LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Hawaii Pacific University brings the Aloha spirit to Las Vegas with its new campus in the southwest valley.
The expansion of the Hawaii Pacific University represents a significant milestone in the University’s 60-year history – marking its first campus on the U.S. mainland.
“To be able to bring Hawaii Pacific University here to Las Vegas, which some call the 9th island… we’re just happy that we can contribute to the community, build the capacity of healthcare across the region,” Tricia Catalino, Dean of Graduate College of Health Sciences, said.
Shaquilla King is a part of the university’s inaugural class. A graduate of UNLV, King is earning her doctorate at Hawaii Pacific University with plans to become a pediatric occupational therapist.
“It’s been an experience,” King said. “I feel like getting to see the foundation being built was amazing. We didn’t start off here, but finishing here, and seeing the program develop over this short amount of time has been an experience. I love it.”
The Las Vegas campus features facilities designed to support the University’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs. Among its features is an Activities of Daily Living (ADL) suite, equipped with a kitchen, living room, and bathroom, designed to provide real-world training for OTD students.
Additionally, specialized lab spaces designed for the DPT program promote interprofessional education and collaboration, equipping students to address the evolving healthcare challenges of the future.
“These are our two healthcare-centric programs that we’re starting here in Las Vegas because of the great need in this region for healthcare providers, especially physical and occupational therapists,” Catalino said.
The university also offers a hybrid learning experience, allowing students to engage in online coursework and hands-on lab experiences.
“We really feel that it is an accessible way to learn,” Catalino said. “We offer hybrid health science programs which allow our students to learn from home or wherever they might be and then come to Las Vegas to have hands-on learning during their lab-based immersions.”
Hawaii Pacific University is now accepting applications for its August program. Financial aid and veteran benefits are available.
To learn more about the Las Vegas OTD program, click here, and to learn more about the Las Vegas DPT program, click here.
