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This Week@WesternU, June 1-5, 2015

by Rodney Tanaka

June 3, 2015

Read 4 mins

Commencement 2015

Western University of Health Sciences’ 34th Annual Commencement Exercises were marked by a few historic firsts — and one profound last. The May 20-22, 2015 ceremonies at the Pasadena Civic Center marked the first time the university surpassed more than 1,000 graduates at Commencement, and the first time a Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences (GCBS) alumnus graduated from the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP). The university’s fifth and final ceremony of its three-day Commencement – for COMP and GCBS – also included the first appearance on a WesternU graduation stage by Harriet Pumerantz, wife of Founding President Philip Pumerantz, PhD, and herself a major player in the establishment of COMP and many of the University’s traditions and events. Mrs. Pumerantz’s “first” was the direct result of the historic “last” at the 2015 ceremonies: President Pumerantz’s final Commencement as president. He will retire on September 8 of this year, exactly 34 years to the day COMP opened for business. Click here to read the full story and to view the slideshows.

The inaugural Commencement for COMP-Northwest will be held Friday, June 5, 2015 on the COMP-Northwest campus, 200 Mullins Drive, Lebanon, Oregon, celebrating the accomplishments of 100 graduates. Click here to visit the COMP-Northwest Commencement website.
Click here to read more about the COMP-Northwest Commencement keynote speakers. Let’s make COMP-Northwest’s first Commencement memorable with this hashtag – #COMPNW2015. You and your family can play an instrumental role on social media by helping us make a virtual scrapbook.

Founding President Philip Pumerantz reflects on 38 years at WesternU
Dr. Pumerantz shared his thoughts and memories of the founding of COMP, now Western University of Health Sciences, in a special presentation,
“Dr. Pumerantz Remembers,” held on WesternU’s Pomona campus May 28, 2015.
Click here to read the full story, view a slideshow and watch the full video.

Towne & Gown Golf Classic
WesternU invites everyone to an exciting day of golf to benefit the Towne & Gown Endowed Scholarship Fund. The 5th Annual Towne & Gown Golf Classic will take place Monday, June 22, 2015 at Red Hill Country Club, 8358 Red Hill Country Club Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. 91730. Registration and lunch starts at 11 a.m., followed by a noon shotgun start with reception and awards to follow. Proceeds will benefit the Towne & Gown Endowed Scholarship thanks to the generosity of T.F. Chen, DDS, and our sponsors. Contact Austin Braunwalder at 909-469-8495, abraunwalder@westernu.edu, or Susan Terrazas at 909-706-3476, sterrazas@westernu.edu. Visit the website at www.westernu.edu/golf.
Click here for Save the Date information. Click here for the Towne & Gown brochure.

Helicopter Drop
Everyone is invited to join the Towne & Gown Golf Classic Helicopter Drop. Whether you’re at the golf course or not, you will be able to tune in and catch the live streaming action. The helicopter team will dump numbered golf balls over a designated hole, and the owner of the ball that lands in the hole (or closest to the pin) will win the 50-50 cash prize. This is another exciting way to benefit the Towne & Gown Endowed Scholarship Fund. Contact Austin Braunwalder at 909-469-8495 or abraunwalder@westernu.edu for more information. Click here to view the flier.

From University Advancement:

Advancement news
WesternU participated in the Let’s Get Active Champion Bike Fest May 22 along with Champions for Change, Cardenas Markets, the Los Angeles Department of Public Health, the Pomona Police Department and other local organizations. The event featured on-site bicycle education, bicycle safety demonstrations, nutritional information and health screenings provided by College of Pharmacy students.

An event at WesternU on May 30 drew 150 women from the community. The Women’s Changing, Aging Roles event, which focused on “Famous Women, Past, Present & Future,” brought together representatives from InterValley Health Plan, Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center and many other community organizations. Miki Carpenter, MPH, PhD, executive director of YWCA San Gabriel Valley, spoke about women of the past, Debbi Keasler, RN, MSG, administrator of the Cardiac Care Center at PVHMC, discussed how nurses’ roles have changed through the years, and WesternU’s Tina Meyer, DHSc, PA-C, chair of the Department of Health Sciences in the College of Allied Health Professions, wrapped up the presentations with an amazing, inspirational talk.

Alumni news
On Thursday, May 21, Kendell Felker, DO ’15, received the Alumni Memorial Award during COMP’s Graduate Awards Ceremony at the Pasadena Convention Center. The only University-wide graduate award, the Alumni Memorial Award is presented annually by the WesternU Alumni Association in memory of deceased alumni to the one graduate throughout the University who best exhibits the dedication and enthusiasm of a future alumnus or alumna. Dr. Felker received $500 and was presented with a plaque by Director of Alumni Relations Russel Heskin.

The Alumni Office is accepting RSVPs for three events this month. Click on the links below for details or to register to attend:
Saturday, June 20, 5:30-7 p.m.: WesternU Reception at the California Veterinary Medical Association’s Pacific Veterinary Conference in Long Beach
Friday, June 26, 6-7:30 p.m.: WesternU Reception at the American Optometric Association’s Optometry’s Meeting in Seattle
Friday, June 26, 6-8 p.m.: WesternU Dinner at the California Podiatric Medical Association’s Western Foot & Ankle Conference in Anaheim

From the Pumerantz Library:

Research Mixer
The 2nd Annual Research Mixer will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, 2015 in the Pumerantz Library. The Research Mixer is co-sponsored by the Pumerantz Library and the Office of Research and Biotechnology. This year we invite all researchers to come to the Library to “talk shop” with other researchers, discuss WesternU research clusters and find potential research collaborators.
For details read the Pumerantz Library News and Events Blog.

 

 

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