Category: SDM News

In January, Olga M. Gutierrez joined PNWU-SDM as an Associate Professor of Dental Hygiene. Olga has been a hygienist for 17 years and began her academic teaching journey in 2019 at Yakima Valley College Dental Hygiene Program. She completed her bachelor’s degree through Yakima Valley College BASDH Bridge Program in 2020 and obtained her Master’s…Continue Reading SDM New Hire: Olga M. Gutierrez, RDH, BSDH, MEd, Associate Professor of Dental Hygiene

PNWU SDM’s Director of Faculty Development, Dr. Gary Pape, joined our team in October 2023. Dr. Pape was born and raised in Chicago, IL. His father and uncle were general dentists and, as a young boy, he spent many hours at his father’s office doing specialized procedures such as washing the windows, mopping the floor,…Continue Reading SDM Team Spotlight: Gary Pape, DDS, MA, MEd, Associate Professor and Director of Faculty Development

Greetings from Yakima! We hope our second newsletter of 2024 finds you all doing well and enjoying the start of spring. We are a little delayed in sending out our newsletter this quarter, as we wanted to share, along with other updates, the outcome of our Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) Initial Site Visit, which…Continue Reading PNWU Dental School Updates: Successful CODA Site Visit, Campus Updates, and Innovative Technology Integration

Dr. Panagakos, dean of PNWU’s School of Dental Medicine, was recently published in the Washington State Dental Association magazine. Click here to read the full article….Continue Reading Building Our Campus – and Interest – in Dental Medicine

Staff at Sea Mar Community Health Centers are thrilled to be in partnership with PNWU, to train the next generation of dental students, practicing dentistry using a multidisciplinary approach, providing dental care to the underserved communities. In addition to the PNWU faculty, the training of dental students will include rotations at various Sea Mar dental…Continue Reading SDM Winter 2024 Partner Spotlight

PNWU-SDM has hired an Associate Professor and Director of Faculty Development! Dr. Pape brings to his position as Director of Faculty Development at the School of Dental Medicine, a variety of experiences and training. His work career began in the mental health field, working as a counselor at Northwestern University Institute of Psychiatry. While there,…Continue Reading New PNWU-SDM Team Members: Winter 2024

On November 18, 2023, PNWU-SDM had the pleasure of presenting at the HOSA Leadership Conference held at Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, WA. Over 86 students participated in learning about dental careers, oral health, why diversity matters in dentistry, and what PWNU-SDM is doing to help increase dental professionals in rural and underserved communities. The…Continue Reading SDM Outreach

What a treat it was to create a dental-themed holiday tree for the Yakima Valley Museum Holiday Lights Extravaganza! The event, which ran from December 5th to December 16th, hosted over 30 local charities and non-profit organizations that decorated trees at the museum. Those who purchased entrance into the event received tickets to vote for…Continue Reading SDM In the Community

Occasionally, we will spotlight a Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences – School of Dental Medicine team member in our newsletter. Ms. Turner was born in Landstuhl, Germany, and is the daughter and wife of Army Veterans. She began her dental career in 2001 in California as a dental receptionist and then obtained her Registered…Continue Reading Winter 2024 SDM Team Spotlight