WesternU Oregon receives approval for new Master of Science in Nursing-Entry program | |
The future of nursing demands compassionate, practice-ready clinicians who can lead, collaborate, and respond to the evolving needs of diverse patient populations. Meeting this moment requires innovative pathways into nursing education that are designed for today’s realities. Western University of Health Sciences’ new Master of Science in Nursing-Entry (MSN-E) program on the Oregon campus will meet this need by preparing students from non-nursing backgrounds to enter the profession with a strong foundation in clinical excellence, collaborative leadership, and humanistic care.
While this will be the College of Graduate Nursing’s (CGN) first program on the Oregon campus, it is grounded in the University’s established history of delivering high-quality nursing education through eight programs on the Pomona campus and a network of more than 1,000 alumni nationwide.
“The launch of our MSN-E program in Oregon reflects WesternU’s deep commitment to preparing compassionate, practice-ready health professionals who are equipped to meet the evolving needs of patients and communities,” said WesternU Provost Paula Crone, DO ‘92. “This milestone represents an important expansion of the College of Graduate Nursing’s presence in the Pacific Northwest and reinforces our long-standing partnership with Oregon. Most importantly, this program strengthens the health care workforce pathways, particularly for rural and medically underserved communities, by educating nurses who are trained to lead, collaborate, and serve where they are needed most.”
Click here to read the full story.
| | COMP and COMP-Northwest news | | |
COMP Assistant Professor Austin Lawrence, PhD, (Medical Anatomical Sciences) and CVM Associate Professor Adam Huttenlocker, PhD, represented WesternU at Fossil Fest, an annual event held at the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology in Claremont on Feb. 21.
Drs. Lawrence and Huttenlocker spoke about the early evolution of humans and mammals, respectively, and engaged with hundreds of visitors from around Southern California.
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WesternU COMP students Andre Aabedi, Artin Allahverdian, Rafaelle B. Azarraga, Felicia Delgadillo, Tony Eskandar, Kevin Ghookas, Black Han, Mark C. Jackson, Kristen Mittl, Niayesh Najafi, David Parvizi, Hina Patel, Anjelie Pathak, Edgmin Rostomian, Amrita Sandhu, Kevin B. Vartanian, and Jason Zar worked with Dr. Devendra K. Agrawal and Dr. Marcel 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.
Click here to read more.
| | COMP-Northwest Professor Brion Benninger, MD, MBChB, MSc, was a keynote speaker at Oregon’s Emergency Services Annual Conference Oct. 4-5, presenting on the innovative Turbo O₂ Cap which he helped develop and patent to improve airway intubation providing further safety for patients. Dr Benninger spoke on how the Turbo O₂ should be used during prehospital intubations as well as hospital based in Emergency departments and operating rooms. He is developing a clinical trial for first responders who intubate. | | College of Graduate Nursing news | | |
College of Graduate Nursing Associate Professor Dr. Gryan Garcia and second-year DNP/PMHNP students Aaron Ling and Daniel Kim published the following, which aligns with the students' DNP project on suicide assessment at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.
Ling, A., Kim, D., & Garcia, G. (2026). The Role of Nursing Policy in Standardizing Suicide Risk Screening Across Healthcare Settings. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 1–8. Click to read the article: The Role of Nursing Policy in Standardizing Suicide Risk Screening Across Healthcare Settings - PubMed
| | WesternU Eyexperience Free Webinar Series | | |
Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Time: 6-7 p.m. (PST)
Speaker: Carlyn Yarosh, OD, Optometric Resident
Course: How to Catch a Vision Therapy Patient in the Wild
COPE ID: COPE APPROVAL PENDING
Format: Synchronous Virtual
Category: Low Vision/Visual Impairment & Rehabilitation
CE Hours: 1.00
REGISTER
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Join us for Coffee and Conversation and connect over a cup of coffee with the Office of the Provost and the Library Team.
Noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 4 in the Pumerantz Library Lobby.
The first 70 participants will receive a FREE coffee from Sospeso, the library’s new neighbor and an emerging community hub and café.
Be sure to stop by the activity tables hosted by LEAD, CETL, CDHP, MedWell, and Student Life & Student Leadership. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Inquiry to Impact: An Evidence-Based Practice Intensive
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 7, 2026 in the Pumerantz Library 2nd floor classroom. Lunch will be provided.
Clinicians face complex decisions every day, and the ability to confidently translate research into practice has never been more important. To support this essential skill set, the library is hosting an upcoming full-day immersive workshop led by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) and designed to strengthen evidence-based practice (EBP) skills and empower clinicians to make informed, impactful decisions.
In this hands-on workshop participants will:
· Refine clinical questions
· Collaborate effectively with medical librarians
· Design and document rigorous search strategies
· Rapidly screen and critically appraise evidence
· Synthesize findings and determine the best course of action for practice change
Participants will leave with a clear understanding of the full EBP workflow and the confidence to apply it within their own practice settings to improve patient outcomes and advance clinical excellence.
Register Here: https://www.aorn.org/details/inquiry-to-impact--an-evidence-based-practice-intensive
| | Studio Portraits, Wednesday, March 25 | |
Marketing and Communications is holding an open studio portrait day in Pomona:
9 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. Wednesday, March 25
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.
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CETL is launching our first-ever AI Literacy Professional Learning Community to help faculty and staff move from uncertainty to confidence.
If you’ve been curious about AI or wondering how it fits into your role, this is your opportunity to explore it alongside colleagues in a supportive, structured way.
Visit CETL's AI PLC page to learn more and join the interest list!
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Please welcome the following recent hires to WesternU:
COMP-Northwest: Jessica Foster, Learning Skills Specialist
Michole Thane, Standardized Patient
CHS: Katie Wongthipkongka, PT Lab Assistant
COMP: Malina Navarrette, Research Technician
WesternU Health Oliver Station: Rochelle Neal, Front Office Assistant
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Congratulations to the following dedicated employees for their milestone years of service here at Western University of Health Sciences:
25 years
Tiffany Witherspoon, College of Optometry
15 years
Eileen Cotter, Student-Employee Health Office
10 years
Prisma Martinez, College of Veterinary Medicine
Jerome Lacroix, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
5 years
Tanesha Wells, University Financial Services and Treasury
Elizabeth Taylor, Office of Research and Biotechnology
Benjamin Segura, Strategic Alliances
Paulina Saraza, College of Dental Medicine
Dominique Guy, Human Resources
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