WesternU / Academic Community Engagement
Office of Academic Community Engagement
Welcome to the Office of Academic Community Engagement (ACE)
WesternU is committed to our communities, and community engagement is central to the WesternU core mission: To produce, in a humanistic tradition, health care professionals and biomedical knowledge that will enhance and extend the quality of life in our communities. ACE builds the relationships and partnerships with others across our community that provide pathways for student success. One of our hopes and dreams is that every student will understand they have an equal opportunity to succeed in life, in school, and in college. If you would like to partner with WesternU from an academic perspective, contact Elizabeth Rega, PhD at erega@westernu.edu.
Please see some of WesternU’s academic collaborations below.
Health Career Ladder Pathways to Success
WesternU’s Health Career Ladder offers a pathway fostering the progress of students from the Pomona, California and Lebanon, Oregon communities in becoming skilled and compassionate health care practitioners in a variety of medical and health care professions. The program provides support, academic enrichment, and mentorship to children to be inspired with a career in medicine. Workshops are conducted by WesternU health care professionals and WesternU students who are studying to become health care professionals.
Summer Health Education Professions Education Program (SHPEP) A Summer of Opportunity
Western University of Health Sciences is one of 12 national SHPEP program sites. WesternU offers this summer enrichment program for college freshmen and sophomores who are interested in health professions such as medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, and optometry. During the six week course, students gain valuable hands-on clinical skills development activities and more.
Community Connections
School of Arts & Enterprise 
Health Career Ladder 
SHPEP