Exploring Western University of Health Sciences Programs

Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) stands as a prominent institution dedicated to health care and health care education, emphasizing a humanistic, compassionate, and caring approach. With campuses in Pomona, California, and Lebanon, Oregon, WesternU offers a diverse range of programs across nine colleges. This article delves into the various facets of WesternU, exploring its academic offerings, campus facilities, patient care initiatives, and commitment to interprofessional education.

A Hub of Health Sciences Education

Founded in 1977 as the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP), WesternU has expanded to encompass a wide array of health science disciplines. The university is home to more than 3,600 students in nine health sciences colleges and 21 degree programs.

Academic Programs

WesternU offers a comprehensive selection of academic programs, all of which are post-baccalaureate and focused on a health sciences profession. These programs are accredited by their respective national accrediting bodies. Doctoral degrees include:

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Doctor of Optometry (OD)
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM)

Several Master of Science (MS) programs are also available in fields such as Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences, Physician Assistant Studies, Nursing, Biomedical Sciences, and Medical Sciences. Additionally, a Master of Science in Health Professions Education is offered to equip health professionals with the skills to teach.

WesternU also provides distance education programs, including the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). All other programs are traditional on-campus programs.

College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP)

The College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) and COMP-Northwest have been recognized as Tier 1 institutions for primary care training by U.S. News & World Report. WesternU has also been recognized for the most graduates in Primary Care, Practicing in Professional Shortage Areas and a Tier 4 medical school for Research. Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) are fully licensed physicians who see patients, prescribe medications, perform surgeries, and deliver babies in hospitals, medical centers, and offices across the United States and overseas.

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program

The Department of Physical Therapy Education prepares competent, caring, culturally sensitive, and reflective practitioners who are committed to lifelong learning, scientific inquiry, and evidence-based practice. Graduates are prepared to educate, diagnose, and treat patients of all ages and in a wide range of care settings. The curriculum for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program prepares the graduate to be a physical therapist generalist. The DPT program is three years in length, and the curriculum consists of nine semesters, each having a particular emphasis. Didactic education, with embedded clinical experiences including in class opportunities with classmates, standardized patients, and "real" patients/clients, and clinical education experiences in a wide variety of clinical settings during year one, two, and three.

The DPT program's structure includes:

Year I: An 18-week fall semester, a 19-week spring semester (including a two-week clinical experience), and a nine-week summer semester.
Year II: 18-week fall and spring semesters, followed by a 12-week summer semester clinical experience.
Year III: An 18-week fall semester, followed by two 12-week clinical experiences in the spring and summer semesters. Following the clinical experiences students return to campus for four-weeks of electives, capstone presentation and licensure exam preparation.

State licensure examinations can be taken following successful completion of the program.

Interprofessional Education (IPE)

All Western University of Health Sciences students are required to participate in interprofessional curriculum courses (IPE). IPE provides a forum for students to collaborate and learn from students in eight other health-care programs. The mission of IPE is to produce humanistic healthcare professionals who provide and promote collaborative patient-centered care and coordinated health care management. As a part of the interprofessional education program, students meet in small groups with a faculty facilitator and discuss non-clinical aspects of symptom presentation in complex cases, including interprofessional knowledge and awareness, financial or ethical challenges and communication barriers.

Read also: CWRU Tuition and Fees

Campus Environment and Facilities

WesternU has campuses in Pomona, California, and Lebanon, Oregon. The Pomona campus is located in downtown Pomona and has been extensively renovated from an outdoor shopping mall. The campus includes a patient care center, a pet hospital, classrooms, research facilities, and two parks. The northeastern corner of campus has the Health Education Center, the Patient Care Center, and a large parking structure. The Health Education Center is a 180,000-square-foot teaching and research facility that also houses the colleges of medicine, dentistry, podiatry and optometry. The fourth floor of the center has state-of-the-art research laboratories. Directly west of the Health Education Center is the WesternU Pet Wellness Center, an on campus pet hospital and clinic.

The central portion of campus contains Ethan Allan Park, the Health Professions Center (HPC), the Veterinary Medicine Center, and the Health Sciences Center. The Health Professions Center houses the College of Pharmacy and contains several classrooms, research facilities, and a student commons area. The Health Sciences Center is a two-story, 72,000-square-foot building with the main anatomy laboratories, a laboratory for osteopathic manipulative medicine, and extensive classroom space. The physical therapy school is based in this building, as is the tutoring program.

The western range of campus contains the Rodney P. Wineberg Center, home to research administration and laboratories, in addition to the Pumerantz Library, and Anderson Tower. The Rodney P. Wineberg Center contains 8,550 square feet dedicated to research. The multi-story, 35,000-square-foot Pumerantz Library is on the west edge of campus.

The university also operates a second campus on 50 acres in Lebanon with an official postal address at 200 Mullins Drive.

WesternU Oregon

WesternU Oregon has two campuses in the City of Lebanon. At WesternU Oregon, students study basic sciences, complete specialized courses, and engage in the clinical experiences needed to pass licensure exams and become practice-ready.

Read also: Growth and Community at WOU

Patient Care

Western University of Health Sciences provides patient care in several locations in California and Oregon under the banner of WesternU Health. WesternU opened its first patient care center, a family practice clinic, in 1984. The Pomona Patient Care Center opened in May 2010 and serves more than 10,000 patients per year. The Patient Care Center includes a Medical Center, Foot & Ankle Center, Eye Care Center, Dental Center, and Pharmacy. The Pomona and Lebanon campuses both include a medical center, dental center, eye care institute, pharmacy, and travel health center. WesternU-Pomona also is home to the Pet Health Center, which provides veterinary services.

Research Opportunities

WesternU conducts research in an array of areas in basic, translational, and clinical sciences. Students have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of research opportunities to deepen the practical skills needed in their field.

Student Life

Students at WesternU participate in a vast number of campus clubs and an active student government association. There is a university theater troupe, "Sanus", which hosts regular performance events.

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