Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) was founded to provide graduate-level healthcare education in response to the healthcare needs of the Pacific Northwest. A medical school with a doctoral program in osteopathic medicine was established and graduated its inaugural class in August 2008. At that time, the College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) was only the third medical school in the five-state Northwest region of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, and was the Northwest’s newest medical school in 60 years.

PNWU emphasizes recruitment of students from rural or medically underserved locations and educates students in such areas with the intended outcome of graduates practicing in rural and medically underserved communities of the Northwest. Since opening its doors in 2008, PNWU has experienced tremendous growth. Through the support of generous donors, they have constructed a new student center, expanded existing classrooms space, and purchased more land for future growth. In addition to the Yakima campus, they have established 15 core rotation sites in communities around the Pacific Northwest. Hospitals and clinics in the region have welcomed PNWU students, training them in the clinical settings where they will eventually practice, supporting the founders’ vision to improve access to healthcare in the area.