The College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP), the foundingcollege of what is now WesternU, received approval to move the first twoyears of the University's Northwest Track Osteopathic Medical StudentProgram from WesternU's main campus in Pomona to Lebanon. The approval isfor a class of 100 students, who will receive their entire osteopathiceducation in the Pacific Northwest. The first class will matriculate inAugust 2011.

The Northwest Track program was conceived and approved by the AOA in 2004,following the closure of Eastmoreland Hospital in Portland, OR.Eastmoreland was an academic partner with several osteopathic educationalinstitutions for decades; indeed, most of the osteopathic physicianspracticing in the Northwest did their third-year rotations, internships,residencies or taught residents at Eastmoreland.

Dr. Philip Pumerantz, founding president of COMP and current president ofWestern University of Health Sciences, also noted that the Northwest'sosteopathic state associations were key partners in the formation of COMP,a legacy that continued through the academic relationship withEastmoreland.

The Northwest Track program permitted WesternU/COMP to annually increaseclass sizes by 30 students each year from six states -- Oregon, Washington,Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska. These students completed the first twoyears of their education at the main campus in Pomona, then performed theirclinical rotations in the Northwest, primarily at settings along theInterstate 5 corridor.

The first group of Northwest Track students graduated in May 2008. Some 30percent found residencies in the Northwest, a figure that is expected togrow rapidly as WesternU's Osteopathic Graduate Training Institute,OPTI-West, supports Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center's new residencyprograms in family medicine, internal medicine, cardiology, transitionalyear and psychiatry. Orthopedics, emergency medicine and women's health(OB/GYN) are expected to follow shortly.

Dr. Larry Mullins, President and Chief Executive Officer of SamaritanHealth Services, established the vision that is largely responsible for thesuccess WesternU/COMP has enjoyed in creation of this addition to thefuture delivery of health-care services, providers and medical expertise tothe communities in the Northwest Track area. Dr. Mullins said he is proudto support WesternU/COMP's efforts to enhance relationships withlong-standing partner hospitals and individual preceptors in all sixNorthwest Track states.

Dr. Mullins also has offered his template of residency development to anyand all interested partners concerned about issues related to the growingnumber of medical school graduates but the flat to diminishing number ofresidency training opportunities.

WesternU/COMP will continue to offer updates on the Northwest Trackprogram, milestones on the way to building a permanent facility in Lebanon,establishment of permanent faculty and recruitment of the Class of 2015.

Contact:Jeff KeatingOffice: (909) 469-5205E-mail: jkeating@westernu.edu