Welcome

Now that you’ve decided to embark on a career in physical therapy, the next question is where to obtain your degree? Consider WesternU Oregon. We offer a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program that prepares you to be an integral member of an interprofessional healthcare team.

At WesternU Oregon you will study basic sciences, complete specialized courses, and engage in the clinical experiences you need to pass your licensure exam and become practice-ready. When you graduate you will be prepared to take on the increasing role that physical therapists currently play in the healthcare system.

WesternU Oregon DPTE Purpose Statement

The purpose of the WesternU Oregon Department of Physical Therapy Education is to educate and develop service-oriented leaders in the profession of Physical Therapy who will provide humanistic care in rural, underserved, and/or vulnerable communities of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.

Learn more about our Mission, Vision and Values Statements here.

Why choose WesternU?

We have a well-regarded program and offer:

  • Small class/lab size with high faculty-to-student ratios
  • Integration of clinical experiences within the didactic curriculum to allow for immediate application of knowledge and skills
  • A great Oregon location with tremendous clinical education opportunities as well as access to major cultural and recreational resources
  • Opportunity for advanced knowledge of clinical electives with core faculty
  • Long humanistic tradition of treating patients as people first, treating students as colleagues, and fostering camaraderie among students
  • Outstanding student support services including tutoring
  • Lab assistants who are either DPT faculty or working clinicians with expertise in lab course content
  • A diverse student body and rich array of student club and volunteer opportunities including community service
  • A small, private, health-focused graduate institution that fosters interprofessional learning with other health professions
  • Graduates who are in high demand and who enjoy a lifelong connection with the University
  • Complete program cost information can be found on this Financial Fact Sheet.
Accreditation

Effective May 11, 2021, Western University of Health Sciences – Oregon campus has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 541-259-0470 or email dpteoregon@westernu.edu. Candidate for Accreditation is an accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure that the program will be granted Initial Accreditation.

CAPTE has a mechanism to consider formal complaints about physical therapy education programs that allege a program is not in compliance with one or more of CAPTE’s Evaluative Criteria or has violated any of CAPTE’s expectations related to academic integrity (https://www.capteonline.org/complaints). In reviewing and acting on a complaint, CAPTE cannot and does not function as an arbiter between the complaint and the institution. Should CAPTE find that a complaint has merit and that the program is out of compliance with the Evaluative Criteria or the integrity statement(s), CAPTE can only require the program to come into compliance with the Evaluative Criteria. CAPTE cannot force a program into any specific resolution of the situation that resulted in the complaint. Students or other interested parties may file a formal complaint about a PT program with CAPTE at any time. To obtain the materials necessary for submitting a complaint, contact the APTA Accreditation Department at (703) 706-3245 or at accreditation@apta.org.

Complaints

Complaints Which Fall Outside The Realm of Due Process:

Any stakeholder of Western University of Health Sciences, Department of Physical Therapy Education has the right to file a complaint and receive due process. Current students, prospective students, faculty, and staff should follow the established University policies available to these constituents. All other stakeholders, including, but not limited to employers of graduates, clinical education sites, and the public, may file a complaint under this policy. Complaints may be related to program policies, procedures, or other aspects of the program, including working with faculty and staff. Western University of Health Sciences prohibits any form of retaliation against any party making a complaint against the school or program, its faculty, or its students.

 

Procedure:

Complaints should be submitted in writing (mailed or emailed) and must be filed within one year from the event(s) in question. The written complaint must contain, at a minimum, the complainant’s name and signature, contact information, the date of submission, and a summary of the complaint. Anonymous complaints and phone calls will not be accepted.

 

A written complaint must be mailed or emailed to the Department chair/Program Director:

Sandra Saavedra PT PhD
Chair and Program Director, DPTE-OR
Department of Physical Therapy Education – Oregon
College of Health Sciences – Northwest
Western University of Health Sciences
2665 S. Santiam Hwy., Lebanon, OR 97355
ssaavedra@westernu.edu
Office: (541)259-0476

 

Complaints about the Program Director/ Department Chair should be mailed to:

Jonathan Perry MSc PhD
Vice Dean / Site Dean, CHS-NW
Department of Physical Therapy Education – Oregon
College of Health Sciences – Northwest
Western University of Health Sciences
2665 S. Santiam Hwy., Lebanon, OR 97355
jperry@westernu.edu
Office: (541)259-0474

The department chair (or dean) or her/his designee will initially respond to the complainant within three weeks of receiving the complaint.The department takes all program-related complaints seriously. If at all possible, the matter will be reconciled at this point.

 

If the complainant believes that additional review is necessary, the dean will review the complaint and address it. If further review is needed, then the last line of complaint is with the Provost and Chief Academic Officer

Paula M. Crone, DO
Interim Provost and Chief Academic Officer
Western University of Health Sciences
309 E. Second Street, Pomona, CA 91766
200 Mullins Drive, Lebanon, OR 97355
Office: (909) 469-5563
pcrone@westernu.edu

 

The complaint and documentation associated with the complaint will be kept in a locked file in the department chair’s office (or dean’s office for a complaint against the department chair chairperson) for 5 years.

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