Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Graduate Nursing, in collaboration with Lopez Urban Farm and the Pomona Unified School District, celebrated the opening of the Urban Kitchen, an outdoor community kitchen designed to bring community, education and wellness together.

The Outdoor Community Kitchen is a shared space at Lopez Urban Farm in Pomona, California, where students, faculty and community partners can collaborate, address public health challenges, and co-create solutions through innovation and partnership. The ribbon cutting took place Nov. 20, 2025, with several community partners in attendance, including Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval and Pomona City Councilman Victor Preciado.

In fall 2025, four Master of Science in Nursing-Entry (MSN-E) students - Julia Simons, Francisco Velasquez, Danielle Nguyen and Marina Tamayo - were hand-selected based on their academic excellence and strong faculty impressions to complete a clinical rotation at Lopez Urban Farm under the guidance of CGN Assistant Professor and Humanism Officer Marsha Guillaume, MPH, and CGN Associate Professor Ruth Trudgeon, DNP, RN. The clinical rotation was intentionally designed to immerse them in the real health inequities WesternU is committed to addressing.

Read the full story: WesternU College of Graduate Nursing unveils outdoor community kitchen at Lopez Urban Farm | WesternU News

Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Health Sciences–Northwest (CHS-Northwest) recently partnered with Lane Community College’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program to deliver an intraprofessional learning experience for students. In October, Lane’s student physical therapist assistants joined WesternU’s doctoral student physical therapists in the Practical Application Labs (PALs), working side by side with community volunteers in an immersive training environment. 

PALs is a five-part, laboratory-based course series that gives CHS-Northwest students hands-on experience with community volunteers under faculty supervision. The program is designed to sharpen clinical skills while fostering communication, teamwork, and compassionate patient care. 

During their October visit, Lane PTA students collaborated with CHS-Northwest students to evaluate and work with community volunteers and document their clinical education encounters. The partnership gave Lane students an opportunity to work in WesternU’s fully equipped lab, while CHS-Northwest students gained insight into the scope of practice and clinical role of physical therapist assistants. 

Read the full story: WesternU CHS-Northwest and Lane Community College partnership strengthens PT and PTA student training | WesternU News

College of Graduate Nursing Professor and Associate Dean Dr. Rodney Hicks published the following: Hicks, R. W. (2025). Writing for the AORN Journal: Supporting elements really do support your manuscript. AORN Journal, 122(6), 427-432. http://doi.org/10.1002/aorn.14448

WesternU COMP students Artin Allahverdian, Syed Asim, Mo’men Bany-Mohammed, Majid Elalami, Tony Eskandar, Kevin Ghookas, Gauri Gurumurthy, Blake Han, Sugeeth Kandikattu, Chang Kon Kim, Shaanali Mukadam, Niayesh Najafi, David Parvizi, Hina Patel, Shaan Patel, Edgmin Rostomian, Ramtin Sahafi, Meher Vartanian, and Kevin Babakhan Vartanian worked with Dr. Devendra K. Agrawal and Dr. Marcel P. Fraix, contributed to science, and recently published the following peer-reviewed Pubmed indexed research articles.

We recognize and congratulate our COMP students for their exceptional endeavors in research and scholarship. Their efforts have been instrumental in scientific progress and the dissemination of actionable knowledge to enhance patient diagnosis, treatment, and management.

Najafi N, Vartanian KB, Eskandar T, Ghookas K, Rostomian E, Agrawal DK.

Bioprinting for craniofacial reconstruction: A review of advancements, clinical use, and challenges. J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2025 Oct 29:S1010-5182(25)00325-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jcms.2025.10.010. Online ahead of print.

PMID: 41168061.

Parvizi D, Kandikattu S, Sahafi R, Allahverdian A, Han B, Fraix MP, Agrawal DK. Multimodal Approaches for Pain Management and Improving Functional Outcomes Following Amputation. J Orthop Sports Med. 2025;7(3):449-463. doi: 10.26502/josm.511500227. Epub 2025 Sep 18. PMID: 41347122 Free PMC article.

Bany-Mohammed M, Asim S, Elalami M, Agrawal DK. Trauma, Stress, and Mental Health Outcomes. J Psychiatry Psychiatr Disord. 2025;9(5):276-288. doi: 10.26502/jppd.2572-519X0260. Epub 2025 Sep 20. MID: 41347040 Free PMC article.

Gurumurthy G, Agrawal DK. Pulse Oximetry Screening for Critical Congenital Heart Defects: Effectiveness and Implementation across Clinical Settings.

Cardiol Cardiovasc Med. 2025;9(5):444-456. doi: 10.26502/fccm.92920468. Epub 2025 Aug 8. PMID: 41346944 Free PMC article.

Patel S, Patel H, Mukadam S, Agrawal DK. Apolipoprotein B in the Risk Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Cardiometabolic Diseases.

Cardiol Cardiovasc Med. 2025;9(5):427-438. doi: 10.26502/fccm.92920466. Epub 2025 Sep 4. PMID: 41346943 Free PMC article.

Mukadam S, Kim CK, Agrawal DK. A "Watchful Surgery" Approach: Timing and Valve Choice for Mildly Symptomatic Mitral and Aortic Valve Disease.

J Surg Res (Houst). 2025;8(3):460-476. doi: 10.26502/jsr.10020472. Epub 2025 Sep 22. PMID: 41346367 Free PMC article.

Vartanian M, Najafi N, Agrawal DK. Achilles Tendon Flaps in Lower Extremity Reconstructive Surgery: Versatility, Utility, and Patient-Centered Outcomes.

J Orthop Sports Med. 2025;7(4):486-493. doi: 10.26502/josm.511500232. Epub 2025 Oct 16. PMID: 41334186 Free PMC article.

Dr. Agrawal in collaboration with his postdoctoral fellow, internal research collaborator, Dr. Vikrant Rai, and external research collaborator contributed to science with recent publication of the following original research articles.

Stojanovic M, Agrawal DK. Regulation of RSPO3-LGR4 Signaling: Emerging Role in Inflammation Revealed by Network Analysis. Arch Clin Biomed Res. 2025;9(5):10.26502/acbr.50170489. doi: 10.26502/acbr.50170489. Epub 2025 Oct 27. PMID: 41333132 Free PMC article.

Malicevic U, Rai V, Skrbic R, Agrawal DK. Intricate interplay between ORMDL3, ER stress, and autophagy in the diabetic intestine. Mol Cell Biochem. 2025 Nov 3. doi: 10.1007/s11010-025-05424-7. Online ahead of print. PMID: 41182648