reading PNWU School of Dental Medicine Celebrates Inaugural Professionalism Ceremony

PNWU Students Participate in Trauma-Informed Care Conference

Dental students from Pacific Northwest University recently joined the Yakama Nation Behavioral Health Services’ Seventh Annual Trauma-Informed Care Conference, gaining valuable lessons in compassion, resilience, and community engagement. “This approach allowed students to apply their knowledge through active participation in real-world health issues.” “As part of my Community Health course in the School of Dental…Continue Reading PNWU Students Participate in Trauma-Informed Care Conference

Curiosity in Action

PNWU Students and Faculty Illuminate a Hidden Diaphragm Variant At Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU), research often begins with a question rooted in real-world experience. For Dr. Wade Justice, a board-certified radiologist with over a decade in medical imaging, that question was simple but profound: how common is diaphragmatic eventration, a variant long…Continue Reading Curiosity in Action