Juan Acosta, DO, MS
Director of Medical Education
Associate Professor of Family Medicine, Acting Director of Clinical Rotations
Yakima, WADr. Juan Acosta brings a wealth of experience and passion for learning to PNWU and the Yakima community. Dr. Acosta earned his DO degree from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his internship and residency in emergency medicine at St. Barnabas Hospital in New York. He relocated to Yakima from New York City in May 2009 to join the faculty at PNWU. His teaching interests include emergency medicine and cardiac care certification. When he’s not... more
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Kenneth Behymer, MD
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine
Yakima, WA -
Kathaleen Briggs Early, PhD, RD, CDE
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Nutrition
Yakima, WADr. Early has served in the role of Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Nutrition for PNWU since 2007. Growing up on a family farm in north Central Washington, she has always enjoyed small-town life. She received her undergraduate degree in food science and nutrition from Central Washington University, in Ellensburg Washington, and completed her dietetic internship through Washington State University, Spokane. Dr. Early studied goal-setting behavior in Mexican American and non-Hispanic white adults with type 2 diabetes as part... more
Dennis Clark, DO
Chair, Internal Medicine
Director for Clinical Rotations
Yakima, WA-
Jason Cundiff, MD
Chair, Surgery
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Yakima, WA 
Linda Dale, DHEd, PA-C
Associate Professor of Family Medicine
Yakima, WADr. Linda Dale is a lifelong Yakima Valley resident who brings a sense of passion about her profession and a real commitment to the students at PNWU. Dr. Dale is a graduate of the Yakima site of the University of Washington MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Training Program and managed it from 1997 to 2007. She has a master’s degree in organizational development from Central Washington University and earned her Doctor of Health Education degree from A.T. Still... more
Brett DeGooyer, DO
Assistant Professor of Osteopathic Principles and Practice
Yakima, WADr. DeGooyer earned his DO degree in 2005 from A.T. Still University of Health Sciences - Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. He completed his internship, and a dual residency in family medicine and neuromusculoskeletal medicine at Northeast Regional Medical Center in Missouri. He is currently board certified by the AOBFP (family medicine) and AOBNMM (neuromusculoskeletal medicine). Dr. DeGooyer joined the faculty of PNWU in July 2009. more
Joseph A. DiMeo II, DO
Chair, Family Medicine
Professor of Family Medicine
Dr. DiMeo directs the standardized patient program, simulation lab, and clinical skills courses. He leads a large department in educating medical students and preparing them for third- and fourth-year rotations, board exams, and patient care. Dr DiMeo originally hails from upstate New York, and recently moved from the New York City metro area. He received his undergraduate education at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York. He attended medical school at NYCOM/NYIT in Old Westbury, and then did his residency... more
Renee DiMeo, RN
Clinical Nurse
Yakima, WA-
Richard Edgerly, MD
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine
Yakima, WA 
William Elliott, MD, PhD
Chair, Pharmacology
Professor of Preventative Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Pharmacology
Yakima, WA
William (Bill) Hatch, PA-C
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine
Yakima, WA / Boise, IDMr. Hatch completed his physician assistant training at MEDEX Northwest (University of Washington, Seattle, Washington) in 1989 following several years as a paramedic with Yakima Emergency Services–Medic One. He attended Alderson Broaddus College and West Virginia University, completing a residency in emergency medicine and earning a master of science degree in medicine in 1994. Following graduation he worked for rural critical access hospitals in northern Arizona providing emergency department provider coverage. Mr. Hatch has taught basic clinical skills and emergency medicine... more
Nancy Hecox, PharmD
Assistant Professor of Pharmacology
Yakima, WAIn addition to teaching at PNWU, Dr. Hecox also serves as clinical service provider for the Bi-Mart Pharmacy and as director of the pharmacy technician program at Yakima Valley Community College. She obtained her bachelor's degree in pharmacy at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and her doctoral degree in pharmacy at Idaho State University. Dr. Hecox has worked as a registered pharmacist at various locations in the Yakima Valley as well as a certified chemical dependency counselor. Professional memberships... more
Adam Hoverman DO, DTM&H
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and Global Health
Yakima, WADr. Hoverman serves as course director for Clinical Skills I, and adds global health and parasitology components to the Community Doctoring and second-year systems curricula. Following graduation from A. T. Still University, he completed an osteopathic internship in Miami, Florida, and a family medicine residency at the University of Minnesota. There he served a chief residency year and completed the university’s global health course. After fulfilling his scholar’s service obligation to the National Health Service Corps with the Yakima... more
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Craig Howell, MD
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine
Yakima, WA -
David Johnson, DO
Assistant Professor of Osteopathic Principles and Practice
Yakima, WA 
Wade Justice, MD
Assistant Professor of Pathology
Yakima, WA
Corwin P. King, PhD
Professor of Family Medicine
Dr. King came to PNWU in 2010 after 33 years as a professor of communication and chair of the communication department at Central Washington University. He teaches medical ethics, multigenerational communication, and multicultural communication in the Community Doctoring program for first- and second-year OM students. An enrolled member of the Samish Indian Nation of Washington, Dr. King has particular research and teaching interests in Native American health care. He was born and raised in Yakima, received his undergraduate degree... more
Larry Lefors, DO
Assistant Professor of Osteopathic Principles and Practice
Yakima, WA
Melissa Lemp, DO
Chair, Pediatrics
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Yakima, WADr. Lemp graduated from Kansas City University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed pediatric residencies at the Mayo Clinic and University of Minnesota. She is board certified in pediatrics and osteopathic medicine. Her community involvement includes work with Children’s Village and the Carroll Children’s Center in Yakima. Dr. Lemp has been a faculty and clinical pediatrician at Central Washington Family Medicine residency program in Yakima since 2000. Prior to that, she served as a National Health Service Scholar in... more
Charles Martin, DPT
Assistant Professor of Anatomy
Yakima, WADr. Martin obtained his bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Utah and his doctoral degree in physical therapy from Des Moines University. In addition to his teaching at PNWU, he is the clinical coordinator for Cascade Summit Physical Therapy, which accepts intern physical therapy students from various physical therapy programs. He has been an adjunct professor for the physical therapy program at Idaho State University. Dr. Martin is a principal owner in Cascade Summit... more
Phil Mattocks, PhD
Chair, Physiology
Associate Professor of Physiology
Dr. Mattocks has taught physiology for 25 years, beginning as a post-doc at the University of Washington, continuing on to Central Washington University in Ellensburg, for many years, and Heritage University in Toppenish most recently. He joined the faculty at Pacific Northwest University with the inaugural class in 2008. His undergraduate years were at M.I.T. in Boston where he learned to appreciate the physics and engineering involved in physiology. His thesis at the U.W. utilized a small migratory finch... more
William (Bill) Powell, DO
Assistant Professor of Osteopathic Principles and Practice
Yakima, WA
Diana Rhodes, DVM, PhD
Professor of Anatomy
Yakima, WA
James (Jim) Rhodes, PhD
Associate Professor of Histology
Yakima, WA-
Mary Jo Robinson, DO
Associate Professor of Pathology
Yakima, WADr. Mary Jo Robinson returned to the Pacific Northwest after teaching and practicing in Southern New Jersey at UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine and Kennedy Health Center in Stratford for 20 years. She graduated from Des Moines University in 1987 and did a transitional internship at Des Moines General Hospital. She moved to Cherry Hill New, Jersey to do her Pathology residency at Kennedy and did a Dermatopathology Fellowship with the late A. Bernard Ackerman, MD at the Dermatopathology... more
Joseph Salinas, MD
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Family Medicine
Yakima, WA
Douglas S. Shearer, PhD, MD
Chair, Pathology
Professor of Pathology
Yakima, WA
Anita Showalter, DO
Assistant Dean of Clinical Sciences; Chair, Women's Health
Associate Professor of Women's Health
Yakima, WADr. Showalter is a graduate of Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, She completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency at Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital in Ohio. Her private practice for nine years in Wayne County, Ohio, included many Amish and Mennonite patients. A focus on osteopathic techniques to reduce the need for other medical interventions was particularly welcomed in that community. She plans to research the use of osteopathic manipulation to reduce the complications of pregnancy, labor and... more
Cheryl Snyder, DO
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine
Yakima, WADr. Cheryl Snyder finds joy in training the upcoming generation of physicians and participating in their educational process. She earned her DO degree from the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona, California. Her teaching interests include clinical skills and trauma-related emergencies. Her time outside the classroom is spent as a faculty advisor to the PNWU Emergency Medicine Club. She also volunteers for Partners for Life, which provides medical education to foreign countries. This work complements her... more
Robert Sorrells, PhD
Assistant Professor of Anatomy
Yakima, WADr. Sorrells received his PhD from the University of Georgia in 1997 where he was trained and worked in neural network modeling of cognition. His previous experiences include serving as an assistant professor of psychology and as a cognitive science specialist for the University of Georgia’s Artificial Intelligence Group. Dr. Sorrells' research focuses on neural and computer modeling of knowledge representation and learning. Students don’t just interact with Dr. Sorrells in the classroom. He can often be found... more
Kimberly Taylor, PhD
Chair, Microbiology
Assistant Professor of Microbiology; Director, Office of Academic Support
Yakima, WADr. Kimberly Taylor teaches medical microbiology and medical immunology at PNWU, and is director of the Office of Academic Support. She relocated to Yakima from Phoenix, Arizona, where she taught at Grand Canyon University and Glendale Community College. Dr. Taylor is also a member of the American Medical Schools Microbiology and Immunology Chairs (AMSMIC). Dr. Taylor earned her PhD from Janus Pannonius University in Pécs, Hungary in 1997. She is a member of the American Society for Microbiology, the... more
Mark A. Taylor, PhD
Dean, College of Allied Health Sciences
Chair, Cellular Science
Yakima, WADr. Taylor serves as the dean for the College of Allied Health Sciences and professor of biochemistry for Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences. Dr. Taylor previously held the positions of professor of biology, vice president of program development, assistant vice president for academic affairs, and assistant to the president at Grand Canyon University and the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, respectively. Dr. Taylor, a member of AAAS and Phi Beta Kappa, earned a PhD degree in biological sciences... more
Melicien Tettambel, DO
Chair, Osteopathic Principles and Practice
Director of Research and Development
Yakima, WADr. Melicien Tettambel obtained her Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degree from AT Still University - Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is board-certified by the American Osteopathic Association in OB/GYN surgery and Special Proficiency in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. She is a Distinguished Fellow in the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Osteopathy. She is Professor and Chair of the Department of Osteopathic Principles and Practice. She is an invited lecturer for CME programs, and for international presentations on osteopathic treatment in women's and... more
Joel Thome, PharmD
Assistant Professor of Pharmacology
Yakima, WAJoel Thome obtained his doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degree from the University of Washington School Of Pharmacy in 2005. Since then Dr. Thome has worked as a clinical pharmacist at Yakima Valley School (a home for the developmentally disabled) and has comanaged a locally owned pharmacy, Howard's Pharmacy. In addition to standard pharmacy practice of drug distribution and patient education, Dr. Thome practices the old art of pharmaceutical compounding and provides immunizations and medication therapy management services to his patients. Dr.... more
Lex Towns, PhD
Assistant Dean of Basic Sciences;
Chair, Anatomy
Yakima, WADr. Lex Towns joined the PNWU faculty in July 2008, bringing a wealth of teaching and research experience. Prior to moving to Yakima, he spent more than 30 years at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri, where he taught neuroanatomy and gross anatomy. His research interests include the role of neuroendocrine factors in pain perception and placebo effects, and the structure and function of the visual system. Dr. Towns received a bachelor’s degree from Colorado College and... more
Linda Welch, DO
Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Osteopathic Principles and Practice
Yakima, WABefore joining the faculty at PNWU, Dr. Welch was in private practice as a family physician for 25 years in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Welch taught at Michigan State University in the Department of Family Medicine prior to moving to Texas. Dr. Welch earned her DO degree from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and received the Judith Weiswasser Award for the outstanding woman graduate. She is board certified in osteopathic family medicine and a member... more
Donald Woods, DO
Assistant Professor of Osteopathic Principles and Practice
Yakima, WAFrom the age of 10, Dr. Woods was raised in Iowa as a farm boy. Both parents and both brothers are DOs. His father was an internist, mother a pediatrician, oldest brother a surgeon, and other brother was in family practice. All taught at Des Moines College at one time or other. Dr. Don Woods did his undergrad study at Iowa State College in Ames, Iowa and received his DO degree from Kirksville, MO in 1962. His... more
John Zambito, DO
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and Physiology
Yakima, WA