Year: 2024

SDM New Hire: Olga M. Gutierrez, RDH, BSDH, MEd, Associate Professor of Dental Hygiene

Olga Gutierrez, RDH BASDH Med

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

Gary Pape, MA, DDS, 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

Dr. Panagakos

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

PNWU On Tour – Alaska

Dog wearing PNWU bandana with mountains in background

Dozens of PNWU alumni from the University’s first few classes had a great mini reunion in Anchorage, Alaska earlier this month. The group shared old stories and caught up with their classmates while enjoying food and drinks at the PNWU on Tour event. Many students enjoyed mingling with members of PNWU’s Development and Clinical Education…Continue Reading PNWU On Tour – Alaska

PNWU Hosts Largest Residency Fair in University History

PNWU Residency Fair 2024

On Friday, April 12, PNWU hosted our annual Residency Fair. With over 30 residency programs on campus to showcase their offerings, this year’s Fair was the largest in our University’s history. Classes were paused as PNWU students met with residency program directors, faculty, and current residents from a variety of family medicine, internal medicine, and…Continue Reading PNWU Hosts Largest Residency Fair in University History

PNWU Hosts “Best Symposium Ever”

Students in Butler-Haney Hall at PNWU's 2024 Research Symposium

On Monday, April 8, PNWU hosted our annual Research Symposium. This year’s event was the largest in university history, with 57 scientific posters from our students, faculty, and community partners. “My head is still swirling,” said Lizzie Lamb, research development facilitator and interim director of PNWU’s Office of Scholarly Activity. Reflecting on the whirlwind experience of…Continue Reading PNWU Hosts “Best Symposium Ever”

PNWU Hosts Inaugural Anato-Bee

Last weekend, PNWU hosted the Anato-Bee. A national high school outreach initiative promoting education in the anatomical sciences, the Anato-Bee tests high school students’ knowledge in anatomy, embryology, histology, and diagnostic skills through a spelling-bee inspired format. Featuring top-scoring students from a recent local competition at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA, PNWU’s event served as the western…Continue Reading PNWU Hosts Inaugural Anato-Bee

Grant Enables NIHC to Expand Culinary Medicine Offerings

Photo of healthy foods on a table

The Northwest Interprofessional Health Collaborative (NIHC) recently secured a $56,800 grant from Greater Health Now’s Community Investment program, Connect2Everyone. The grant empowers the NIHC to enhance the Expanding Community Impact of Culinary Medicine in Yakima County pilot project, and to offer more culinary medicine teaching classes to health professions learners. The Culinary Medicine program is designed to familiarize health…Continue Reading Grant Enables NIHC to Expand Culinary Medicine Offerings

PNWU Scholarships: “A Can’t-Miss”

Lawrence Larson, DO, former Chair of PNWU’s Board of Trustees and co-founder of Pediatrics Northwest, establishes The Dr. Lawrence and Mary Larson Endowed Scholarship. Created in honor of his late wife, the new PNWU scholarship aims to inspire a new generation of compassionate community pediatricians. Dr. Lawrence Larson never doubted the visionary optimism that accompanied…Continue Reading PNWU Scholarships: “A Can’t-Miss”