Celebrating Our Reaffirmation of Accreditation: A Visionary Milestone and Deepest Gratitude to Our Team

Dear WesternU Community,

I am absolutely thrilled to share the wonderful news that the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) has officially reaffirmed institutional accreditation for Western University of Health Sciences for an eight-year cycle!

This milestone is a powerful testament to the excellence of our faculty, the dedication of our staff, the brilliance of our students, and our collective commitment to advancing health sciences education.

Honoring Our Journey: From Challenge to Triumph

To truly appreciate the magnitude of this outcome, it is important to reflect on where we stood just a few years ago.

From 2016 to 2022, WesternU navigated a challenging period under a WSCUC “concern” status directive.

When WesternU’s current administration stepped in, we confronted these challenges head-on with transparent leadership and a clear strategic vision.

Through the extraordinary hard work of our campus community and an indefatigable commitment to excellence, those collective efforts culminated in the official lifting of that status and the proud restoration of our full, unconditioned accreditation in 2023.

This set the vital foundation for the ultimate success we celebrate today.

A Historic Achievement for Our Institution

To truly appreciate the magnitude of this outcome, it is important to contextualize it within higher education.

In reviewing the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) archives, no standalone university composed exclusively of medical or health sciences colleges, and without a multidisciplinary undergraduate and graduate structure, has ever been granted a reaffirmation of accreditation lasting longer than 8 years.

By achieving this maximum possible 8-year cycle, WesternU has reached the absolute pinnacle of success for institutions of our specialized structure.

As part of this cycle, we will engage in a standard three-year follow-up site visit and provide targeted written updates in the next one to two years. Far from just a compliance measure, these touchpoints represent a collaborative blueprint to continually sharpen our institutional effectiveness and elevate our student-centered mission.

An Expression of My Deepest Gratitude

An achievement of this historic magnitude does not happen in a vacuum. It is the result of tireless dedication, rigorous self-reflection, and exemplary leadership. I want to extend my immense gratitude to everyone across our campus who lent their time, expertise, and passion to this highly successful process.

In particular, I want to recognize Drs. Bradley Henson and Satoko Siegel, along with their phenomenal team.

Their steering leadership, meticulous attention to detail, and tireless execution behind the scenes truly carried us across the finish line.

Because of their vision and hard work, WesternU was able to present itself with the utmost clarity and distinction to the commission.

Please join me in thanking them for this monumental effort.

Boldly Charting Our Path Forward

True to our visionary spirit, WesternU is already moving boldly into the future. WSCUC recently previewed upcoming regulatory evolutions slated for implementation on July 1, 2027.

I am incredibly proud to share that we are already weeks ahead of the curve. Thanks to the proactive leadership of Simone’s office, we have already begun mapping out the strategic alignment needed to smoothly adopt these new standards well before the final text is published this November.

This successful outcome belongs to every single member of the WesternU family.

Thank you for your unwavering professionalism, your passion, and your deep investment in our university’s legacy.

Together, we are not just meeting the standards of higher education—we are defining the future of healthcare.

With profound gratitude and excitement for the journey ahead,
Robin Farias-Eisner, MD, PhD, MBA
WesternU President