School of Health Sciences Winter Newsletter 2025
School of Health Sciences
From the Dean’s Desk Welcome to the School of Health Sciences Newsletter! In spring 2025, we marked several major milestones: Our Doctor of Occupational Therapy and Doctor of Physical Therapy programs received full accreditation and celebrated the graduation of our inaugural cohorts. This fall, we admitted our largest incoming classes of graduate students yet, filling the Dornsife Health Sciences Building with energy and purpose. We also welcomed the M.A. in Marriage & Family Therapy program to the school, as it moved over from the School of Education. Looking ahead, Whitworth is developing two new programs to meet student interest and regional needs: a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) and a master of social work (MSW). The BSN will allow students to complete their nursing education entirely at Whitworth, and the MSW will focus on healthcare and behavioral health, preparing advanced practitioners to care for society’s most vulnerable through a mission-centered lens. Alumni, please stay in touch! We want to hear your stories of how Whitworth has made an impact on your life and how you are using your gifts, talents and skills to serve others. Community partners, your collaboration is an incredible blessing. Your critical support allows us to establish programs of academic and clinical excellence that serve humanity. Thank you. If you would like to learn more about our programs or ways to get involved, please contact me. I would love to connect with you and explore how we can work together to advance our mission-driven work. Mike Ediger, D.H.Sc. Dean, School of Health Sciences | shs@whitworth.edu
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Whitworth School of Health Sciences
Undergraduate Health Sciences Department Update
This year, the department rolled out three new majors and one revised major. All four majors share a common core set of courses and have specialized coursework. We also introduced new pre-professional minors in pre-athletic training, pre-nursing, pre-occupational therapy, pre-physical therapy and pre-physician assistant/ associate. While our majors and minors are new and revised, our mission stays the same! We remain committed to equipping our graduates to serve humanity through the study of the form and function of the human body and the body’s connection to health and wellness. Cynthia Wright, Ph.D., ATC Department Chair, Undergraduate Health Sciences cwright@whitworth.edu
Major
Students interested in
Coursework emphasizes
Health Science, B.S.
Medicine/dentistry, research and nutrition
Biological and chemical foundations of health
Exercise Science, B.S.
Clinical, athletic and general fitness/ performance
Exercise physiology and exercise prescription
Rehabilitation Science, B.S.
Therapy and rehabilitation
Orthopedic and therapeutic foundations
Health & Well-Being, B.A.
Nursing, health education and public health
Social and behavioral determinants of health
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Marriage & Family Therapy Update
The Whitworth Marriage & Family Therapy (MFT) program continues to grow and bloom as we strengthen our commitment to relational, ethical and community-centered training. Being new to MFT myself, I am pleased to welcome new faculty Mark Baird and Bethany Suppes, who join returning lecturer Carrie Killinger. Each brings unique expertise and a shared passion for integrating faith, scholarship and clinical practice.
“We are expanding our reach through new community
Our two thriving cohorts are actively engaged in both classroom learning and clinical training, demonstrating the heart of our mission to prepare therapists who serve with competence and compassion. In addition, we are expanding our reach through new community partnerships across the city, creating opportunities for students to work alongside local organizations and provide accessible mental health care. Together, these developments mark an energizing new chapter for the program as we continue to equip the next generation of marriage and family therapists.
partnerships across the city,
Stacy Keogh, Ph.D., LMFT Program Director, Marriage & Family Therapy skeogh@whitworth.edu
provide accessible mental
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creating opportunities for students to work alongside local organizations and
health care.”
Whitworth School of Health Sciences
Graduate Program Updates
Physical Therapy Whitworth’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program began the academic year in August by welcoming 27 new students to the Class of 2028 alongside 32 returning students. The sense of excitement and community was evident as faculty, staff and students gathered to celebrate the start of this journey together. Last spring, we proudly honored our inaugural graduating class of 17 students from the Class of 2025 with a hooding ceremony, dinner and commencement. They are now completing their board exams and entering the workforce as strong representatives of Whitworth’s mind-and-heart mission. This year, students are engaging in new integrative clinical experiences, including a collaboration with the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program through the Move2Thrive exercise program for adults with neurological conditions. These initiatives provide students with hands-on learning and highlight the diverse roles physical therapists play in improving health and quality of life. Carrie Hawkins, Ph.D., DPT Program Chair, Doctor of Physical Therapy chawkins@whitworth.edu
Occupational Therapy What an exciting year it has been for our OTD program, brimming with blessings and achievements. We began by achieving initial ACOTE accreditation for the maximum allowable time frame of seven years for a new program – a huge milestone! Our inaugural graduates, the Class of 2025, celebrated their doctoral hooding and commencement. All six graduating students completed and presented their doctoral capstone experiences and projects, which can be found on our program website. All six alumni have works suitable for publication and have the potential to contribute valuable new literature to the profession. Looking forward, our second cohort has finished fieldwork and is beginning their own capstone experiences and projects in early 2026. We welcomed our largest cohort yet – 13 students – for the Class of 2028. We’re making history, and we couldn’t do it without the incredible support of our Whitworth family and community partners. We feel immensely blessed! Loriann Helgeson, Loriann, OTD, OTR/L Program Chair, Doctor of Occupational Therapy lhelgeson@whitworth.edu Page | 5
Health Sciences Headlines Undergraduate Commencement The health sciences department had great representation at the 2025 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony.
Matt Silvers was recognized as one of Whitworth’s most influential professors and delivered a commencement address titled, “If the shoe fits…” Matt shares, “My focus was on the people who shape our lives and how the graduates are now called to do the same. A highlight was surprising every Whitworth graduate with a personalized note, written by a wide circle of positive influencers – alumni, faculty emeriti, friends and church family. These wonderful contributors prayed over and penned unique words of encouragement for seniors and faculty alike. I am deeply grateful to all who made this commencement surprise possible. It was a true reflection of the special Whitworth community I cherish.”
Health science major Nabi Khan ’25 was selected as one of the two class speakers. Nabi grew up in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Fukuoka, Japan, and is currently working as a medical assistant with MultiCare Health System in Spokane while he prepares to apply to medical school. His speech, titled “Shifting Lenses,” emphasized that the real impact of college is the shift in perspective, how it changes how we see ourselves, others and the world. He says, “Speaking at commencement was a special opportunity, made all the more meaningful by surprising my overjoyed family, who had no idea until I was onstage.”
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Whitworth School of Health Sciences
Student Profiles DPT Graduate Spotlight
Curtis Hunter ’16, DPT ’25 Curtis Hunter hit the ground rolling (on his skateboard) after commencement, starting a physical therapist job at Indian Trail Physical Therapy in summer 2025. Curtis is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and completed his undergraduate degree at Whitworth. And as if seven years at Whitworth wasn’t enough, he joined our faculty as an adjunct member, assisting with the DPT Human Anatomy course this fall.
OTD Graduate Spotlight
Sophia Sumner OTD ’25, OTR/L Sophia Sumner demonstrates exceptional dedication to neonatal occupational therapy. Sophia completed her doctoral capstone experience, “Educational Innovations: The Doctoral Capstone Experience and Establishing Clinical Expertise in Specialized Settings – a NICU Example,” at Banner Health in Phoenix. Upon graduation, she secured a position as a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) OT at Trios Hospital in Tri-Cities, Wash. In this role, she will be instrumental in expanding NICU services and providing care to infants in the outpatient clinic. This immediate entry into a specialized area of practice underscores her advanced clinical acumen. Furthermore, Sophia has submitted her scholarly work for peer-reviewed publication. We anticipate her future contributions as a clinical educator to enrich the experiences of future Whitworth OTD students.
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Graduate Program Application Dates Applications to our graduate programs are open. Marriage & Family Therapy June 2026 Start
Doctor of Physical Therapy August 2026 Start
Doctor of Occupational Therapy August 2026 Start
Priority deadline: Jan. 1, 2026
Priority deadline: Nov. 3, 2025
Priority deadline: Nov. 3, 2025
Regular deadline: Feb. 1, 2026
Regular deadline: March 16, 2026
Regular deadline: Jan. 1, 2026
Late applications accepted through April 15, if space allows.
Final deadline: June 1, 2026
Final deadline: June 25, 2026
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Whitworth School of Health Sciences