Pioneering and Innovation…Spirit of the Northwest

It began as a conversation in 2004 to address a critical need for more health care professionals in rural areas.  In four short years, it grew into a world-changing vision.  Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) welcomed its inaugural class of students to the College of Osteopathic Medicine in August 2008.  In 2009, a second class of students joined them.  Upon graduation from PNWU, these students will serve the Pacific Northwest region in filling health care work force shortages.

• Alaska ranks 46th in the U.S. in terms of the number of state-supported medical school seats
• 88% of the state of Idaho is designated as federally-medically underserved
• As of 2006, 41% of Montana's physicians were age 55 or older
• Oregon ranks 45th in the U.S. in access to care, which includes access to primary health care
• In Washington State, 36 of 39 counties are considered underserved populations.  

We believe our mission, to train and educate health professionals to provide quality care to all communities of the Pacific Northwest, particularly medically underserved areas, is a strong solution to these alarming statistics.