UWS Guide to Portland Suburbs

Posted on by Dana Schatz
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Hecker

University of Western States is happy to call Portland, Oregon home. The city of Portland is a vibrant hub of arts, food, music and culture. It’s not surprising the surrounding suburbs offer a similar charm, all within 30 minutes of campus!

If you’re interested in moving to the Portland area, but do not necessarily want to live within city limits, check out some of the highlighted areas both in Oregon and across the bridges to Washington state.

View more details about highlighted suburbs of Portland with categories such as “Best for Families” and “Best for Young Professionals” with this list provided by Niche.

Check out this map to get a better idea of the suburbs discussed below in relation to the UWS campus located at 8000 NE Tillamook St in Portland, Oregon.

Neighborhood Map

OREGON

Beaverton

Beaverton is located in Washington County and is considered by many to be one of the best places to live in Oregon. Living in Beaverton offers residents an urban-suburban feel. In Beaverton, there are a lot of restaurants, pubs, coffee shops and parks. Many young professionals live in Beaverton, due to the proximity to Nike and Intel. The public schools in Beaverton are highly rated (Niche).

Photo Credit: Beaverton, Oregon Government Website

Drive time to campus: 22 – 30 minutes

Other transportation options: TriMet Bus, MAX Light Rail

PRO: All the amenities of living in a suburb while remaining close to Portland. Great community building for young families.

CON: Traffic can be quite heavy during rush hours. The area is very suburban so you will have to drive most places.

Some of the top-rated neighborhoods include:

West Slope, South Beaverton, Central Beaverton, Raleigh West, Neighbors South, West Triple, Creek Greenway, Vose

Shopping:

Restaurants:

  • Brooklyn Trattoria: NYC Italian with local NW Bounty-and Wine country vineyard. You won’t want to miss the freshly made pasta, seafood and gluten-free tiramisu.
  • Taste of Sichuan Beaverton: Americanized and more traditional Chinese plates.
  • Ikenohana: Offers the classic tick-the-sushi-boxes ordering style and beautiful presentations. The restaurant offers bento boxes and izakaya plates, from tonkatsu to udon noodles.
  • Yuzu: Counter seating and slightly hidden location, but the food in this hidden gem is some you won’t want to miss!
  • Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream: Indulge in the best ice cream in Beaverton. A fan favorite of children and adults alike, enjoy the many delicious flavors this shop creates fresh in-store.

Gresham

Close to the Columbia River gorge and a little more than an hour to Mt. Hood, this area is a gateway to outdoor recreation. There are many historic sites to visit in Gresham and six major bike trails that run through it, connecting Gresham to Portland and other parts of Oregon.

Drive time to campus: 20 – 25 minutes

Photo Credit: PDX Movers

Other transportation options: TriMet Bus, MAX Light Rail

PRO: Close to the UWS campus and housing is more affordable.

CON: Traffic can be quite heavy during rush hours, since there is no a major highway directly to the city. The weather can be colder and windy in the winter due to the proximity to the Columbia River Gorge.

Shopping:  

Restaurants:

  • Nicholas Restaurant: Lebanese, Mediterranean Middle Eastern cuisine, vegetarian friendly, vegan options, gluten free options.
  • Sweet Betty’s Bistro: A great place to go for breakfast or lunch with vegetarian and Gluten Free options.
  • Boccelli’s Ristorante: Italian lunch or dinner options.
  • Barley Sprout: Made from scratch sourdough crust pizza, with gluten free and vegan dining options. Also, lots of local craft brews on tap.

West Linn

West Linn is considered part of the Portland metro area but has a comfortable enough distance to avoid the hustle and bustle of the big city. Residents enjoy a quiet lifestyle in a quiet community, with plenty of local amenities. Locals love the fact that West Linn has been ranked among numerous “Best Places to Live” lists over the years. West Linn is south of Portland and near the Willamette River for great hikes and water sports. Mary S. Young State Recreation Area is a highlight of the area. This large nature park offers off-leash dog runs, sports fields and eight miles of hiking trails.

Drive time to campus: 22 – 32 minutes

Photo Credit: Oregon’s Mt Hood Territory

Other transportation options: TriMet Bus and MAX Light Rail

PRO: All the amenities of living in a suburb while remaining close to Portland. The area is suburban but greener and less strip mall heavy than other areas.

CON: There is a lack of apartments in this area. Fewer younger families and not a lot of affordable housing options. Geared to wealthier and more established families.  

Some of the top-rated neighborhoods include:

Barrington Heights, Tanner Woods, Hidden Creek, Bolton, Hidden Springs, Marylhurst, Parker Cres, Robinwood, Rosemont Summit, Savanna Oaks, Skyline Ridge

Shopping:

Restaurants:

Lake Oswego

If we were to talk about the best suburbs in the Portland Metro, Lake Oswego, is the top of the list. Highlighted within Lake Oswego include top schools, nature trails, restaurants, golf courses, wineries, and, of course, an absolutely stunning lake. The city maintains 600 acres of parks and open spaces.

Drive time to campus: 21 – 30 minutes

Photo Credit: Apartments.com

Other transportation options: TriMet Bus, MAX Light Rail

PRO: All the amenities of living in a suburb while remaining close to Portland.

CON: Apartments and affordable housing may be limited in this area.

Some of the top-rated neighborhoods include:

Birdshill, Blue Heron, Bryant, Childs, Country Club North Shore, Evergreen, First Addition

Shopping:

  • Farmers Market: Open from June through October
  • Adorn: Women’s clothing boutique, built around the real-world, body positive attitude.
  • Grapevine: Sought after brans and elevated modern styles.
  • Simply Posh: Consignment shop for men’s and women’s designer clothes.

Restaurants:

  • Nola Donuts: beignets and coffee, if you go you must try one of their la’ssants – it is their take on a cronut, flaky pastry layers in a variety of flavors.
  • Lake Theater and Café: Outdoor, lakeside dining and an inventive menu. Their selection of indie and art-house films (plus a few blockbusters thrown in for good measure) make this an ideal place to see a movie.
  • Bamboo Sushi

Troutdale

Troutdale has anchored the eastern end of the Portland metropolitan area for more than 100 years. Living in Troutdale offers easy access to the breathtaking natural beauty and recreational opportunities offered by the Columbia River Gorge. Troutdale’s park system includes almost 20 parks, many of which contain playgrounds, athletic fields, hiking trails and community gardens.

Drive time to campus: 18 – 20 minutes

Photo Credit: Troutdale, Oregon Government Website

Other transportation options: TriMet Bus, MAX Light Rail

PRO: Quieter suburb and closer to the Columbia River Gorge. Quaint downtown area.

CON: Weather can be colder and windy during the winter with the east winds through the gorge.

Shopping:

Restaurants:

  • Bandits Bar & Grill: Are you looking for a casual, cowboy bar to rest your spurs? You do not have to leave Oregon to find a place that caters to cowgirls and cowboys, or for someone looking for some Cajun or Creole-influenced food.
  • McMenamins Edgefield –Black Rabbit Restaurant: Wandering around 74 acres with a drink in hand is a great way to take in this historic property.
  • Ristorante Di Pompello: the best authentic Italian restaurant in Troutdale.

WASHINGTON

Vancouver

When attending UWS in Portland, Oregon, you may consider a move across the bridges to Vancouver, Washington. The city has a small town feel with access to big city amenities, has relatively affordable housing, and is situated near some of the best outdoor recreation destinations in the country. Vancouver is the fourth-largest city in Washington state, which means its residents have easy access to all the amenities needed for everyday life and entertainment. There has been a recent revitalization movement of the local arts and culture scene, providing plenty of festivals, markets and annual events to choose from. 

Drive time to campus: 19 – 23 minutes

Photo Credit: Travel Vancouver, WA Website

Other transportation options: C-Tran

PRO: All the amenities of living in a suburb while remaining close to Portland.

CON: There is not a lot of public transportation from Vancouver to Portland, so driving is recommended. Traffic can be busy on both bridges. Living in a different state than where you go to school may affect taxes and other administration processes.  

Some of the top-rated neighborhoods include:

Fisher’s Creek Neighborhood, Felida Neighborhood, Shumway Neighborhood, Esther Short Neighborhood, Arnada Neighborhood, Lake Shore Neighborhood, Cascade Highlands Neighborhood

Shopping:

  • Vancouver Mall has more than 75 stores and 25 places to eat at, as well as the area’s largest luxury theater and a selfie studio.
  • Vancouvers Farmers Market is nationally recognized running from mid-March to the end of October on weekends. From local musicians, freshly fried doughnuts, fresh cut flowers. If you are looking for handmade gifts around the holidays the Night Market Vancouver at Terminal 1 on the waterfront is your next stop.

Restaurants:

  • Rally Pizza: Some of the best pizza in the Portland area and to top it off they have delicious custard dessert options
  • Little Conejo: Authentic, minimalist tacos and numerous mezcal and tequila drink options.
  • 4 Caminos: authentic Mexican restaurant; try the street tacos or one of their most popular dishes: menudo, birria, ceviche, and pozole.
  • Amaro’s Table: modern American dining experience to downtown Vancouver. The restaurant’s highlights include its steaks, seafood, and craft cocktails.
  • Arawan Thai Cuisine: Classic Thai dishes in a friendly environment and is committed to making your dining experience a memorable one.

Camas

Camas is a suburb of Vancouver, Washington with a population of 23,200 and is located in Clark County. Living in Camas offers residents a suburban feel and most residents own their homes. The public schools in Camas are highly rated. East of Camas is the entry to the Washington side of the gorge, with great hiking and camping destinations. There are many public parks and bodies of water in Camas, and even an extinct volcano vent, Prune Hill. Lacamas Park and Heritage Park are highlights that provide playgrounds, hiking trails, boat launches and access to the Camas Potholes and Camas lily fields. The school system is one of the best in the whole Portland area.

Drive time to campus: 20 minutes

Photo Credit: Living in Camas Insider’s Guide

Other transportation options: C-tran bus system

PRO: All the amenities of living in a suburb while remaining close to Portland. Walkable downtown with small-town vibe. Great community for young families. Great schools!

CON: Traffic can be quite heavy during rush hours.Living in a different state than where you go to school may affect taxes and other administration processes.  

Some of the top-rated neighborhoods include:

Deer Creek, Parker Estates, Holly Hills, Sunningdale Gardens, Downtown Camas

Shopping:

Restaurants:

Benefits of the Sports Medicine Program at UWS

Posted on by Dana Schatz

By: Caitlin Jones, UWS doctor of chiropractic and sports medicine alumna

ankle taping

There are a few different master’s programs that are offered at UWS with sports medicine being the most popular one taken by doctor of chiropractic (DC) students. Throughout the first year, I went back and forth on whether or not I wanted to add it on and I talked to a number of students in the program to get a better idea of it. As with every program, there were some ideas of how it could be better, but the general consensus I received was that it was absolutely worth the extra work. So, when the time came, I applied and was ecstatic when I received my acceptance letter!

I really enjoyed the courses. I was able to take a new tidbit away from each class such as why you can get sick during intense exercise (hint: it’s the fastest way your body can get rid of excess hydrogen ions and balance your pH levels). The lectures are all online and there was a lot of reading assigned, but the in-person labs really helped to pull the information together. The Exercise Physiology lab the first quarter was great! Even though I’ve taken a Functional Movement Screen (FMS) course, it was great to run a few students through the screening and see it in action. 

The practicum experience is the main reason why I enrolled in the sports med master’s program. Working with athletes at the high schools in the area as well as different events around Oregon such as Hood to Coast, volleyball tournaments, and a past student favorite – the rodeo – really stood out. Having the ability to work with a variety of different athletes on the sidelines of various sports is wonderful experience that I didn’t get in the Campus Health Center. 

Since we were unable to work with teams in-person during the beginning of the pandemic, the professors really tried to make practicum a useful and informative experience. It became a choose-your-own-adventure and one could decide where your hours came from. One of the options was going through a SCAT 5, which is a concussion screening tool that we went over in a previous course. Performing this on a friend was still helpful because many teams conduct it at the beginning of a season to use as a baseline test. Having that experience also helped me when I was working with someone who was worried they had a mild concussion after hitting their head a couple days prior. Without having to look up anything, I was able to ask specific questions to help assess them and give them some things to look out for over the next few weeks.

Throughout the program, I was able to have more experience with extremities, history taking and working with scenarios where I could critically think about what diagnoses are most likely. Even though my practicum experience was very different than what I had imagined due to COVID, I’m still happy that I decided to take on the sports med master’s in addition to the DC program. 

If you’re interested in the program and how it can help you in the field, I’d recommend reaching out to the alumni department so they can put you in touch with a graduate. To learn more about the admissions process and to apply to the program, check out all the information here!

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

Posted on by Dana Schatz
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.

“It is truly an honor to be named the 2021 UWS Alumnus of the Year,” said Dr. Murphy. “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. 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. Dan Murphy has been a leader in chiropractic practice and clinical education for more than four decades,” said President and CEO of UWS Dr. Joseph Brimhall. “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. 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.

2021 ABCA Conference Student Experience

Posted on by Dana Schatz

By: Jasmine Brewster Piper, UWS SABCA Chapter President, SABCA Western Region Student Representative

ABCA_1

The 21st American Black Chiropractic Association (ABCA) National Conference came at the perfect time. The past year has been devastating for the entire world. In addition to experiencing a global pandemic, us students of color have had to maneuver through our schoolwork and patient care with grace while we witnessed murder and injustice around us. We have been angry, we have been filled with grief and trauma, but more than anything we have felt isolated and alone throughout our campuses. The ABCA National Conference provided the two things we all needed, community and healing.

Every year the national conference leaves us with a burning fire and motivation to continue on, because that is what it will take for us to become doctors and make real change in our communities. This year we received lectures from Dr. Terry Yochum and Dr. Elise Hewitt, UWS alumna (DC class of 1988). We had breakout sessions with the student members where we discussed and brainstormed different opportunities to bring diversity to our campuses and the profession as a whole. During the Harvey-Lillard Scholarship I was nominated and announced as the new Western Region Student Representative, making it the second year a member from the UWS chapter held this position.

We danced, we ate, we learned from amazing doctors – we left with our spirits lifted and focused on our purpose. Collectively, we were all seen and heard. I left feeling proud of our UWS SABCA members and the organization as a whole for their continued efforts and resilience. I am a proud member of the Student American Black Chiropractic Association and will continue to stand up for those who are not heard.

ABCA_2

American Black Chiropractic Association

Learn more about the ABCA history.

Mission Statement: Integrating and improving outcomes for persons of color entering the profession of Doctor of Chiropractic.

Constitution Purpose:

  1. To recruit, encourage and support black persons to study chiropractic.
  2. To encourage research in the development of the science, philosophy and the art of chiropractic.
  3. To assist chiropractic colleges in recruiting qualified black students and faculty members.
  4. To generally advance in the science, philosophy, and art of chiropractic, and to improve the standards in the profession’s professional knowledge.
  5. To facilitate the exchange of knowledge, experience, and research among doctors of chiropractic.
  6. To perform community education.
  7. To establish the Harvey Lillard scholarship fund for members of the Student American Black Chiropractic Association.

AASP Publishes Compensation Report for Mental Performance Work

Posted on by Dana Schatz

The Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) recently released a 2020 compensation report for mental performance work that outlines job details such as median gross annual income, median compensation by work setting, credential statistics and more. View the full infographic here.

“What’s exciting about these figures is that they not only indicate how satisfied professionals are with their career choice, but also the growing and changing nature of the field,” said Dr. Sarah Castillo, UWS sport and performance psychology program director. “As incomes rise in traditional performance arenas, so do the number of performance arenas in which consultants are working. UWS graduates have a unique opportunity to contribute to high-quality sport and performance consulting, which inspires continued growth and opportunities.”

AASP Inforgraphic_1
AASP Inforgraphic_2
AASP Inforgraphic_3

In addition to the AASP infographic, there is a video presentation entitled “Job Opportunities and Compensation for Mental Performance Work: A Comprehensive Review (2014-2019)” that goes into more detail about the profession as a whole.

Learn more about the UWS SPP programs:

Using positive and applied sport psychology, our sport and performance psychology programs train students in motivation, performance enhancement and the ability to maximize human potential. The SPP programs offered include: Master of Science (MS), Doctorate of Education (EdD), and a graduate certificate. These options allow students to meet their specific career goals and educational needs.

The integration of sport psychology and counseling within the curriculum offers graduates a broader professional scope of practice and a deeper engagement in the field. The counseling coursework is an essential aspect of the training needed to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC®) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Learn more about the program and request information.

About AASP:

AASP is the premier association that ensures every performer has the resources to strengthen their inner edge through the advancement and application of excellence in mental performance and mental health. To do that we cultivate an inclusive field of Certified Mental Performance Consultants® (CMPC), licensed mental health professionals, educators, and researchers. Because when we research, train, and serve performers’ complete mental needs, we elevate their ability to perform and thrive.

Certification as a CMPC® demonstrates to clients, employers, colleagues, and the public at large that an individual has met the highest standards of professional practice, including completing a combination of educational and work requirements, successfully passing a certification exam, agreeing to adhere to ethical principles and standards, and committing to ongoing professional development. The CMPC® certification program is also accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

Virtual Workspace and Career Alumni Showcase

Posted on by Dana Schatz
alumni showcase

We invited a select group of University of Western States alumni “all stars” to serve as hosts for a unique video series. Alumni hosts 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!