Skip to Content Skip to Footer
WesternU Logo

What are you looking for?
HEC, Pomona Campus
WesternU / College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) and COMP-Northwest / Faculty, Staff & Departments / COMP (CA): Student, Faculty & Alumni Spotlight

COMP (CA): Student, Faculty & Alumni Spotlight

 College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific

 

Stephanie Au, DO 2027 Student DO of the Month

A woman with long dark hair wearing a light-colored knit cardigan stands outdoors, smiling at the camera with greenery in the background.

“Among her many contributions, Stefanie’s creation of WesternU’s student research page stands out as especially impactful. By centralizing available projects and simplifying the process of getting involved, she has made research more accessible and fostered greater collaboration across the student body. This initiative reflects both her resourcefulness and her commitment to strengthening the broader community.
Even while balancing the demands of third-year clinical rotations and her work at the school, Stefanie remains a dependable and engaged presence. She consistently shows up as a thoughtful teammate, someone others can rely on, and someone who contributes meaningfully in every setting she enters. What truly distinguishes Stefanie is her natural compassion and approachability. She is always willing to offer help, whether that means guiding peers toward research opportunities or simply being a steady source of support during a demanding year.”
Stefanie represents the core qualities we value in a Student Doctor: dedication, service, and a willingness to go beyond expectations. She is highly deserving of this recognition.”
“Stefanie is someone that has been there for me providing guidance and support since the very beginning of medical school. She consistently goes above and beyond for both her own class and for others and always makes sure to share her study guides and resources. Along those lines, she has also played an active role in helping increase access to research opportunities, which can be quite difficult to obtain for new students. Beyond all of this, she is someone who constantly makes herself available to help others while continuing to excel academically. I could not think of anyone more deserving of SDOM!”

“Stefanie exemplifies what it means to be a Student Doctor. Despite the demands of clerkships, she is deeply committed to supporting her peers by connecting them to research opportunities. She created a student research page that has made peer contributions more visible and accessible, which will undoubtedly foster collaboration and uplift the student community. Along with her commitment to research, Stefanie has worked to inspire the next generation of physicians by volunteering with the Health Career Ladder program. She has committed countless hours to planning and executing these events to ensure they are interactive and educational for the adolescents who participate. Through her initiative, reliability, and genuine investment in others’ success, Stefanie has made a lasting impact and is highly deserving of this recognition.”

“Stefanie truly embodies what it means to be a Student Doctor. She is consistently kind, compassionate, and approachable, and she is always willing to help others even while managing the demands of third-year clinical rotations. She goes out of her way to support her peers, especially by helping them find and get involved in research opportunities. One of her most meaningful contributions has been creating WesternU’s student research page (https://research.westernu.edu/studentresearch/). This has made it much easier for students to see what projects are available and connect with others. It has improved access, encouraged collaboration, and reflects her initiative and commitment to helping the broader student community succeed.
In addition to her rotations, Stefanie also works at the school and still makes time to support those around her. She is reliable, hardworking, and a great team player. More importantly, she leads with empathy and a genuine desire to see others do well. Stefanie represents the values we hope to see in a Student Doctor. She is dedicated, service-oriented, and always looking for ways to improve the experience of those around her. She is very deserving of this recognition.”

 

Faculty Spotlight: Stephanie White, DO

A person with short blond hair, wearing a gray blazer and a dark top, smiling against a plain background.

Dr. Stephanie White, Associate Dean for Clinical Education, splits her time between strategic planning for the future of medical education and creating meaningful content for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Curriculum. Dr. White’s primary driver is her need to address injustice in the healthcare system. In her clinical education role, she partners with healthcare systems struggling to recruit empathetic, technically competent providers. She facilitates the creation of physician hiring pipelines through pre-matriculation linkage programs, 3rd year core clinical rotations and optimizing residency placement in underserved communities. Her goal is to highlight and begin to close the healthcare access gap for the most vulnerable populations along the west coast. Similarly, as co-director of the DEI curriculum, she emphasizes growth mindset, emotional intelligence and trauma-informed care as the foundation of equitable healthcare delivery. She asserts that “who you are is how you heal.” She teaches her students that their character is fundamental to their work as healers. Her recent essay on life as a woman in medicine illustrated how she puts this philosophy into practice. Read more aacom article

Alumni Spotlight: Lisa Warren, DO ’01

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair smiles at the camera. She is wearing a light-colored blazer over a dark top. The background is gray.

I am deeply passionate about medical education, pediatrics, and wellness, and have dedicated both my professional and personal life to expanding my expertise and skills to better serve my patients and community. After completing my pediatric residency at Baylor Scott & White/Texas A&M in 2004, I pursued further education, earning my Health Care Executive MBA from the University of California, Irvine, Paul Merage School of Business in 2019.
I have been part of WesternU/COMP since 2011, first as a faculty member and now as Dean, as well as an engaged alumnus. Outside of my professional commitments, I cherish spending time with my family and am passionate about health and fitness. I am a certified yoga instructor and enjoy outdoor activities such as running half marathons, hiking, and water sports. I also find joy in attending live music events.