"I wanted to get my master's degree for a couple of reasons. First, I love learning. As a busy practitioner, I study often and enjoy learning a variety of new things to enhance my life and my practice. I longed for the intellectual companionship of classmates and learned professors. For me, the course work and class meetings were an ongoing discussion of important and fascinating subjects that filled me in a way that learning on my own could not. I also wanted to learn to be a better teacher. As practitioners, we teach all day long. I wanted to learn to do it better – to give patients and students the very best experience that I can. I began classroom teaching a year ago because I believe that it is faster to change the world 100 people at a time than it is to impact the world one person at a time in the examining room! The MSHS program gave me valuable tools with which to continue learning myself and to share that learning with my students. I feel that it is very important to remain engaged in our respective professions. The terminal degree for PAs is the master's degree. I feel that by obtaining my master's degree I am modeling responsible behavior to my students and my colleagues. It is an awesome privilege to train the persons who will constitute your profession in the future. My studies in the MSHPE program at WesternU help me to do that in far better ways than if I had not attended the program."
Tina Meyer (MSHS 2005)

"I chose WesternU because as a PT aide I had the opportunity to work with a graduate of WesternU's PT program who was well respected by other therapists and patients for his skill, knowledge, and humanistic approach to therapy."
Danielle Newton (DPT 2006)

I chose WesternU because it has so much to offer me as a student. I had a chance to sit in on a class and I noticed how all of the students were so friendly and enjoyed being there. Not only did the students seem to enjoy their time in class, but the professor seemed to really care about the students. That is so important - the professors enjoy teaching and they really care about the well being of the students.

WesternU is also special because of its diversity. Also, students do not work alone and everyone knows the meaning of team work. My professors and program staff know that there is life outside of school and are understanding of students' needs.
Lauren Santilli (MSPA 2007)

Three main reasons to come to WesternU: Strong academic programs, friendly environment, and a relaxing sense of family among peers.
The best thing about WesternU is the duality of its programs when it comes to learning and practicing. Right from the start, you roll up your sleeves and begin community and hospital rotations. So you don't just sit in class and memorize terms, but you actually go out there and practice what you learn, as you learn it. This is a great advantage over other pharmacy programs because you can use your knowledge by applying it to actual community cases.
I also chose WesternU because it fosters a friendly environment between healthcare programs, classes, and classmates. Forget the snobby students who never want to share their thoughts and ideas with their classmates. Students are assigned to groups that will work together throughout the academic year. These groups are very helpful because they instigate discussions and sharpen team-oriented skills that are essential in any healthcare position in the job market. Moreover, educators and facilitators are always willing to help you. With their "open-door" policy, most of the time you can walk right into their offices and they can address your concerns without delay.
At WesternU, you are family! Do not be surprised if your professors know you by your name. You are no longer an identification number sitting in a dusty computer database. Here, professors are committed to meet each student, and many of them will sit with you and discuss your academic progress to ensure that your career is right on track. Try getting that kind of attention in another university.
Ruben Ayala (PharmD 2008)

The best and most profound thing in the PharmD program at Western is the interaction between compassionate faculty and eager students within the dynamically designed classrooms. I chose WesternU because of its reputation and history of developing a health professional family designed to promote health care of all individuals with unprecedented compassion and knowledge. As a current student of the PharmD program at WesternU, I am proud to be part of a rich, diverse student body educated by a friendly, innovative faculty that drives to instill new ideas and unique concepts that we as future pharmacists can implement to improve the health care industry.
Dax Easton (PharmD 2009)

I chose WesternU because of the Northwest Track that it has initiated for DO students from the northwest area of the U.S. It will allow me to do my rotations in the Northwest – where I know I want to practice some day. I think it is a great program, due to the lack of osteopathic medical schools and osteopathic physicians there. I think that the unique training that the osteopathic medical school provides will definitely set me apart from my counterparts in my future medical practice. The OMM training is helping me gain a better understanding of the human body and is enabling me to become a more confident student-doctor.
Julianna Duchesneau (DO 2009)

The best thing about my PharmD program is the "block" schedule, which allows me to focus on one or two courses at a time. This type of course scheduling gives me the opportunity to review and absorb the material at a much steadier pace as opposed to being overwhelmed with the stress that comes along with taking four or five courses at a time. I chose to come to WesternU primarily because I feel that this university provides students with a welcoming and friendly environment. The faculty, staff, and students provide a sense of "family" which makes you feel right at home. It's nice to know that you can count on everyone here when in need of a helping hand. Students of all ethnicities attend this university which allows for more diversity and individuality. It's a learning experience which gives you the opportunity to create lasting friendships, gain a better understanding of the pharmacy profession, and allows you to meet other professionals with whom you can network with.
Sarah Carmona (PharmD 2008)

"The innovative and logical approach to learning offered in the DVM program at WesternU will give me the technical knowledge plus a level of experience and confidence than I do not feel I could get from a traditional curriculum. Problem Based Learning integrates the various subject content areas into real-life case studies that make learning more exciting and meaningful. Numerous clinical experiences have also provided the opportunity to immediately start using the things I've learned I read of WesternU's commitment to the principles of reverence for life, Problem Based Learning, and of life long learning as a professional objective, and it was as if someone had just articulated all of my long held, unspoken beliefs about education and veterinary medicine. With the excellent reputation held by other professional colleges at WesternU, I knew I wanted to be a part of this college of veterinary medicine. The curriculum at WesternU has allowed me to immerse myself in the study of veterinary medicine and participate in clinical experiences that I never thought possible for first year students."
Dennis Loveless (DVM 2008)

"The best thing about my program are my professors, faculty members, my classmates, and 2nd year PA students! Most of my professors/faculty are extremely caring and there to help when you need help or need to have a question(s) answered. In addition, they want to see you succeed and GRADUATE!!! Each time you seek for help, they make you feel at home and try to give you all the help you need or the answer to your question(s). My classmates are a great support because most of us (90%) work as a team. We email each other our class notes (in a format of notecards) and give any helpful tips so it would be easy to remember certain things or understand certain things. The 2nd year PA students make our life easier by emailing us their notes from last year, responding to our emails within 48 hours, and giving great tips on how to prepare for certain exams and what textbooks are needed. I chose to come to WesternU because WesternU's environment made me feel at home and safe. You will understand when you attend the PA informaton session (highly recommend) and for your interview. The Physician Assistant Program at WesternU is full of hope."
Bushra Alwakza (PA 2006)

"The best thing about the osteopathic medicine program at WesternU is the camaraderie of the students. While medical school is generally highly competitive, we freely share notes, links to websites, and other learning tools that aid in each other's studying. On any given day, our inboxes are filled with 10 to 15 e-mails from other students about links to study aids online or with notes that they gleaned from previous classes or second year students. I chose to come to WesternU because during my interview and the tour of WesternU, I was struck by the true friendliness of the WesternU students. Even those who were not conducting the tour went out of their way to make sure we were enjoying the tour, and to answer any questions. The administration is very receptive to students' comments, and is interested in trying to implement some of our suggested changes. Most of the first semester classes at COMP are review for many of the students, but this is to give all of the students an equal footing when we begin our systems-based courses in the second semester of the first year. Additionally, there is a good deal of camaraderie amongst the students in not only the first year class, but between the students in the first- and second-year classes as well."
Jessica Baer (DO 2008)

"My program here at WesternU responds to the dynamic issues of current health care. I chose to come here because of the nice facilities and the sunny So Cal location. WesternU is my place of opportunity. The enabling power of this education will put me where I want to be as a doctor of osteopathy. "
Nathan Cardon (DO 2007)

"Upon hearing about the curriculum at WesternU, I was intrigued by the amount of animal experience that was offered during the first two years of veterinary medicine. That was a huge factor for me coming to this school because I knew that other veterinary schools did not offer that. I was also intrigued by the curriculum and the emphasis that this school has on life long learning. I think that this is a very important aspect of veterinary medicine in order to keep up with current changes in medicine that will improve the well-being and health of animals as well as the happiness of their families. Unlike other veterinary schools the Western University students have the opportunity to interact with faculty members on a daily basis. Through PBL, we are learning to work with different people possessing different backgrounds and points of view. This will help us in the future when we are practicing veterinarians. I look forward to experiencing different aspects of the field through our third-year rotations."
Veronica Palacios (DVM 2007)

"The best thing about WesternU is knowing that no matter how bad it gets, or how hard the coursework is, there is always someone there to pick you up and to remind us why we're here, because we want to be. I was so impressed with the faculty and the program after my interview I knew this was where I belonged. I would want prospective students to know that the days of weeding out students are over; once you're in the program everyone and everything is geared toward our success and understanding the coursework so we'll be prepared to practice."
Gavin Duffy (PA 2006)

"The best thing about the DO program at WesternU is that it wastes no time getting into the challenging world of medicine. Within the first week we were working on cadavers and getting the feel for how different every body is; we were diagnosing and treating somatic dysfunction with OMT; and within the first few weeks we were meeting in small groups to discuss difficult clinical scenarios that required us to think critically and apply all that we had learned. I chose to come to WesternU for several reasons; however, the main reason was their new Northwest Track program. I have lived in the Northwest all of my life and I am excited about the opportunity to train and build connections where I will one day practice. What you should know about the DO program is that it is challenging, it is stressful, it is demanding, but it is completely worth it. At WesternU the goal is that you will one day be a physician that takes into consideration the whole body and strives to find health using your knowledge of osteopathic medicine and they are dedicated to teach you how."
Carri Jo Johnson (DO 2008)

"Before arriving at WesternU, I feared the competitive nature of medical school and the assumption that no one would help each other. Fortunately, my experiences have been on the total opposite of the spectrum. My classmates are always willing to help one another, especially before an exam. It is very comforting to know that I can depend on them for something as simple as asking a question to the fact that I know they will go out of their way to help me succeed. At the same time, WesternU offers a wide range of clubs that I have no problem selecting the ones that best fit me and aid me toward my interest and specialty.Besides being situated in an area where I plan to practice medicine, I had a very positive experience during my interview at WesternU. The admissions staff members were warm and welcoming. The campus is small enough that I feel like I am not just a number. And just as important, I have alumni friends who definitely recommended WesternU as a wonderful place to spend my medical school career. If you are looking for a close-knit school where you get to know your classmates and professors on a personal level, WesternU is the place. I do not regret my decision to come to WesternU because I have had may opportunities to get involved and feel connected to the university. By actively engaging myself in both the academic and social aspects of campus life, WesternU has become MY own university."
Kelvin Vu (DO 2008)

"I enrolled in the Health Professions Education program to be able to have the skills as a good clinician in patient counseling. The program helped me learn the tools to be able to teach my colleagues in the health professions. The program has taught me, first and foremost, good communication skills. It has helped me learn to communicate effectively to an audience, with new technological tools and media that are available to instructors. I have learned the background of what is required to create a curriculum, and how to subsequently implement it. I highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in expanding their role as an educator in the health professions."
Simone Yik (MSHS-HPE, PharmD 2004)

"Western University's College of Veterinary Medicine was really the only veterinary school I wanted to go to. I'd known about it since 1998 when the university announced it was opening a veterinary college and I've followed its progress ever since. The Problem Based Learning curriculum, the Reverence for Life philosophy - they really spoke to me. For example, with PBL, we're learning to focus on treating instead of trying to remember what we learned in our textbooks. When we graduate, we'll be able to use that training right away. I'm also amazed at the amount of work that went into getting our building and curriculum as ready as it is. I know we're the charter class and there are still some kinks to work out, but it's really incredible how awesome the curriculum is. I would never go back to a traditional curriculum."
Heidi Ditmyer (DVM 2007)

"There are many aspects of this PA program that have made my education memorable. The teaching staff has already exceeded my high expectations, and are composed of the most enjoyable and effective practitioners in our field. I am very pleased that our faculty encourages and supports participation in our state PA chapter as well as involvement at the national level. The curriculum is challenging yet rewarding, and embraces an emphasis on community involvement through numerous clubs and volunteer opportunities, as well as patient education and disease prevention. I chose Western University because after attending a large State University I desired an intimate approach to my next degree. At Western, I am not treated like a faceless number in a crowd. The small campus affords personalized opportunities to engage the faculty and staff on a personal level. My experiences so far at Western University have instilled a positive impact onto me that I am excited to share with my future patients and other health care providers."
Melissa Rosbrugh (PA 2006)

"I'm so happy to go to medical school on an intimate campus with other students training to become all sorts of health care professionals. Western University allows me to interact with students from every program. Through campus clubs, volunteer activities and social functions that are open to everyone in the Western University community, I've made friends in the physician assistant, physical therapy and pharmacy programs as well as other medical students. I think that after I graduate, I'll have a better understanding and respect for the people I'll be working with day in and day out."
Christen Parker (DO 2005)