Bill to support PNWU signed by governor

OLYMPIA – Senate Bill 5113 was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee Friday. The new law, sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick (R-Moses Lake), removes regulatory barriers for dental schools, particularly the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences in Yakima, to recruit out-of-state faculty which, as a result, will expand access to dental services.

“This law will expand access to desperately-needed health care services in rural communities and I’m pleased the governor has signed this bill to help educate more dental professionals,” said Warnick, in a release by her office. “Pacific Northwest University can more easily recruit the talent they need to meet the needs of our rural communities and train the next generation of dental professionals.”

The release states that out-of-state faculty members face burdensome licensing requirements when moving to Washington to teach in various medical fields, including dentistry. Under the new law, an accredited dental school can request temporary licensure for faculty members who have accepted employment at the school. Other dental schools in Washington are able to provide similar waivers for prospective faculty under current law, the release said, but Warnick’s legislation creates parity for this eastern Washington dental program.

Based in Yakima, PNWU was founded in 2005 and currently serves nearly 600 students through several programs in health sciences. The temporary licensure will still maintain high standards, requiring approval by the Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission.

“This will allow the new school of dental medicine to expand our recruitment efforts to bring in highly qualified faculty to serve rural and underserved residents in our state,” said Fotinos Panagakos, DMD, Ph.D., founding dean of the School of Dental Medicine at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences. “We are thankful to Sen. Warnick for her support and working to get this legislation passed.”