Mission-Driven
PNWU enjoys an active and mission-driven Board of Trustees whose vision and dedication have moved the University forward rapidly. The founding trustees took on a task never before experienced: developing a medical school from a grassroots effort.
The Board of Trustees continues its outreach to become a geographically diverse collection of individuals supporting PNWU students, staff, and faculty.
Board Culture
- Commitment to vision and values guided by the strategic plan
- Communicate with respect, courage, candor, open-mindedness, humor, and unity in decisions
- Come prepared, maintain boundaries, observe confidentiality, participate, be mutually accountable, transparency with stakeholders
- Clarity of roles & responsibilities for governance
- Effective financial control & fiscal responsibility
- Focused on human resources and ensuring an effective management team is in place
- Planning for succession and diversity of the Board.
Involvement
The Board of Trustees actively supports the University, bringing different work experiences to the organization. The trustees govern all PNWU’s business and establish schools, colleges, and institutes consistent with the university’s mission and goals.
Executive Committee
Trustees
Kevin Van Nortwick, CPA – Chair
Dion Booras, DO – Vice-Chair (COM 2014)
Maria Benavides, MEd – Secretary
Kristin Larson, MD – Treasurer
Mary Huycke – Assistant Secretary/Treasurer
Jolene Seda – Assistant Secretary/Treasurer
John Vornbrock, MHA – Immediate Past Chair
Academic Affairs Committee
Chair: Dr. Kristin Larson
Advancement Committee
Chair: Karen Hyatt
Compliance Ethics & Integrity Committee
Chair: Dr. Dion Booras
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
Chair: Maria Benavides
Facilities Committee
Chair: Davis “Yellowash” Washines
Finance Committee
Chair: Dan Gaulke
Governance Committee
Chair: John Vornbrock
| 03/30/2005 – 01/27/2010 | William Almon |
| 03/30/2005 – 11/18/2009 10/2012 – 01/2016 |
Lloyd Butler, DO |
| 03/30/2005 – 09/28/2005 08/01/2010 – 02/25/2015 |
William Huibregtse, PE |
| 03/30/2005 – 01/27/2010 | Jean Pryor, CPA |
| 05/01/2005 – 12/31/2010 | M. Sean Mullin, DO |
| 05/01/2005 – 06/30/2014 | Paul Emmans, Jr., DO |
| 06/01/2005 – 01/27/2010 | Palmer Wright, DO |
| 10/01/2005 – 03/03/2008 | Anne Musser, DO |
| 10/01/2005 – 06/30/2014 | Bob Haney |
| 07/01/2006 – 09/30/2014 | J. Carlos Olivares |
| 07/01/2007 – 07/01/2013 | Duane Rossman |
| 07/01/2007 – 08/01/2014 | Richard Spiegel, MD |
| 01/01/2010 – 03/30/2010 | Paul Schaake |
| 01/27/2010 – 08/01/2014 | Patricia Temple |
| 11/01/2010 – 01/31/2016 | Stan Martinkus |
| 11/01/2010 – 12/31/2013 | Cristobal Guillen |
| 03/30/2005 – 06/30/2015 | Karen Hyatt |
| 04/01/2006 – 06/30/2015 | Kerry Martin |
| 03/30/2005 – 06/30/2017 | Michael Maples, MD |
| 07/01/2013 – 10/31/2017 | Warren Buck, PhD |
| 11/01/2016 – 01/01/2018 | John Sturgeon |
| 11/01/2016 – 06/30/2018 | Roberta Gabbard |
| 12/01/2014 – 06/30/2018 | John Jarstad |
| 01/01/2017 – 09/01/2019 | Joseph Wilczek |
| 01/07/2010 – 06/30/2019 | Christopher Clark, DO |
| 01/01/2010 – 06/30/2019 | James Haven, MD |
| 01/01/2011 – 06/30/2020 | Lawrence Larson, DO |
| 07/01/2012 – 06/30/2021 | Heather Phipps, DO |
| 07/01/2018 – 12/31/2022 | Robert Wilmouth, MD |
| 07/01/2019 – 09/30/2023 | Norm Johnson |
| 07/01/2019 – 01/31/2024 | Sarah Penney-Jackson |
| 07/01/2015 – 06/30/2024 | C. Vaughan Bulfinch, DO |
| 02/25/2015 – 06/30/2024 | Federico Cruz-Uribe, MD, MPH |
| 07/01/2016 – 06/30/2025 | Priscilla Cadwell |
| 07/01/2016 – 06/30/2025 | Dennis Fulton, JD |
| 07/01/2016 – 06/30/2025 | Vickie Ybarra, PhD |
Peter Grimm, DO, 12/2010 – 02/2016. 
Dr. Peter Grimm, prostate cancer specialist, served as director of the Prostate Cancer Treatment Center in Seattle. Dr. Grimm received his medical education at Midwestern University (Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine), and his graduate training in radiation oncology at UCLA. In the late 1980’s he helped pioneer a low-dose brachytherapy technique known as seed implantation for prostate cancer.
Dr. Grimm served as a trustee, preceptor, and major donor and supporter of PNWU.
A. Bush Preacher, MD, 03/2005-01/2010
Dr. Bush Preacher, Yakima cardiologist, served as a founding member of the PNWU Board of Trustees. Dr. Preacher moved to Yakima in 1975 as a founding partner with the Yakima Heart Center. When addressing the inaugural class of PNWU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine students, Dr. Preacher emphasized, “Listen to your patients.”
In addition to service at PNWU, Dr. Preacher served in medical staff leadership and Board positions at both local hospitals, St. Elizabeth Medical Center and Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital.
| NAME | START DATE | END DATE |
| Gregory Mick, DO | 03/30/2005 | 01/01/2006 |
| Lloyd Butler, DO | 01/25/2006 | 12/31/2008 |
| Karen Hyatt (Chair Emerita) | 01/01/2009 | 12/31/2011 |
| Richard Spiegel, MD | 01/01/2011 | 06/30/2013 |
| Michael Maples, MD | 07/01/2013 | 06/30/2015 |
| Lawrence Larson, DO | 07/01/2015 | 06/30/2017 |
| Heather Phipps, DO | 07/01/2017 | 06/30/2019 |
| Dennis Fulton, JD | 07/01/2019 | 06/30/2021 |
| Catherine Potts, MD | 07/01/2021 | 06/30/2023 |
| John Vornbrock | 07/01/2023 | 06/30/2025 |
Contact Information
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
Iron Horse Lodge
Physical address:
111 University Parkway, Suite 202
Yakima, WA 98901
president@pnwu.edu
Mailing address:
3110 Inspiration Drive,
Yakima, WA 98901
Main Phone: 509.452.5100
Vikki Gore, MS
Chief of Staff, Office of the President/Board Liaison
509.249.7720
Jessica Quezada
Administrative Coordinator
509.249.7812