Full-Coated Support
October 27, 2019 by Las Vegas Black Image Magazine
Filed under Business, Education
At Touro University Nevada, a hallowed ceremony welcomes new students to a sacred responsibility.
Touro University Nevada (TUN) recently welcomed new students with its annual “White Coat Ceremony,” which was developed to honor entrants as they accept the responsibility of doctor-patient relationships and professionalism within the practice of medicine.
As a school that prides itself on diversity, TUN welcomed those students with timeless student-staff bonding moments — solidified in front of the entire student body and their families.
Touro University Nevada was established to help address critical needs in health care and education, and as a resource for community service in Nevada. A non-profit, private institution affiliated with an international system of higher education, the university opened in 2004 with 78 medical students. TUN is home to more than 1,300 students in a wide range of degree programs in osteopathic medicine, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, camp administration and education.
Many of these programs are a first of their kind in Nevada. The College of Osteopathic Medicine was Nevada’s first osteopathic medical school and the state’s second medical school.
Touro University Nevada is one of the best nursing schools in Las Vegas — and is a major health science and education center in Southern Nevada. It was the first private, non-profit professional nursing education program in the State of Nevada and offered their first nursing program in August 2005. Currently, 71% of nursing school students graduate.
Now, TUN has nursing programs from baccalaureate to doctoral levels. The School of Nursing’s programs are focused on scholarship, community service, and the importance of evidence-based practice in professional nursing. Graduates from TUN’s nursing school will be prepared to excel in the healthcare field.
Paulina Awuah | Pursuing a doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine “I chose Touro University Nevada because of their philosophies — and the teachers are super supportive.”
Sean Poole | Pursuing a degree in Osteopathic manipulative medicine “I chose Touro University Nevada because of the diversity. I was inspired to study osteopathic manipulative medicine because I was homeless for three years with my family and I would get sick and didn’t know why. I hadn’t been to a doctor in eight years, so I wanted to start my journey to be the first in my family to go into the healthcare industry. I want little black and brown kids to look at me and say one day, “I can do that, too.” That’s what inspires me when I feel that school is getting hard. There is a lot of support at Touro and the focus is on community involvement.”
Malcolm Douglas | Studying to be a physician’s assistant “I looked at medical schools across the country and I fell in love with how much Touro University Nevada gave back to the community. We have a lot of mobile health clinics at Touro where we go out to the community and work with the homeless populations, women shelters. Touro gives me an opportunity to do that while studying to become a physician’s assistant.
Jonathan K. Wells | Studying to be a physician’s assistant “I really like how the Touro faculty is really involved with their students—they are more family-oriented. I feel a lot of support within the school and I definitely see myself practicing in Las Vegas. One of my goals is to eventually open up a clinic in the low-income area, so I can provide better care and the community can see that medical professionals do come back to the community to help.”
