Congratulations to the DPT students from CHS-Northwest (pictured, below) and DO students from COMP-Northwest, soon to be named the Heatherington College of Osteopathic Medicine, (pictured, above) who celebrated their white coat ceremonies on Aug. 1 in Lebanon, Oregon.

WesternU is now celebrating Welcome Week in Pomona as all eight colleges hold orientation events and, on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 8-9, white coat ceremonies welcoming students into their respective health professions.

Visit WesternU's social media for updates and check WesternU News for stories in the coming days.

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Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) and Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Podiatric Medicine (WesternU CPM) have launched a linkage program that creates an early-admission pathway for CDU students pursuing careers in podiatric medicine. The formal agreement marks the beginning of a partnership that provides CDU pre-health students with direct access to a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree at one of the nation’s leading health sciences universities.

“We are proud to launch this linkage program with Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science,” said Dr. Jonathan Labovitz, Dean of WesternU’s College of Podiatric Medicine. “This partnership with another university that achieves academic excellence reflects our ongoing commitment to creating opportunities for well-deserving students with a desire to care for others. This new pathway provides students with more than just early acceptance into podiatric medicine and surgery. We are committed to supporting students before they matriculate—through advising and programming to ensure students are confident and prepared as they continue their journey to becoming a podiatric physician.”

Read the full story: Charles R. Drew University and WesternU announce launch of linkage program for future podiatric physicians | WesternU News

Read more on the CDU website: CDU and WesternU Announce Launch of Linkage Program

MSPA Class of 2026 student Valerie Leung earned a gold medal at the 2025 Taekwondo World Championships in Barcelona, proudly representing Team USA.

Her remarkable achievement is a testament to her unwavering dedication, discipline, and determination. Balancing the demands of a rigorous PA curriculum, she successfully completed her final didactic semester early in order to compete on the world stage. Finishing the semester ahead of schedule and then triumphing at an elite international competition exemplifies extraordinary resilience and commitment. The MSPA community is immensely proud of her accomplishments. Leung stands as a powerful role model, representing our PA program, the profession, and WesternU with distinction and pride around the globe.

College of Dental Medicine Assistant Dean for Biomedical Sciences and Associate Professor Dalia Seleem, DDS, PhD, completed the Chairs and Academic Administrators Management Program (CAAMP), hosted by the Academy for Advancing Leadership (AAL), on July 30 in Atlanta, Georgia.

CAAMP is a three-day, in-person, interprofessional program designed to equip academic leaders with the skills and insights needed to effectively manage and lead departments. The program offers hands-on, interactive leadership development and one-on-one career guidance for department chairs, program directors, and academic administrators, including assistant and associate deans, across the health professions (CAAMP New - AAL).

Dr. Seleem’s participation in this program reflects her ongoing commitment to leadership excellence and advancing academic innovation within the College.

Congratulations to Dr. Lyna Luo from the Department of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences in the College of Pharmacy, and Dr. Jerome Lacroix from the Department of Biomedical Sciences in the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, on receiving an NIH R01 grant award totaling $2,514,288 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) for their research project, “Cooperative Modulation of Piezo Channels." This is the third NIH R01 grant that Drs. Luo and Lacroix have secured together as Multi-PIs (MPI) at WesternU since 2019.

Grant Summary: PIEZO1, an important molecular sensor in our cells, plays a crucial role in detecting mechanical forces, and its malfunction has been implicated in various cardiovascular pathologies including hypertension, xerocytosis, dilated cardiomyopathy, and lymphedema. Here, to gain a better understanding of PIEZO1 functioning, we investigate how its unique protein shape influences the functioning and interactions of neighboring PIEZO1 sensors. This MPI project is a joint effort with Dr. Medha Pathak from UC Irvine School of Medicine.

Blood Donation Drive for City of Hope patients, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025 on the

WesternU California Health Education Center Esplanade.

All donors will receive a City of Hope gift as a thank you for their generosity.

We are excited to announce a vital opportunity to make a difference in our community!

Western University of Health Sciences, in collaboration with City of Hope, will be hosting a blood drive on our Pomona campus.

As a health sciences university, we understand the critical importance of blood donations in saving lives and supporting patient care. Donating blood is an essential part of patient care, and it's truly "in your blood" to give hope. Your participation directly contributes to the well-being of patients in need, including those at City of Hope.

Appointments are recommended to help us manage flow and minimize wait times.

How to Schedule Your Donation: Please visit idonateblood4hope.org and enter sponsor code WUP or call 626-218-7171 to secure your spot.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to make a profound impact - your single donation can save lives.

Click on the flier to view larger.

Public Affairs and Marketing is holding an open studio portrait day in Pomona:

9 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9

Please sign up for a timeslot that works for your schedule if you would like a new studio portrait.

We will schedule additional portrait days for those who cannot come to the studio on this day.