Bringing Compassionate Care to All Oregonians
George Fox Is Addressing The Rural Healthcare Crisis
Preparing healthcare providers to serve in rural and underserved parts of Oregon is essential in closing extreme healthcare gaps in the Northwest.
George Fox University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, launching in August 2025 with the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist program, will develop three critical healthcare tracks with an emphasis on placing advanced practice nurses (APN) in rural residencies.
Advanced practice nurse [APN]: A registered nurse who has additional education and training in how to diagnose and treat diseases.
Workforce Relief for Stressed Communities
Rural healthcare systems need help now, making advanced practice nurses (APNs) an ideal solution for overworked, understaffed health teams. They deliver excellent care affordably, which is vital for rural hospitals struggling financially.
60 Million Rural Residents navigating the healthcare crisis
Rural residents often have more health issues and a shorter life expectancy than urban dwellers.
26.5% of Rural Residents delay care because of cost*
Rural families deal with added transportation costs, lost workdays, and increased stress from seeking distant treatment. These challenges result in longer recoveries and more health issues.
*Department of Health & Human Services
Helping Rural Oregonians Thrive
Oregon is one of 29 states that recognize the vast training and testing required by DNP programs and allows APNs to work independently without physician supervision. Their autonomy and ability to prescribe medication benefit patients, eliminating the need to see multiple providers for the same medical need.
224 Mental Healthcare Provider Deficit in Oregon and Washington
Oregon and Washington require more than 220 new mental health practitioners to tackle the rural mental health crisis, as reported by the Health Resources and Services Administration in 2024.
1 in 5 Americans experience mental illness
Oregon is last in balancing youth mental illness and access to care, according to advocacy and monitoring nonprofit Mental Health America.
Up to 19% of patients prescribed opioids develop dependency*
Students in the George Fox CRNA program will undergo advanced training in anesthesia care, significantly reducing the reliance on opioid prescriptions post-surgery.
*American Medical Association
Pam Fifer, EdD, RN, CNE
Dean, College of Nursing
The nursing model looks at care holistically, treating the biological, psychosocial, behavioral and spiritual well-being of the individual patient. Advanced practice nurses ask, ‘How can I help?’ even when the pain is not physical.
A Leader in Healthcare Education
Starting in 1990 with the launch of the Doctor of Psychology program, George Fox University has been at the forefront of healthcare education. The introduction of nursing in 2007 marked a significant expansion, quickly becoming one of the university's most popular majors. George Fox has since broadened its offerings with graduate programs in social work, physical therapy, physician assistant, and occupational therapy.
The new suite of Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs underscores George Fox’s commitment to addressing critical healthcare shortages and serving as a leading provider of healthcare education in the Northwest.
100% Job Placement
George Fox's DNP program is an extension of our highly acclaimed nursing school, renowned for achieving a 100% placement rate six months post-graduation.
3,000 Graduates
Since 1990, nearly 3,000 students have graduated from our undergraduate and graduate nursing, medical and behavioral health sciences programs.
#1 Christian College in Oregon
U.S. News & World Report (2024)
The DNP includes three healthcare tracks
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Launching in August 2025
More CRNAs benefit all Oregonions. This speciality equips practitioners to provide anesthesia and related care to patients before, during and after surgeries and other medical procedures.
Graduates will bring the latest advancements in anesthesia care and perioperative care to rural settings. Students will also be on the forefront of shifting anesthesia care to curb the rise in opiate addiction. Our goal is to help bring more safe, person-centered care to patients during critical and vulnerable times of need.
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
Launching in August 2027
Maternal and child health is pivotal for community well-being. Beyond supporting mothers and newborns during pregnancy and childbirth, holistic care for women spans from adolescence through menopause.
Training more CNMs plays a significant role in improving healthcare access in rural places, especially in replacing reduced obstetrics care. Students will train in our state-of-the-art simulation center that includes a labor and delivery room, home birthing room, and women’s clinic space.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Launching August 2028
There is a dire need for more mental health providers across the nation. Unfortunately, Oregon falls far behind the rest of the country when it comes to mental healthcare access. PMHNPs provide therapy and prescribe medications for patients who have mental health or substance use disorders.
The PMHNP program will help address the mental health care shortage, especially in rural areas. The PMHNP track is the first behavioral health program at George Fox to give practitioners prescriptive authority, enabling PMHNPs to provide holistic and comprehensive care to patients.
We’re in it together
Thank you to our growing list of local and rural partners.
- Adventist Health Tillamook | Tillamook
- Anesthesia Associates Northwest
- Bay Area Hospital | Coos Bay
- CHI Mercy Medical Center | Roseberg
- CHI St. Anthony’s Hospital | Pendleton
- Columbia Memorial Hospital | Astoria
- Good Shepherd | Hermiston
- Grande Ronde Hospital | La Grande
- Harney District Hospital | Burns
- Legacy Silverton Medical Center | Silverton
- PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center | Florence
- Providence Health | Hood River
- Providence Health | Medford
- Providence Health | Milwaukie
- Providence Health | Newberg
- Providence Medical Center | Portland
- Providence Health | Seaside
- Providence St. Vincent Medical Center | Portland
- Providence Health | Willamette Falls
- Salem Hospital | Salem
- Samaritan Health Albany General | Albany
- Sky Lakes | Klamath Falls
- Sound Anesthesia | National Medical Group
- St. Alphonsus Medical Center | Baker City
- St. Alphonsus Hospital | Ontario
- Wallowa Memorial Hospital | Wallowa
- Willamette Valley | McMinnville
Helping shape the next generation of Christian leaders is one of the most powerful ways you can serve
Investing in the DNP program and our students creates a ripple effect that will benefit the communities they uplift and the people they serve. As a George Fox donor, you are part of a community of faithful servants doing big things for Christ and his kingdom.
Generous gifts of all sizes, along with your continued prayers, are crucial to the successful launch of the DNP programs at George Fox. Help us reach our funding goal when you give today.
$5.5 Million funding gap for DNP program expansion
Donors and healthcare partners will help bridge the gap, a crucial step toward alleviating healthcare disparities and enhancing access for everyone.
11,000 square feet remodeled Portland Center
The DNP program requires a full-scale remodel of the Portland center. All three healthcare tracks will benefit from the facilities, which will include three ORs, a labor and delivery and home birthing center simulation labs, and additional spaces for PMHNP training.
Give today
Bill Prosser, DNAP, MSN, CRNA
Director, George Fox University CRNA program
Graduates from George Fox’s CRNA program will become change agents in hospitals and communities. Our vision is to inspire and empower healthcare leaders to deliver ethical, patient-focused care and to champion equitable healthcare outcomes and policies for everyone.
Leave a Legacy of Well-Being
We would love to honor your charitable gift with a namesake. The renovation of our George Fox Portland Center provides a unique opportunity for your investment in equitable healthcare access to live on through your name or the name of someone you love. Opportunities range from $50,000 to $3 million.
Learn more about signature naming opportunities by contacting our Advancement office at advancement@georgefox.edu or 503-554-2117.