Alumni Department News

UWS Alumni Book Club Update your contact information!

The UWS Alumni Book Club is an online community where UWS alumni, friends, faculty and staff connect with each other to read and discuss books on a wide range of health and professional topics, as well as membersubmitted recommendations. Learn more and join today!

The current book, A Good Provider Is One Who Leaves by Jason DeParle began on October 14.

Along with this new book, the university has added some fun, engaging opportunities for members to enjoy. Opportunities include:

• Book Club Platform Training Session – Our PBC Guru moderator, Lisa Welsien provided a brief, recorded session about how to use the book club platform! Members will learn how to navigate the platform to engage with other members and comment on discussion topics for each book selection – view the session here. • Live Video Discussion – A live video discussion session will take place at the end of the book on December 20 where club members can connect and share their insights. Members may register here. • Engagement Prizes – Log into the online platform, comment, answer questions and join us for the live video discussion. Any of these engagement activities could win you prizes! We will announce winners at our live video discussion on December 20.  If your contact information has recenlty changed, please update your contact information today to continue to receive information from UWS. 

Virtual Workspace and Career Alumni Showcase

We invited a select group of University of Western States alumni to serve as hosts for a unique video series. Alumni hosts from all programs talk about their career journey, the type of practice they run or the organization they work for. They also share a brief tour of their office or work space. Check out the series here!

With this series, we hope to inspire alumni and students by showing them just a few of the unique career paths, office environments and positions their fellow UWS colleagues have created for themselves. The opportunities to specialize and find your niche in health care are endless! 

2021 UWS Vendor Fair

Thursday, November 18 from 12 – 3 p.m. Business partners help University of Western States thrive. Join students and staff in our new campus foyer for this unique tabling event to showcase your products, brand and values. All proceeds received by partnering vendors support the university’s diversity and inclusion initiatives. More information and registration here.

Interested in this or future vendor fairs? Contact Amy Lodholz, director of donor relations by emailing giving@uws.edu or calling 503-847-2574. Special thanks to event sponsors: US Bank, Gatti Law and Oregon Chiropractic Association. Space is limited! Only a few vendor spaces remain available. 

UWS Meetup Opportunities

Wednesday, November 3 from 4 – 6 p.m. at Barleymash - San Diego, California UWS alumni relations team is visiting San Diego. This trip is an ideal time for us to also connect with our alumni and friends in the area from all programs and backgrounds. Please join us! We’ll chat informally in a small gathering where we can learn career updates from each other and share UWS-related news. RSVPs are helpful as larger group sizes require reservations. Contact Amy Lodholz via email alodholz@uws.edu or text 541-968-3530.  Cornerstone Society

A Student Referrer Community Student referrals are one of the most important ways our alumni and friends can give back. Because of that we consider our student referrers to be the cornerstone of our university. Our newly launched Cornerstone Society is a community network that is a critical part of how talented professionals find their way to UWS programs. We are truly grateful for your student recommendations and to show our appreciation, all members of the Cornerstone Society are showcased in our campus foyer as well as at events like commencement ceremonies. Referrers will also be entered into a bonus appreciation prize drawing (awarded each February and August) for a $500 getaway gift card (choices include Airbnb.com, Expedia or Travelocity.com gift card). In addition, all referred students will receive a $50 gift card to the UWS store when they start classes. The UWS Alumni Relations department recently held the first Cornerstone Society drawing, naming Ryan Hatch, 2009 UWS Doctor of Chiropractic alumni, as the first Cornerstone Society winner! Congratulations Ryan, thank you for supporting the university by connecting talented professionals to UWS programs.

Do you know someone who is interested in

learning more about a UWS program? Simply submit their information here. To learn more about the Cornerstone Society and how to refer students, contact alumnirelations@uws.edu for more information. 

Daniel Murphy, DC, DABCO, Named 2021 UWS Alumnus of the Year

Daniel Murphy, DC, DABCO, has been named the 2021 University of Western States Alumnus of the Year. This distinction recognizes and honors the accomplishments of outstanding UWS graduates as they advance the science and art of integrated health care. Dr. Murphy’s professional and scholarly work has demonstrated exemplary leadership for the chiropractic profession, and reflects the core values of UWS – student focus, best practices, curiosity, inclusiveness, professionalism and whole-person health.

Dr. Murphy graduated magna cum laude from UWS. He has more than 40 years of clinical experience and earned his diplomat in chiropractic orthopedics. Dr. Murphy’s career exemplifies the UWS motto, “for the good of the patient.”

Dr. Murphy has been a part-time professor at Life Chiropractic College West for more than 30 years and has led more than 1,400 postgraduate continuing education seminars. From 2003-09 he served as the vice president of the International Chiropractic Association and was chosen by the organization as Chiropractor of the Year in 2009.

Dr. Murphy will be honored at the UWS Open House Reception on Saturday, April 23, 2022 on the UWS campus in Portland. An extended profile of Dr. Murphy will be featured in the 2021-22 UWS Annual Report coming this spring. 

“It is truly an honor to be named the 2021 UWS Alumnus of the Year. My education at Western States opened my eyes to a world of never-ending possibilities for both academic and clinical excellence, allowing me to create a career and life that has helped me to make a difference.”

– Dr. Danny Murphy “Dr. Dan Murphy has been a leader in chiropractic practice and clinical education for more than four decades. He stays abreast of the rapidly-evolving developments in the sciences of chiropractic and nutrition, and teaches how to apply these advancements to help patients achieve their optimal potential.”

– Dr. Brimhall

UWS is proud to introduce a new university overview video featuring our beautiful new campus! The marketing and communications team worked with Three Dog Films to produce the video this spring. Be on the lookout for the new video on the UWS social media channels and feel free to share.