Get Involved

There are a variety of ways to get involved in student organizations to enrich your experience at PNWU. Here are some of the opportunities.

American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians–Student Chapter (ACOEP)

ACOEP-SC exists to support quality emergency medical care and to promote the interests of emergency physicians and students in Yakima and the Pacific Northwest.

American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP)

ACOFP increases awareness and learning about family medicine and encourages students to choose primary care as a career path. It is also a great way to connect with other students who share similar interests and have fun outside the classroom with an emphasis on volunteerism in the community.

AMSA/Global Health Club

AMSA/Global Health Club encourages diversity at PNWU through ongoing library displays, global health speakers, and opportunities for students to be active members in the local and global community. Events that are hosted by AMSA/GH include a yearly rummage sale and the PNWU Follies talent show. An AMSA/GH scholarship opportunity is available for students who want to do an international rotation or international volunteer work.

Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA)

CMDA exists to motivate, educate, and equip Christian physicians to glorify God by living out the character of Christ in their homes, practices, communities, and around the world. CMDA emphasizes pursuing professional competence and Christ-like compassion in the daily work of its physicians.

Diversity Club

Introduces and facilitates dialogue on topics that enhance the social, cultural, and ideological diversity of the student body and the institution as a whole. Thoughtful discussions serve as a venue to inform and advance the sustainable, progressive, and egalitarian development of PNWU.

Family Planning Club 

The Family Planning Club is a chapter of the national organization, Medical Students for Choice. Our chapter supplements the current curriculum with events and discussions about family planning topics such as birth control and abortion care. We also work to spread education and awareness about birth control options in the greater Yakima community where teen and unintended pregnancy rates are especially high.

Infectious Disease Club

The purpose of the club is to help build and expand infectious disease knowledge in PNWU osteopathic medical students. Goals include identifying infectious diseases most prevalent in the Pacific Northwest, with the aim of preventing disease and improving public health and individual health through education. Additional goals include raising awareness of global infectious diseases, and of innovations and advancements in the areas of infectious disease identification, treatment, and prevention.

Osteopathic Pediatric Club (OPC)

OPC fosters the development of leadership skills and professionalism by giving students the resources to enhance their pediatric osteopathic education through promotion of pediatric medicine within the university community, participation in community service, and involvement in national organizations. We educate others on the role of caregivers in pediatric health care, increase PNWU students' exposure to the pediatric population, and sponsor speakers and activities that provide opportunities for members to meet and connect with the pediatric population.

Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Sciences Interest Group

Psychiatry is an especially interesting career field for medical students to consider, as it is an often overlooked primary care field. The most prescribed pharmaceuticals in the US are typically psychotropic in nature. As PCPs, handling psychiatric drug regimens and other treatments will be paramount. This interest group explores current issues in psychiatry, participates in journal club activities, and investigates and disseminates postgraduate training opportunities.

Student Advocate Association (SAA)

Contact: pnwu.saa@gmail.com, pnwu-saa.blogspot.com. SAA is an organization run by and for spouses, significant others, families, and friends of Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences students. We offer a support system to those who support their students and to provide them with social activities and opportunities to meet others in similar situations. SAA members are involved in social activities (book club, children’s playgroup), community service, and other recreational activities. SAA is a local chapter of the national Advocates for the American Osteopathic Association (AAOA).

Student Osteopathic Surgical Association (SOSA)

SOSA represents and educates future osteopathic surgeons. SOSA stresses understanding of osteopathic principles in relationship to disease in the practice of surgery and provides a forum for discussion among students and surgeons.

Sports Medicine

The Sports Medicine Club provides an educational resource to students interested in sports medicine and endeavors to endorse healthy lifestyles for themselves and their future patients. We help students broaden their knowledge of osteopathic manipulative medicine and its use to treat and prevent dysfunction in the field of sports medicine. The SMC provides experience in the field through assisting team doctors and athletic trainers at community sporting events.

Student Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (SAMOPS)

SAMOPS is a student branch of the Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons whose goals are to encourage active Health Professional Scholarship Program and other military medical students to maintain the highest personal, professional, and military standards and act as mentors to other PNWU-COM students interested in HPSP and military medicine; provide information concerning rotations, internships, residencies, careers, information concerning the practice of osteopathic medicine, information concerning life and opportunities in the military in general, and to provide support to local Armed Forces and deployed family members. We dedicate our lives to the service of our country and community.

Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA)

SOMA strives both to improve the quality of the health care delivery system for all people and to contribute to the welfare and education of osteopathic medical students. It also seeks to familiarize its members with the purposes and ideals of osteopathic medicine and attempts to establish lines of communication with other health science students and organizations. Concurrently, SOMA prepares its members to meet the social, moral, and ethical obligations of the osteopathic profession.

Student Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists Association (SOOGA)

SOOGA was developed to educate future osteopathic obstetricians and gynecologists, increase the awareness of women's healthcare and medical issues, and provide an educational setting to exchange information through seminars, workshops, and guest speakers. SOOGA serves as a liaison with medical professional organizations for the provision of information on training and career opportunities in obstetrics and gynecology.

Undergraduate American Academy of Osteopathy (UAAO)

Organized by students of the accredited US osteopathic medical colleges under the auspices and guidance of the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO) for the purposes of helping osteopathic medical students to:

Wilderness Medicine Club

Wilderness Medicine Club helps to enhance students’ ability to respond to medical situations in wilderness settings. We work with the Yakima search and rescue services (SARS) and Yakima climbing club to present wilderness medicine related topics. Events have included avalanche training, hiking trips to Cowiche Canyon, rock climbing at Tieton, and a documentary on health care and climbing in Nepal. Future events will include a mock mass casualty incident (MCI) at PNWU, working with ski patrol at White Pass, and more great outdoor trips to the mountains.