Growing up in a family of community pharmacists, Dr. Carlee Gibbons, DO, learned early the value of education, service, and empowering others to take charge of their health. Her mother ran a volunteer performing arts program at a public school on the Yakama Nation, instilling in Carlee a love for community engagement and the belief…Continue Reading Optimizing Lives, One Patient at a Time: PNWU Alumna Dr. Carlee Gibbons is Transforming Care in Her Hometown
PNWU Students Take Part in Prestigious UW Diabetes Research Program
Three members of the Pacific Northwest University College of Osteopathic Medicine (PNWU-COM) Class of 2028 spent their summer immersed in groundbreaking diabetes research at the University of Washington Diabetes Institute, gaining hands-on experience that will shape both their futures as physicians and the communities they one day serve. Student Doctors Michelle Graham, Sejal Dhaliwal, and…Continue Reading PNWU Students Take Part in Prestigious UW Diabetes Research Program
Answering the Call
Student Doctor Ammar Jankel brings PNWU’s mission to life as a member of our first dental class. PNWU’s School of Dental Medicine (SDM) recently welcomed its inaugural class, realizing a vision of compassionate, community-focused healthcare. From personal experience to professional purpose, Student Doctor Ammar Jankel’s path reflects that very vision. As a member of the…Continue Reading Answering the Call
Still Helping: The Enduring Legacy of Mel and Sheila Leskinen
Nearly every day, Terrace Heights resident Mel Leskinen drives past PNWU’s Yakima campus. His eyes often wander to a sunlit corner of Butler-Haney Hall, specifically, the anatomy lab where, through shining glass, his beloved wife Sheila rests. “Sheila’s there,” he says softly, a small smile crossing his face. “She’s still helping people. Just like she always wanted to do.” That simple…Continue Reading Still Helping: The Enduring Legacy of Mel and Sheila Leskinen
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
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