PNWU’s Eleventh Annual Commencement Ceremony Honors 141 Newly Graduated Doctors and 40 Inaugural Masters Students
“Graduates from both programs are bright lights for rural and medically underserved areas of the Pacific Northwest.”
On Saturday, May 21, 2022, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) hosted the Eleventh Annual PNWU Commencement Ceremony, live from Yakima’s historic Capitol Theatre. The celebrations honored PNWU’s eleventh class of Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs), and it’s first class of Master of Arts in Medical Sciences (MAMS) graduates.
By the end of the ceremony, 1,221 health sciences students – including 1,181 osteopathic physicians – had graduated from the grassroots non-profit university, which was recently ranked a top-ten medical school in the United States in three major mission-related categories. Since PNWU’s founding in 2008, 65% of PNWU graduates have reported practice in medically underserved areas, 44% in a primary care specialty, and 15% in a rural area. Those statistics reflect the visions of PNWU’s newest graduates, who were similarly educated and trained under the University mission, which emphasizes service among rural and medically underserved communities throughout the Northwest.
1,221 PNWU ALUMS
ONE VISION
1,221 PNWU ALUMS ONE VISION
“The graduation of the PNWU MAMS Class of 2022 validates the vision of University Founders who dreamed of a university that has multiple graduate health care degree programs,” explained Mark Taylor, PhD, director of the MAMS programs. Dr. Taylor added that many PNWU MAMS graduates will matriculate into complementary PNWU programs, including the DO program, PNWU’s inaugural class of Doctor of Physical Therapy students, and even the university’s developing schools of occupational therapy and dental medicine. Others, he explained, will work at PNWU partner organizations such as MultiCare, Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, and Sea Mar - Community Health Centers.
“Everyone in their lifetime, deserves a fair chance to achieve their dreams. The essence of life is having a passion for living; the only true failure is never having tried to make a difference.”
“As I reflect on the eleventh graduating class from PNWU-COM, I am overwhelmed with the impact these students and their predecessors have had on healthcare in rural and underserved populations, and the impact they have had on me,” said Robert Sorrells, PhD, PNWU’s associate dean for preclinical education. Dr. Sorrells recently announced plans for retirement after fifteen years at the university. “When I started working here, I looked upon the mission as a worthy, but lofty goal, and now we have the data to prove we are highly successful at what we set out to do.”
“This class endured more than two years of a pandemic, and ran towards the danger, eager to help, and earning their right to stand beside the other pioneers from PNWU. My life, our lives, and the lives of their future patients, are enriched by the commitment of these dedicated, compassionate, and talented people.”
“The graduates are the reason we are here,” added President Lawler. “They extend lessons learned from our esteemed faculty and staff to countless communities that desperately need their care.”
“ I am certain the 2022 PNWU graduates will make the world better.”