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WesternU and the University of Oregon develop
DO and DPT Pathway Program
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Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) and the University of Oregon (UO) signed an agreement to establish the WesternU-UO Pathway Program designed for UO pre-health students who wish to matriculate as candidates for the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest (COMP-Northwest), which is in the process of transitioning to its new name, the Heatherington College of Osteopathic Medicine, or the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at the College of Health Sciences-Northwest (CHS-Northwest).
The goal is to identify highly motivated and capable students who demonstrate a high likelihood of superior academic performance in both the UO program of study and WesternU programs, provide expanded educational opportunities to identified students, and increase doctoral educational opportunities for Pacific Northwest students.
Read the full story: WesternU and the University of Oregon develop DO and DPT Pathway Program | WesternU News
| | American Dental Association president visits WesternU College of Dental Medicine | | |
American Dental Association President Brett Kessler, DDS, talked with administrators, faculty, and students from Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Dental Medicine about self-care and the impact of oral health on overall health.
Dr. Kessler visited WesternU’s Pomona, California campus on Aug. 25, 2025, and gave a noon presentation where he talked about how dentistry saved his life. He entered dental school in 1991 with a substance abuse problem and graduated with a worse substance abuse problem. He hit bottom in his third year of practice. He attributes the beginning of his recovery to a phone call to the Michigan Dental Association well-being program.
“So, I feel like I’m giving back to the profession that gave me a life. As I got better, I got inspired to live my best life,” Kessler said.
Read the full story: American Dental Association president visits WesternU College of Dental Medicine | WesternU News
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Dr. Jerome Lacroix, Associate Professor of Physiology in COMP's Department of Biomedical Sciences, has been awarded two NIH grants as Principal Investigator this month.
The first is a two-year R21 grant from the National Center for Complementary & Integrative Health (total budget: $390,979) to study heteromerization of mechanosensitive Piezo channels. The second is a four-year multiple-PI R01 grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (total budget: $2,514,288), awarded in collaboration with Dr. Lyna Luo, Professor in the College of Pharmacy, and Dr. Medha Pathak, Associate Professor at the University of California, Irvine, to study cooperative regulation of Piezo channels. These awards mark Dr. Lacroix’s second single-PI R21 and third multi-PI R01 grants at WesternU.
| | College of Dental Medicine news | | |
The College of Dental Medicine celebrates a new publication in the journal Oral by CDM Associate Professor Miou Zhou, PhD, Associate Professor, (pictured below) CDM Assistant Dean and Associate Professor Dalia Seleem, DDS, PhD, (pictured, left)and CDM Class of 2026 student Sophia Devore.
DeVore, S.; Seleem, D.; Zhou, M. The Impact of HIV Infection and Aging on Periodontitis. Oral 2025, 5, 64. https://doi.org/10.3390/oral5030064
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Their article, “The Impact of HIV Infection and Aging on Periodontitis,” explores how HIV and biological aging interact to increase vulnerability to periodontal disease. By highlighting immune dysfunction, microbial imbalance, and chronic inflammation, the review underscores the need for prevention-focused oral care and early interventions in this growing patient population.
This work not only advances understanding of the oral-systemic health connection but also showcases the value of faculty–student collaboration in producing scholarship that informs clinical care and research.
CDM Class of 2027 students Chew Tin Zar Aung and Khawla Abuaqel, together with CDM Associate Professor, Dr. Miou Zhou, PhD, recently published a paper in Experimental Neurology. “CCR5 as a key modulator in neurocognitive disorders,” Exp Neuro. Aug 28:115450.
This paper reviewed the emerging role of the chemokine receptor CCR5 as a critical regulator of neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD), HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), stroke, vascular dementia (VaD), Lewy body dementia (LBD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and other neurological disorders.
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Please join Western University of Health Sciences' Military Medical Student Association in their annual 9/11 memorial service, to be observed in-person at noon Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025 in Ethan Allen Park (WesternU California campus).
Let's pay tribute to the heroes and vow never to forget the tremendous loss of life suffered 24 years ago.
Light refreshments will be provided.
Contact mmsaclub@westernu.edu if you have questions.
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Please welcome the following recent hires to WesternU:
CGN: Christy Ward, Adjunct Assistant Professor
COMP-Northwest: Allison Ingle, Research Coordinator Specialist
CVM: Isabella DiDonato, Animal Care Assistant
COMP: Richard Burwick, Associate Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology
CHS-Northwest: Robert Spaulding, Clinical Assistant
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