Western University of Health Sciences celebrated a strategic partnership with Kern Medical, California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB), and Bakersfield College that addresses a critical shortage of health care providers in Kern County by developing home-grown physicians who will train and practice there. 

Kern Medical hosted a summit Nov. 3, 2025, in Bakersfield to announce these strategic partnerships. Kern Medical Designated Institutional Officer and Director of Medical Education Amir Berjis, MD, MACM, FACS, FCCP, said Kern Medical serves as the county’s designated safety net hospital, providing care for the most vulnerable and underserved patients while operating one of the busiest trauma centers in California. 

Since the pandemic, Kern Medical has maintained an over 30% retention rate of graduates who choose to stay in the community and practice their chosen field of medicine, Berjis said. Their collaboration with WesternU has already born fruit, as witnessed by the WesternU osteopathic medical students in attendance who are completing clinical clerkships at Kern Medical. 

“We are creating a well-structured pathway that allows local students in our community to enter the field of medicine and stay and practice here once their medical training is complete,” Berjis said. “We firmly believe that students from our local communities should have the opportunity to complete their undergraduate degrees in the Central Valley, matriculate through medical school and complete core clerkships at home, match into and graduate from medical training programs at Kern Medical, and stay and practice right here in Kern County.” 

Read the full story:WesternU partners with Kern Medical, CSUB and Bakersfield College to nurture and train physicians in Kern County | WesternU News

For the fourth consecutive year, WesternU COMP-Northwest, which is in the process of transitioning to its new name, the Heatherington College of Osteopathic Medicine, participated in the annual Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) Health Care Equity Fair (HCEF) held Oct. 25, 2025, at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon.  

Every fall, future health professionals from COMP-Northwest, OHSU, Oregon State University, Pacific University, and the University of Western States unite in a spirit of service and collaboration to support Portland’s uninsured and underinsured residents. Students, faculty, and volunteers work side by side to offer free high-quality care and community resources. Health professionals and local volunteers provide medical, dental, and vision screenings, haircuts, food, clothing, and even veterinary care to community members. For WesternU’s osteopathic medical students, HCEF provides a unique opportunity to care for Portland’s most vulnerable populations while gaining hands-on experience in interprofessional teamwork and compassionate patient care. 

Read the full story: WesternU COMP-Northwest students join OHSU in delivering health services at annual health fair | WesternU News

Representatives from HOKA, Medical Marketing Manager Toby Rollinson, Field Experience Manager Gio Guzman, and Account Executive Omar Zavala Soto visited WesternU's College of Podiatric Medicine on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, to share insights on the history and science behind HOKA’s performance footwear. Known for its signature maximal cushioning and innovative design, HOKA holds the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance for promoting foot health.

Students and faculty learned about HOKA’s biomechanics-focused approach to footwear and enjoyed the chance to demo select shoe models. Five lucky students took home a free pair of HOKA Arahi or Clifton shoes. The visit also included a tour of the Biomechanics and Gait Lab and the WesternU Health Foot and Ankle Center, led by Tom Fox, Director of Outreach.

View more photos on Instagram and Facebook.

The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) Board of Directors visited WesternU's College of Podiatric Medicine for a two-day educational and networking event, offering students an unparalleled opportunity to connect with national leaders in podiatric surgery.

The visit began with a dinner presentation on Nov. 5, followed by a hands-on surgical skills cadaver workshop on Nov. 7. Students gained valuable insight into the field of foot and ankle surgery, learning directly from ACFAS leaders and representatives from the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS).

The event, coordinated by CPM Faculty Adrienne Estes, DPM, and ACFAS student club leaders Jordan Caine, Meher Vartanian, and Alair Zhao, fostered meaningful connections among students, faculty, and national leadership, reinforcing CPM’s commitment to preparing future podiatric physicians for excellence in surgical care.

College of Dental Medicine Associate Professor and Assistant Dean Dalia Seleem, DDS, PhD, recently published “Professionalism in Predoctoral Dental Education: An Analysis of Five US Dental Schools” in the Journal of Dental Education. Her article explores how dental programs across the country approach the teaching and assessment of professionalism.

Dr. Seleem served as both first and corresponding author, and the publication was part of her work in the ADEA Emerging Leaders Program, a national initiative that supports leadership development in dental education.

This research provides valuable insights into curricular strategies and underscores the importance of fostering professional identity in future dental practitioners.

Read the article: https://doi.org/10.1002/jdd.70064

Pumerantz Library Assistant II Greg Lewis and Access Services Coordinator Olive Manson presented their poster “Survey Says!: Including the Community in Library Narratives through Experience-Based Marketing” at the 2025 California Library Association (CLA) Conference Oct. 25, 2025.

Their poster focuses on how The Harriet K. & Philip Pumerantz Library has utilized experience-based marketing strategies to gather data from the community and shape a narrative that positions the library as both an academic resource and an affinity space. Their poster focuses on the impact of library marketing programs such as Game Night: WesternU Feud Edition, Coffee and Conversations, and Welcome Week. Lewis and Manson’s poster demonstrates how the library effectively promotes library resources while celebrating the diverse community experiences that make the Pumerantz Library the dynamic heart of the university.

The theme of this year’s 2025 CLA Conference was “Telling Our Own Stories,” which deeply resonated with the Harriet K. and Philip Pumerantz Library staff. The library’s marketing team has shifted their strategies to not only broadcast library resources but also highlight the lived experiences of our community. The marketing team recognizes that the library is more than a place that provides access to reliable information for our community. The library is also a place that strives to help the WesternU community see themselves in the spaces that we create and the stories that we showcase. Marketing is one of the many ways in which library workers can advocate and amplify diverse experiences, and Pumerantz Library workers were given the opportunity to share their strategies that help them reach this goal. 

They were not only excited to share their own strategies at CLA but also able to learn from other information institutions in the field. This rewarding experience reinstated the impact that storytelling has on creating connection and inclusivity.

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

9 a.m. to 2:25 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18

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.