School of Health Sciences

Purpose

Advance the lifelong health and wellness of our diverse communities.

Mission

Empower, engage, and prepare all graduates to be transformative professionals and socially conscious leaders through education, reflection, scholarship, and service.

Vision

An innovative school and an impactful community partner, nationally recognized as a leader in transformative healthcare education.

Values

Our shared values are at the heart of who we are and represent what we do best. Our values guide and shape our success by defining the essence of education at Pacific.  This affirmed set of values builds pride and sense of belonging, supports development and engagement through a shared sense of purpose and identity. They foster a culture that recognizes and rewards the talents and commitment of our people, and cultivate an environment of innovation, inclusiveness and respect. As an integral part of the University of the Pacific, the School of Health Sciences commits to the following PACIFIC VALUES:

Student centered: Our students come first in everything we do. Student impact is an important consideration in every decision we make. 

Academic Excellence: We have high academic standards with a focus on teaching, scholarship, and experiential learning. We invest in individualized attention and long-term relationships that build human potential.

Community Engagement: We are committed to learning from and enhancing our communities. We share a sense of purpose and pride in what we accomplish together.

Diversity & Inclusion: We respect all individuals and embrace the richness that our diversity brings to us as an educational community. We recognize and honor differences, creativity and bridging what is distinct to create an inclusive environment.

Integrity & Accountability: We demonstrate integrity in our actions. We strive to always do the right thing and hold ourselves and others accountable.

Respect & Civility: We demonstrate authentic respect for others and a willingness to engage in genuine discourse. We seek to establish common ground and ways to connect with others. We honor and value one another.
 

View accreditation status and information for each of the programs offered by the School of Health Sciences: 

A team of experienced and dedicated leaders serve as members of the School of Health Sciences (SHS) Cabinet and function as a recommending body to the Dean of SHS. They are thought leaders in their respective professional fields, proven managers, and experts in their discipline. Teamwork and diversity of thought in the leadership team allows us to be more than the sum of our individual parts.

A leader in health care, Pacific has trained health care professionals since 1858 when the university formed the first medical school in California, now the Stanford University School of Medicine. The university's portfolio of health care programs includes other premier and highly enrolled health programs such as the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, founded in 1896 as the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, opened in 1955.

July 1, 2020, marked a special milestone for the University of the Pacific as it welcomed President Callahan and renewed enthusiasm for the next chapter of the institution.

July 1, 2020, was also a special day in the history of the newly established School of Health Sciences (SHS).  Through an organizational change, we welcomed five programs to the SHS family. The Physician Assistant (PA) program transitioned to the SHS from the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. We are so grateful for the leadership, support, and thoughtful stewardship of the PA program from its inception by Dean Nader Nadershahi and the entire Dugoni team. The core value of the humanistic approach to healthcare education and professional practice will continue to be cherished and integrated into who we are as a school.

The Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, and Athletic Training programs transitioned to the SHS from the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (TJLSPHS). We greatly appreciate Dean Phillip Oppenheimer’s 23 years of outstanding service and leadership. His dedication and commitment resulted in a legacy we look forward to upholding through continued collaboration with the entire School of Pharmacy.

These five established programs joined three new programs launched in the 2020-2021 academic year in the SHS: Social Work, Clinical Nutrition, and Occupational Therapy. With the addition of nursing in 2022 and Medical/Health Science in 2023, the SHS's current academic portfolio has ten programs educating the next generation of healthcare providers.

The School of Health Sciences stands on the shoulders of pioneers who walked before us. Pacific’s long tradition and established reputation in health care education, Provost Pallavicini’s vision for creating the new School of Health Sciences, the core value of humanism from Dugoni, and the steadfast commitment to service from the TJLSPHS are just a few gifts the new SHS has received as precious heritage.

1936 — The history of what is known today as the Department of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) begins
1947 — SLP added a graduate-level degree
1985 — The Department of Physical Therapy was established
1997 — SLP established a partnership with the California Scottish Rite Foundation. The RiteCareChildhood Language Center of Stockton provides care for patients in the community and additional training opportunities for Pacific students.
2003 — Physical Therapy transitions from a master of science to a DPT
2015 — Pacific launched the first accelerated Doctor of Audiology in California
2017 — Inaugural class Master of Physician Assistant Studies
2018 — Inaugural class Master of Science in Athletic Training
2020 — Pacific’s New School of Health Sciences is officially launched
2020 — Inaugural class Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition – first Future Education Model program approved in the state of California
2020 — Inaugural class Master of Science in Social Work
2021 — Inaugural class Doctor of Occupational Therapy
2022 — Inaugural class Entry Level Master of Science in Nursing
2023 — Inaugural class Doctor of Medical Science/Doctor of Health Science