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CPM and COMP students during the scavenger hunt walking the Esplanade from station to station or touring the Sarkaria Family Patient Simulation Suite.
WesternU / College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) and COMP-Northwest

College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific

Our students are resilient, innovative, and well prepared for an exciting and rewarding future in health care.

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2023 – Postgraduate Residency Placement

Students train at the Pomona Fairplex during the pandemic

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) see patients, prescribe medications, perform surgeries, and deliver babies in hospitals, medical centers, and offices across the United States and overseas. Whether they are primary care providers or specialists, DOs use all the standard tools of modern medicine, but also have additional therapeutic modalities with which to care for their patients. Our students thrive in a culture of patient-focused care because they practice on a foundation of professionalism, benevolence, and respect. They understand that while they practice the art of medicine with their heads, they must never forget to use their hearts.

We inspire, in a humanistic tradition, technically competent, culturally sensitive, professional and compassionate physicians who become lifelong learners.


aoa, logo WesternU COMP & COMP-Northwest is Fully Accredited and Achieved the Maximum 10 years Accreditation with Exceptional Outcome during 2022 visit.

Message from the Acting Dean

We, at the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) and COMP-Northwest, remain committed to ushering in a new generation of osteopathic physicians who serve their patients with purpose, passion, and proficiency. The faculty and staff at both campuses inspire a shared vision of a student-centered, inter-professional approach to learning with a meaningful emphasis on humanistic health care. We strive to model the way forward for our students and alumni by being leaders in our profession, our communities, and in the realm of academia. Today’s advanced technology and the ever-growing body of medical knowledge continue to move COMP and COMP-Northwest into a new era of medicine. A vigorous desire to heal, combined with their strong medical education, makes our students stand apart from the rest.

David Connett, DO, FACOFP, dist.
The Health Education Center (HEC) and Esplanade at dusk, Thursday Jan. 7, 2010. The new 180,000-square-foot HEC building on the campus of Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona opened for classes Jan. 4.

About the College

At the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) and COMP-Northwest, we focus on one program, the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. This means we are 100% dedicated to helping you fulfill your calling to become the doctor you are meant to be. Each student journey is slightly different, because each student is different – yet our graduates obtain the same outcome beyond the DO title: Rooted in Humanism, you will find your authentic self – a place to heal with your head and your heart.

What is a D.O.?

  • Stephanie White, DO
  • Mandilin Hudson, DO
  • Rebecca Giusti, DO
  • Gilbert Hernandez, OMM Fellow
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    The future of medicine magazine

    The Future of Medicine Magazine

    The College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP)-Northwest and COMP (California) have launched a new digital edition of the Future of Medicine magazine. The inaugural digital edition explores technology in medical education: AI, Research, Simulation, Telemedicine. The digital magazine also allows us to present insightful podcasts and videos from our outstanding faculty and staff. This marks an exciting new chapter for our COMP community.

    National Recognition

    WesternU COMP is ranked in US News & World Report’s 2023 Best Medical Schools for:

    • Best Medical Schools: Research
    • Most Diverse Medical Schools
    • Most Graduates Practicing in Medically Underserved Areas
    • Most Graduates Practicing in Primary Care Fields (#5)
    • Most Graduates Practicing in Rural Areas
    • Best Medical Schools: Primary Care

    Why is this important?

    WesternU is one of more than 800 institutions with graduate schools surveyed by U.S. News & World Report on an annual basis. WesternU’s COMP and COMP-Northwest is recognized among the best 123 Medical Schools surveyed in the United States. This national recognition speaks to WesternU’s indicators of excellence that ultimately lead to student success.

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    Sarkaria Family Patient Simulation Suite

    The Sarkaria Family Patient Simulation Suite is a 6,000 square foot innovative learning space with state-of-the-art equipment that provides WesternU students with the highest quality medical simulation experiences.
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    Student, Faculty and Alumni Spotlight

    Many of our students, faculty, staff and alumni form connections and bonds that last a lifetime. Meet some of them here!
    A male doctor wearing a white coat and tie.
    Student Spotlight
    Karim Hajjar, DO2025
    Student DO of the Month

    “Karim is the type of student that would put you before himself when it comes to making sure his friends are taken care of. He is always thoughtful and kind with his words. He’s a joy to work with and be around; he makes a difficult situation a lot more manageable to handle. He’s a face I always look for right before I go into a stressful situation.” Read Karim’s Story…

    A man standing next to a large dinosaur skeleton.
    Faculty Spotlight
    Matthew Wedel, PhD

    Dr. Matt Wedel holds a joint appointment in COMP and in the College of Podiatric Medicine, where he teaches lower extremity anatomy. In addition to being an anatomist, he is also a paleontologist, and every summer he digs for fossils in Utah and Oklahoma. Although much of his research deals with the evolution of dinosaurs and birds, Dr. Matt also mentors student research in anatomy and co-coordinates the Applied Anatomy Track. Dr. Matt especially enjoys projects that bridge anatomy and paleontology, and his favorite is the discovery of a respiratory infection in a dinosaur that was so severe it left traces in the fossilized bones. Read Dr. Wedel’s Story…

    A man and woman standing in front of a wall of plants.
    Alumni Spotlight
    Niloofar Khatibi, DO & Chris Arnold, DO ’01

    In honor of the month of love, we are featuring one of our many alumni couples who met and fell in love at COMP! “After 24 years of marriage that was filled with raising 2 beautiful children and practicing family medicine, we often reminisce over our time spent at the Western University of Health Sciences. We met at the romantic anatomy lab and grew to love one another while studying in the library – also, so very romantic! This beautiful relationship led us to our big day in June 2000 as we both completed our 3rd year of medical school. Read Dr Khatibi’s Story…

    Second-year College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) student Azaria Lewis, MSMS ’19, serves as the president of the White Coats for Black Lives (WC4BL) WesternU Pomona Chapter. It is among her many leadership roles as a student. Photographed on the Pomona campus Oct. 7, 2020. (Jeff Malet, WesternU) Second-year College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) student Azaria Lewis, MSMS ’19, serves as the president of the White Coats for Black Lives (WC4BL) WesternU Pomona Chapter. It is among her many leadership roles as a student. Photographed on the Pomona campus Oct. 7, 2020.

    Commitment TO DIVERSITY

    We are focused on seamless integration of DEI consciousness in our curriculum, recruitment and successful admission of students from diverse groups, engagement and leadership development of students from diverse groups, recruitment and advancement of employees of diverse groups, active engagement in DEI research, development of funding sources for scholarships, recruitment and retention efforts, and celebrations of local, national and global diversity.

    Signature Programs

  • grpahic of black leather bag with stethoscope, and ipad Digital Doctor Bag
  • COMP DEI website
  • graphic of railroad tracks with text displaying as lognitudinal tracks, involve me and I learn Longitudinal Tracks
  • Icon for MEDwell MEDWell
  • DO/MPH Dual Enrollment Program
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    Give and Receive

    Help us continue to help our students succeed as medical providers dedicated to a scientific and humanistic approach to healing. We will all benefit by having healthier communities around us.

    TAKE THE NEXT STEP

    Your journey to an exciting career in health care is just getting started. Please review the program admissions requirement or request more information and we’ll reach out to you. You may also consider scheduling a virtual advising appointment. We look forward to meeting you and discussing your goals!

    UPCOMING EVENTS

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    WesternU Health

    WesternU Health Teaming up for your Health

    WesternU Health is WesternU’s clinical teaching facility. We serve residents in the Pomona Valley, Palm Desert, West Los Angeles, and Portland, Oregon areas. Our WesternU Health doctors are dedicated to meeting the medical needs of our growing and diverse local populations. We offer language assistance for non-English speakers and make every effort to communicate effectively with all people whom we serve. Services include: Eye Care, Dental Care, Foot & Ankle Health Care, Limb Preservation Care, Primary Medical Care, Pharmacy, Travel Health Care, and Medical Specialty Care.

    Find a provider or schedule an appointment!