Heatherington College of Osteopathic Medicine
President’s Office
July 21, 2025
Dear WesternU Family,
Today marks a profound and inspirational moment in WesternU’s proud history.
Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest (COMP-Northwest) will proudly bear the name Heatherington College of Osteopathic Medicine (H-COM), in honor of the Heatherington Foundation for Innovation and Education in Health Care and its founder, Jeff Heatherington, LHD (Hon.), a leader, philanthropist and lifelong advocate for osteopathic medicine in Oregon.
Precedent for naming medical schools, and their respective sites, exists throughout the nation. These name changes reflect a growing trend of medical schools re-naming themselves in recognition of benefactors. These medical schools, or their additional sites, have been renamed to honor those who have made significant contributions to the college or site.
In the specific case of WesternU, the name of the College of Medicine, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, COMP, will not change. Only the COMP-Northwest site will be re-named Heatherington College of Osteopathic Medicine (H-COM).
Mr. Heatherington has long championed our mission of humanistic, whole-person care. While serving as director of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of Oregon, he helped bring together WesternU and Samaritan Health Services to build COMP-Northwest. Mr. Heatherington has played a pivotal role in shaping both the University’s presence in Oregon and the health care landscape in the state.
This is the first time in WesternU’s 48-year history that a college-site (COMP-Northwest) will be re-named as a major benefactor and advocate. We know so many of you have poured your heart and soul into the building of COMP-Northwest as a premier destination for osteopathic medical education. COMP-Northwest represents a deeply felt source of community pride. This will not change in any way. In fact, together we will continue to build upon this extraordinary legacy. Whether named COMP-Northwest or H-COM, this educational beacon and coveted site for high quality of higher medical education will always be synonymous with outstanding medical education, rural health leadership, and compassionate primary care in the Pacific Northwest.
Mr. Heatherington’s roots in osteopathic medicine run deep, profoundly shaped by the pioneering work of his father, Dr. J. Scott Heatherington. Born in 1919, Dr. J. Scott Heatherington was a distinguished osteopathic physician and surgeon. He founded the department of osteopathic medicine at Eastmoreland Hospital in Portland, Oregon in 1980. His dedication was recognized with numerous accolades, including the Oregon GP of the Year award in 1974, a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996, and the A.T. Still Medallion of Honor in 1998.
Mr. Heatherington is the founder, former president and CEO of FamilyCare Health, a nonprofit organization that coordinated health benefits for approximately 115,000 Medicaid and Medicare members in the Portland, Oregon tri-county area. He served as the executive director of the Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of Oregon for 30 years. To recognize his 30 years as president of FamilyCare Health, Heatherington created the Heatherington Foundation for Innovation and Education in Health Care in 2014.
Mr. Heatherington has served as a dedicated member of the WesternU Board of Trustees since 2016 and was recognized with an Honorary Alumnus and Doctor of Humane Letters by WesternU. His generosity extends to founding multiple scholarships at the University, directly impacting the lives of countless aspiring health care professionals.
This naming is more than symbolic. It reflects a legacy built on advocacy, innovation and service. It is a strategic step forward for the University’s visibility, credibility and philanthropic potential – and a reaffirmation of WesternU’s mission to educate tomorrow’s health care leaders through humanistic, whole-person care.
We will have many more updates and information to share in the days and weeks to come. We look forward to joining everyone in our WesternU family in celebrating this transformational chapter in our history.
Please see the attached FAQ’s for any questions you might have. In the coming days, please expect additional information regarding this exciting transition.
Robin Farias-Eisner, MD, PhD, MBA
President
Paula M. Crone, DO
Provost & Chief Academic Officer
Lisa Warren, DO
Dean, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific & College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest