Prospective Faculty and Staff Info

Make a Difference

Consider joining the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences – School of Dental Medicine (PNWU-SDM) and become part of the newest dental school in the Pacific Northwest. We are creating a state-of-the-art dental school with a mission focused on training primary care dentists in a comprehensive, interdisciplinary environment to serve in rural and underserved areas in Washington and the greater Pacific Northwest. PNWU-SDM will have an integrated approach to care that merges medical and oral healthcare and coordinates dental medicine into primary care and behavioral health to support individual and community health.

With an inaugural class size of 36 Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) students, the SDM offers an opportunity to help fill the need for dental providers in rural and underserved areas. We are engaged with community health providers who will partner with us to create a lasting and meaningful dental school.

Educating Future Clinicians

Utilizing the latest technology in laboratory, simulation, and virtual reality, PNWU-SDM students will spend their first year training on the University’s Yakima-based health sciences campus, where they will be taught and mentored by a group of PNWU faculty and staff.  In year two, the DMD students will be assigned to one of three community-based clinics developed in partnership with Yakima Neighborhood Health Services, Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, and Sea Mar Health Services – in Yakima, Kennewick, and Tacoma – to complete the remainder of their training. 

Classroom instruction will be provided via a distributed system, with on-site simulation and virtual reality facilities. PNWU faculty and staff will be located at each clinical site to supervise and mentor students in collaboration with the team at each community clinic.

Why PNWU

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences is a grassroots, non-profit university established in 2005 by a group of visionary community leaders in Washington’s vibrant Yakima Valley. PNWU’s 70-acre campus boasts a collaboration-inspiring array of health sciences disciplines, all united under the university’s mission of educating and training healthcare professionals emphasizing service in rural and medically underserved areas of Washington and the greater Pacific Northwest.

PNWU values collaboration – working together with thoughtful actions, efforts, and concerns to meet each opportunity, issue, or challenge presented. Our compassionate, genuine, student-focused staff and faculty create a thriving community here at PNWU. We are building a team to provide real solutions that directly impact community health, resources, and outcomes.

PNWU-SDM Dental Clinic Locations

We Are Yaktastic!™

Yakima, WA: Home to PNWU’s health sciences campus and one of PNWU-SDM’s three community dental clinics, Yakima is steeped in rich culture and tradition. Nestled in a fertile valley under the watchful gaze of Mt. Adams, the city is renowned for 300 annual days of sunshine, a world-class bounty of agricultural diversity, a thriving wine industry, internationally renowned hop harvests, and more.

Adventure is also abundant throughout the Yakima Valley, with ample outdoor activities, including biking, hiking, climbing, fishing, paddling, skiing, snowboarding, and many others. Complimented by a thriving foodie scene, breathtaking mountain views, exhilarating white water passes, peaceful country drives, music festivals, state fairs, and more, there is something for everyone in Yakima.

VisitYakima.com

The Heart and Soul of Tacoma

Tacoma, WA: Just south of Seattle, Tacoma boasts competitively priced living spaces and offers easy access to the beautiful Puget Sound waterfront and spectacular views of Mt. Rainier. As it experiences unprecedented growth, Tacoma stays true to its roots as a vibrant, creative community of writers, artists and musicians, photographers, filmmakers, and more.

Tacoma is known for its “big-town opportunity with a small-town feel.” Some of the many experiences one can have in Tacoma include Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, museums, hiking, biking, baseball, community gardens, and an emerging food and nightlife scene.

Home – City of Tacoma

Kennewick On the River

Kennewick, WA: The most populous of the Tri-Cities, Kennewick is located near the Columbia, Snake, and Yakima Rivers. Parks and trails line the riverbanks of this bustling city in the heart of Washington’s Wine Country.

Kennewick is a popular place for wine tasting, sailing and other water recreations, and golf. There are also plenty of activities for families with children, like water parks, ponds, playgrounds, and a vintage wooden carousel. With a similar climate to Yakima, Kennewick has plenty of sun and fun.

Kennewick, WA | Official Website

Faculty Licensure

All faculty members responsible for clinical/patient care supervision must possess a valid Washington State dental license. Information on applying for a dental license can be found here. Dentists who have received a DMD/DDS or equivalent degree from a non-Commission on Dental Accreditation accredited dental school may be eligible for faculty licensure under RCW 18.32.195. For further information, please contact the Dental Quality Assurance Commission at dental@doh.wa.gov.

Introductions Please

Would you like to learn more about the faculty and staff opportunities at PNWU-SDM? Please contact us at sdm@pnwu.edu.