- Fall 2024 SDM Leadership Council Spotlight
The purpose of the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences – School of Dental Medicine (SDM) Leadership Council is to support the school’s mission and vision through education, advancement and philanthropy. The Leadership Council is a group of trusted advisors who represent a wide range of professions and vocations and are committed to the SDM’s…Continue Reading Fall 2024 SDM Leadership Council Spotlight - Fall 2024: SDM In the Community
Engaging Young Minds in Dentistry On September 17, 2024, Lolinda Turner, Director of Student Success and Engagement, and Julia Orr, Administrative Assistant at Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine, had the pleasure of attending the STEM like ME explore program at Finely Middle School in Kennewick, WA. Lolinda and Julia demonstrated to 60 seventh…Continue Reading Fall 2024: SDM In the Community - SDM Team Spotlight: Maxine Janis and Julia Orr
Maxine Janis, RDH, EdD, MPH The highlight tells the story of the origins from which Dr. Maxine Brings Him Back-Janis descends and the valuable assets of knowing her identity as a professional and personally as a member of the Lakota people from the plains of South Dakota. Dr. Maxine Brings Him Back-Janis grew up in…Continue Reading SDM Team Spotlight: Maxine Janis and Julia Orr - Fall 2024 Partner Spotlight
Delta Dental of Washington In 1954, an innovative pilot program was created in Washington state by a small group of caring citizens and dentists to provide longshoreman’s children with dental care. It wasn’t expected to last a year, but it proved popular and eventually grew to include adults – and in the process it pioneered…Continue Reading Fall 2024 Partner Spotlight - Fall 2024 Dean’s Message
Welcome to the latest issue of the School of Dental Medicine’s quarterly newsletter. There is so much going on here at the school, and it is very gratifying to share it with friends and supporters. In my opening column, I wanted to provide a few updates. I am excited to share that the SDM received…Continue Reading Fall 2024 Dean’s Message - Fall 2024 New SDM Team MembersTami Anderson, BASM, Assistant Director for Clinical Operations Tami Anderson grew up in the Yakima Valley and is a graduate of Yakima Valley College, receiving her Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Business Management. Her background includes years of experience as a Certified Medical Assistant, primarily in a hematology-oncology practice. She also served as the…Continue Reading Fall 2024 New SDM Team Members
- PNWU School of Dental Medicine Receives Initial Accreditation from CODA
Thanks to the dedication and contributions of team members and partners, Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine (PNWU-SDM) is ready to accept applications for our inaugural Class of 2029. The SDM will accept up to 36 Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) students to begin in Fall 2025. Accepting students for dental education requires initial…Continue Reading PNWU School of Dental Medicine Receives Initial Accreditation from CODA - Ask the Expert: PNWU SDM on Student Doctor Network
Fotinos S. Panagakos, DMD, PhD, founding dean of the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) School of Dental Medicine, recently spoke with the Student Doctor Network about launching a new school to increase access to dental care in the Northwest….Continue Reading Ask the Expert: PNWU SDM on Student Doctor Network - Inside PNWU-SDM’s Efforts to Establish Excellence
Acuity Insights reports on PNWU School of Dental Medicine’s efforts to develop a fair and effective assessment strategy and prepare for our first accreditation….Continue Reading Inside PNWU-SDM’s Efforts to Establish Excellence - SDM Partnership Development: Peninsula Dental School
Last month, PNWU-SDM Founding Dean Dr. Fotinos visited Peninsula Dental School in Plymouth, UK, spending time with the Head of School (Dean), Professor Ewen McColl, and his team, visiting clinical and educational sites and discussing the similarities between the respective programs. Peninsula Dental School is one of the newest dental schools in the UK, and…Continue Reading SDM Partnership Development: Peninsula Dental School - SDM Leadership Council Spotlight: Shan K. Bagby
The purpose of the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences – School of Dental Medicine (SDM) Leadership Council is to support the School’s mission and vision through education, advancement and philanthropy. The Leadership Council is a group of trusted advisors who represent a wide range of professions and vocations and are committed to the…Continue Reading SDM Leadership Council Spotlight: Shan K. Bagby - SDM Construction Update
Construction on Delta Dental Equity Hall will be completed in July 2024, and the University will take over the final stages. Here are some pictures of the progress through late June….Continue Reading SDM Construction Update - SDM Team Spotlight: Olga M. Gutierrez
Olga M. Gutierrez, Associate Professor of Dental Hygiene Olga M. Gutierrez was born and raised in the Yakima Valley. Her family immigrated from Guanajuato, Mexico, and worked as farmworkers in the Lower Valley. In high school, she was introduced to dentistry through attending YV Tech’s Dental Assisting Program. Unfortunately, she was unable to complete that…Continue Reading SDM Team Spotlight: Olga M. Gutierrez - SDM Partner Spotlight: Washington State Dental Association
The Washington State Dental Association has been the voice of dentistry in Washington since its inception in 1887. With over 4,400 member dentists, WSDA is dedicated to empowering members to advocate for and provide optimal oral health care. With the support of its members, WSDA is the strongest and most influential organization advocating on behalf…Continue Reading SDM Partner Spotlight: Washington State Dental Association - SDM Summer Update from the Dean
Greetings from Yakima! We hope you are having a wonderful summer. The weather here in Yakima is finally warming up, with lots of sunshine and the occasional winds in the late afternoon and early evening. The campus has been quieter since the University’s commencement in May, but soon enough, students will be back in mid-August…Continue Reading SDM Summer Update from the Dean - PNWU’s School of Dental Medicine Praised in The Seattle Times
Our developing School of Dental Medicine was recently celebrated by The Seattle Times as a way to increase access to affordable dental care in Washington State. In a co-authored opinion piece by Linda Edgar, president of the American Dental Association, and Nathan Russell, president of the Washington State Dental Association, PNWU’s SDM was celebrated for not only increasing the number of dentists…Continue Reading PNWU’s School of Dental Medicine Praised in The Seattle Times - CareQuest Grant Aims to Enhance Healthcare Delivery in Underserved Areas
Dr. Fotinos S. Panagakos, Dr. Angela Stewart, and Ms. Jennifer Garehime have been awarded a multiyear grant from the CareQuest Foundation for their project at the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) School of Dental Medicine (SDM) in collaboration with the Northwest Interprofessional Health Collaborative (NIHC). This significant grant from the CareQuest Foundation will…Continue Reading CareQuest Grant Aims to Enhance Healthcare Delivery in Underserved Areas - SDM New Hire: Olga M. Gutierrez, RDH, BSDH, MEd, Associate Professor of Dental Hygiene
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 - SDM Team Spotlight: Gary Pape, DDS, MA, MEd, Associate Professor and Director of Faculty Development
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 - PNWU Dental School Updates: Successful CODA Site Visit, Campus Updates, and Innovative Technology Integration
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 - Lolinda Turner Elected to Washington’s Commission on African American Affairs
Lolinda Turner, our School of Dental Medicine’s director of student success and engagement, was recently appointed to the State of Washington’s Commission on African American Affairs. As a commissioner, Turner will play a pivotal role in advising the Governor, Legislature and state agencies regarding policy development and implementation, as well as working to establish relationships with…Continue Reading Lolinda Turner Elected to Washington’s Commission on African American Affairs - Building Our Campus – and Interest – in Dental Medicine
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 - SDM Winter 2024 Partner Spotlight
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 - New PNWU-SDM Team Members: Winter 2024PNWU-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
- SDM Outreach
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 - SDM In the Community
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 - Winter 2024 SDM Team Spotlight
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 - Winter 2024 SDM Dean’s MessageGreetings and Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday break and is as excited about the New Year as we are here in Yakima. 2024 will be a very busy and important year for our school! Since our last email, much has happened in the development of our new dental school. Featured…Continue Reading Winter 2024 SDM Dean’s Message
- Fall Update on Faculty Hiring
In our last eNewsletter, we shared the launch of our faculty hiring process. Recruiting high-quality faculty will drive excellence in our academic program. We recognize faculty’s critical role in shaping our school’s future and enhancing the overall experience for our students and community. To guide our process, we have developed a comprehensive hiring plan. The…Continue Reading Fall Update on Faculty Hiring - Fall Update from Dr. Panagakos
Happy Autumn! It is hard to believe the summer is over, the days are getting shorter, and the year will be turning anew before we know it! I hope you have enjoyed our quarterly newsletter. We enjoy putting it together and sharing our progress towards welcoming our first class in August 2025. By the time…Continue Reading Fall Update from Dr. Panagakos - New PNWU-SDM Team Member
PNWU-SDM has hired a Director of Student Success and Engagement! Lolinda Turner is the newly appointed Director of Student Success and Engagement at PNWU-SDM. She is also a Registered Dental Assistant with over 20 years of experience and a DEI Practitioner. Ms. Turner is the 2023 Puget Sound Business Journal Healthcare Hero and Delta Dental…Continue Reading New PNWU-SDM Team Member - Team Spotlight: Dr. Robin Reinke, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs
PNWU-SDM’s Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, Dr. Robin Reinke, joined the team in June 2023. Dr. Reinke was born and raised in Tacoma, WA. She received her B.S. in Biology from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma and then her D.D.S. from the University of Washington School of Dentistry in Seattle, WA. Dr. Reinke…Continue Reading Team Spotlight: Dr. Robin Reinke, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs - PNWU Begins Construction on one of the Country’s “Most Innovative” Dental Schools
A $12 million grant from Delta Dental of Washington enabled PNWU to be the first dental school in the nation in which students will have three years of full-time immersive training at Federally Qualified Health Centers. Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) announced $12 million in grant funding from Delta Dental of Washington at a…Continue Reading PNWU Begins Construction on one of the Country’s “Most Innovative” Dental Schools - PNWU Construction Update
Exciting things are happening on the PNWU campus this summer! The Student Learning Collaborative (SLC) building, Phase 1, is nearly complete. It will provide collaborative and simulation teaching space for all campus programs. In September, there will be a grand opening, so watch for more information. Without pause, Lydig Construction will pivot from Phase 1…Continue Reading PNWU Construction Update - SDM Faculty and Staff Recruitment
Although we are a little over two years away from our first students arriving on campus, it is critical that the School of Dental Medicine begin its recruitment of faculty and staff. In June, we kicked off this effort by participating in the Pacific Northwest Dental Conference (PNDC) meeting, hosting a booth to provide information…Continue Reading SDM Faculty and Staff Recruitment - SDM Team Spotlight
Dr. David Klingman, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, PNWU-SDM PNWU-SDM’s Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. David Klingman, joined the team in May 2023. Dr. Klingman was born and grew up near West Point NY and attended college at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, majoring in Biochemistry and minoring in Linguistics….Continue Reading SDM Team Spotlight - SDM Partner Spotlight
Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic The Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic (YVFWC) was founded in 1978, in Toppenish, Washington, with the help of a federal grant to serve migrant and seasonal agricultural workers. Today, YVFWC is one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest community health centers, with more than 50 unique service locations providing medical, dental,…Continue Reading SDM Partner Spotlight - New PNWU School of Dental Medicine Team Members
Robin E. Reinke, DDS, MPA Robin E. Reinke, DDS, MPA, will join us this summer as the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs. Dr. Reinke was born and raised in Tacoma and is looking forward to returning “home” to Washington State. She received her BS in Biology from the University of Puget Sound and her DDS…Continue Reading New PNWU School of Dental Medicine Team Members - School of Dental Medicine Spring Progress
Expansion efforts continue at PNWU. Phase 1 of the PNWU Student Learning Collaborative (SLC) is expected to open in August 2023. Phase 2 of the SLC project will be completed the middle of 2024. This 80,000-square-foot space is designed to be where students from all health professions come together for clinical learning activities. The facility…Continue Reading School of Dental Medicine Spring Progress - SDM Team Spotlight: Lisa Brown
The SDM Newsletter will periodically spotlight a Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences – School of Dental Medicine team member. PNWU-SDM’s Administrative Coordinator, Lisa Brown, joined the team in August 2022. Ms. Brown has deep roots in the Yakima Valley, growing up in the lower valley and living in Yakima as an adult to help…Continue Reading SDM Team Spotlight: Lisa Brown - Spring SDM Newsletter Partner Spotlight
In this issue, we spotlight our partner, Yakima Neighborhood Health Services (YNHS). “YNHS has always been about going where the need is greatest…” – Don Hinman, YNHS Chairman of the Board. There is a great need for dental services for underserved populations in the Yakima Valley and other rural areas in the Pacific Northwest, and…Continue Reading Spring SDM Newsletter Partner Spotlight
In the News
WSDA featured the new dental school in the May 2022 issue of its membership journal
PNWU in Yakima hires dean to develop new dental school
PNWU in Yakima is helping get more health professionals in underserved communities
WSDA featured the new dental school in the May 2022 issue of its membership journal