President
Robin Farias-Eisner, MD, PhD, MBA, FACOG
Dr. Farias Eisner was appointed WesternU’s third president on March 1, 2022, at a transformational moment in health care in which opportunities abound for WesternU and its students. He brings a dedication to uniting and bonding with the communities of Pomona, California and Lebanon, Oregon.
“We are a University dedicated to the health sciences and committed to research, science, and biotechnology. Our distinct Colleges share a common dedication to a humanistic approach – putting the patient first – and fostering health with hands, heart, mind, and spirit. Our quest is to achieve transformative health for both people and animals, hence, to create a healthy society for present and future generations.” ~ President Farias-Eisner
“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.” ~Michelangelo
President’s Welcome
Our esteemed students, despite all challenges, excel academically and set their sights high. Our highly valued faculty and staff tenaciously work every day to keep our students safely progressing through their studies. Our deeply appreciated alumni, friends, donors, and corporate and foundation partners, graciously support the WesternU mission and vision. Our clinical and rotational site partners offer our students valuable learning experiences while providing health care to our communities.
By working closely together, and aiming high, we can realize our dreams for WesternU that will endure for future generations to come. I hope to see you on one of our campuses.
My very warmest wishes!
Robin Farias-Eisner, MD, PhD, MBA, FACOG
President
Listening & Learning Tour
Institutional Awards
Nominations:
Open: Friday, July 17, 2026
Close: Friday, September 11, 2026
- A Message to Our Community, September 9 2026
- Labor Day, September 7 2026
- New Land Acquisitions, August 27 2026
- Milestone Progress: Implementation Rollout of the Staff & Administrator Classification and Compensation Study, August 20 2026
- WesternU Student Emergency Support Fund, August 20 2026
- Looking Ahead: Strengthening the Future of WesternU Commencement, July 20 2026
- Celebrating Our Reaffirmation of Accreditation: A Visionary Milestone and Deepest Gratitude to Our Team, July 11 2026
- Reflecting on the 250th Anniversary of Independence Day, July 4 2026
- Strengthening Institutional Quality, Stewardship, and Continuous Improvement – Baker Tilly Internal Audit, June 25 2026
- Father’s Day, June 21 2026
- Honoring Juneteenth: A Reflection on Freedom, Progress, and Our Shared Commitment to Humanism, June 19 2026
- Milestone Achievement in University Compensation: Completion of the Institutional Compensation Philosophy, June 17 2026
- 2026 WesternU Commencement Week, May 13 2026
- A Mother’s Day Message to Our Campus Community, May 10 2026
- A Heartfelt Thank You for your Participation in WSCUC, March 16 2026
- Campus Master Planning at WesternU: A Shared Investment in Our Future, February 25 2026
- Upcoming WSCUC Visit, February 24 2026
- Well Wishes from the Office of the President, December 19 2025
- Thanksgiving 2025, November 26 2025
- Inaugural Order of Humanism, November 15 2025
- Veteran's Day 2025, November 11 2025
- In Loving Memory of Trustee Dianne L. Philibosian, Ph.D., October 14 2025
- Indigenous Peoples Day 2025, October 13 2025
- Oregon Expansion Update, August 26 2025
- Heatherington College of Osteopathic Medicine, July 21 2025
- Independence Day 2025, July 4 2025
- Clinical Expansion – Capital – Development – Update, June 13 2025
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Resources, June 11 2025
- Memorial Day, May 26 2025
- Mother's Day, May 11 2025
- WesternU Commencement Week, May 9 2025
- Exciting Progress on Faculty Compensation: Phase One Updates & Next Steps, May 8 2025
- Passing of Dr. Daniel R. Wilson, MD, PhD, President Emeritus, April 25 2025
- Happy Administrative Professionals Day!, April 23 2025
- Accreditation-Continued Status Granted to Our PA Program!, April 23 2025
- Strategic Plan Townhall, April 16 2025
- A tribute to the life of Harriet Krinsky Pumerantz from her loving WesternU family, March 31 2025
- Exciting Update on 2025 Commencement Ceremonies, March 7 2025
- Launch of the WesternU Shared Governance Assessment Survey, February 28 2025
- UPDATE: McKnight Peer List, February 21 2025
- WesternU is Dedicated to Supporting our University Community's Well-Being, February 13 2025
- IMPORTANT UPDATE: Implementation Phases of the Faculty, Staff, and Administrators’ Compensation Project, February 7 2025
- Implementation Phases of the Faculty, Staff, and Administrators’ Compensation Project, January 27 2025
- Lunar New Year 2025, January 23 2025
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., January 20 2025
- Climate Survey Update, January 19 2025
- 2025 Priorities, January 19 2025
- Resources for WesternU Community Affected by Wildfire, January 9 2025
- IN MEMORIAM: Jimmy Carter, 39th President, December 20 2024
- Happy Holidays from the Office of the President, December 19 2024
- Important Update on Compensation Review and Adjustments, December 13 2024
- 2024 AQMD Commuter Survey, April 26 2024
- MSPAS Accreditation Update, April 10 2024
- WesternU Global Crisis Statement, February 23 2024
- Institutional Awards, February 9 2024
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., January 15 2024
- Special Holiday Wishes, December 21 2023
- Happy Holidays from the Office of the President, December 18 2023
- With Gratitude, November 20 2023
- President’s State of the University Address, October 25 2023
- HR Update- Thank you Terri Tibbs, October 13 2023
- RE: Campus Security Announcement – October 13, 2023, October 13 2023
- Follow-Up Message, October 11 2023
- WesternU Condemns Terrorism, October 9 2023
- Indigenous Peoples Day, October 6 2023
- Armenian Crisis, September 26 2023
- Campus Security, September 15 2023
- Earthquake in Morocco, September 9 2023
- Winter Break, August 29 2023
- Campus Closure – Tropical Storm Hilary, August 18 2023
- WesternU UEOT & Administration, July 24 2023
- WSCUC Update- Great News!, July 20 2023
- Statement of Support for WesternU's Physician Assistant's (PA) Program, July 7 2023
- Happy 4th of July, July 4 2023
- Thank You – Response to Talking Points, June 24 2023
- Institutional Guidelines: Acting or Interim Appointments of University-level Administrators, June 1 2023
- Resignation from the Board of Trustees of Western University of Health Sciences, May 3 2023
- President's State of the University Address- WesternU California & WesternU Oregon, April 27 2023
- President's State of the University Invite- WesternU California, March 31 2023
- President's State of the University Invite- WesternU Oregon, March 31 2023
- Thank You Mr. Jeff Keating, March 17 2023
- Campus Update: New Board Resolutions, March 15 2023
- Office of Human Resources Update, March 9 2023
- Announcing New Staff Positions in the Office of the President, March 7 2023
- University Marshal, February 24 2023
- Designing WesternU's Future, February 21 2023
- Thank You, February 18 2023
- A Heartfelt Thank You to the Provost Search Committee, February 10 2023
- WesternU names Dr. Paula Crone Provost, February 2 2023
- WesternU Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer, January 11 2023
- Update: Academic Assembly Resolutions, December 16 2022
- Request for Representatives- WesternU Strategic Plan Steering Committee, December 6 2022
- October Economic Relief Memo, October 20 2022
- New Dean – College of Dental Medicine, August 3 2022
- Ad Hoc HR Advisory Group- Request for Representatives: Director of Operations, July 14 2022
Contact Us
Jill Ferreira, EdD, MA
Scott Cline, EdD
Shawna Federoff
Office of the President
Interim Vice President, University Communications & Marketing
Steve Gomez Pedroza, MBA, MCM, aPHR
Office of the President
Interim Vice President, External Affairs
Jacob Lentz
Office of the President
Director of Presidential Operations & Protective Coordination
Michelle Steinhebel, MPP
Office of the President
Director of Governmental Affairs, WesternU Oregon
Angie Ferreira, MA
Danny Mendoza
Paige Morgan
Selena Sedillo
Previous Presidents
2016 – 2021
Daniel R. Wilson was appointed WesternU’s second president in 2016. His leadership focus was on creating a robust strategic planning process moving the University toward enterprise excellence, organizational efficiency, and future readiness for the intertwined missions of education, research, and service. This transformation included a focus on improving the student experience, improving the quality and quantity of research, financial stewardship leading to both enrollment and endowment growth, and operational excellence. Dr. Wilson earned his bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Yale, a medical degree from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, and a PhD in biological anthropology from Cambridge University.
1977 – 2015
Dr. Pumerantz founded Western University of Health Sciences in 1977 as the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP). Its first class of 36 students was enrolled in fall 1978, graduating four years later as Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine. Under his watch, COMP was restructured into Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) in 1996, and through years of exponential growth, it grew to include nine colleges and expansion to Lebanon, OR. in 2011. When Dr. Pumerantz retired in 2015, the University had almost 4,000 students and 11,000 alumni. The beloved founding president championed humanism and conceptualized the University philosophy of “The discipline of learning. The art of caring.” He also created a unique environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. He was recognized as one of the longest-tenured U.S. university presidents, having served for 38 years. He earned a PhD in education administration from the University of Connecticut.