Vineyard soils require adequate nutrients for growing healthy grapes, but testing plants for nutrients is a cumbersome, outdated process that takes considerable time and effort.

A four-year, $4.75 million Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) USDA-NIFA grant will fund a national team of researchers and extension educators to improve plant testing and fertilizer recommendations for grape growers.

“The fertilizer guidelines that were developed 50 years ago are outdated, and the industry needs to realize that relying on these old guidelines is not going to give them the best return on investment,” said Markus Keller, Chateau Ste. Michelle distinguished professor for WSU’s Viticulture & Enology program, and the project leader.

The current testing process often requires leaves or fruit tissue samples be sent to a lab. Results can take weeks, by which time it’s often too late to change nutrient supply for the current growing season. It can also be expensive and unpredictable.

“We want to give grape growers the chance to sample earlier, make decisions immediately, and be able to act on those decisions before the following growing year,” Keller said.

The High Resolution Vineyard Nutrient Management Project����includes 14 scientists from seven institutions across the US and Mendoza, Argentina. WSU researchers involved in the project include Qin Zhang, professor of Agricultural Automation, Manoj Karkee, associate professor for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems, Jim Harbertson, associate professor for Enology, and project manager Thomas Groenveld.

The team’s goals include plans to build remote sensors able to assess plant nutrient status from the air, and the creation of new guidelines on how to measure and adjust the nutrient status of grapevines.

Camera sensors mounted on a tractor driving up and down vineyard rows, or on a drone flying over the vineyard, might give growers near-real-time data. That would allow more informed decisions on what nutrients their grapevines need and where in a vineyard they are needed most, rather than sampling just one plant or section of a large vineyard plot.

“If we fertilize the entire vineyard as a one size fits all approach, it could lead to an imbalance in fertilization that could damage crops or end up polluting local groundwater,” said Keller. “We want to minimize the environmental impact while improving the quality of the fruit.”

The project’s social science and extension focus group sent a survey to grape industry stakeholders nationwide to see what growers are currently doing for vineyard nutrition. Despite less than 10% of their annual budgets being spent on vineyard nutrition, 75% of the over 300 respondents said soil nutrition was either ‘extremely’ or ‘very’ important’ for the yield and quality of wine and grape products.

“Macro nutrients like potassium and nitrogen allow vine growth and development. However, it can be hard to measure their presence in the plant, since the amount of nutrients can change during the season,” said Pierre Davadant, a PhD student at WSU and research assistant for Markus Keller’s lab.

Davadant, along with postdoctoral scientist Nataliya Shcherbatyuk, have collected scores of samples from commercial vineyards of wine and juice grapes for use in the study.

It will likely take a few years before results are available.

The team is fertilizing and observing blocks of Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Chardonnay grapes at cooperating Ste. Michelle Wine Estates vineyards from winter until harvest. They’ll ferment the grapes at the WSU Wine Science Center to study how differences in vine nutrient status affect wine quality.

The Auction of Washington Wines, Washington State University, and all Washington state wine grape growers and wineries through the Washington State Wine Commission provided seed money for the project to help leverage support of USDA-NIFA and continue to provide supplemental support for the project.

To learn more about the vineyard nutrition project, visit the��. Visit WSU’s����to learn more about the V&E program.

By Karen Hunt, WSU Office of Research

Washington State University joins the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the University of Washington in hosting a free two‑part virtual workshop on Friday, Sept.��17 to explore research collaboration and preview the new Energy Sciences Center (ESC).

“We’re excited to join PNNL and UW in this day‑long virtual event, which serves as a launching point for fostering collaborations between university staff and students and the scientific staff that will be housed in the ESC,” said Christopher Keane, vice��chancellor for research in Pullman and vice��president for research at WSU. “We encourage our professors, postdocs, and students to participate in this event.”

In part one of the workshop, PNNL will include a leadership kickoff, give an overview of ESC��capabilities, showcase current collaborations, and have technical presentations by PNNL��scientists on:

• ��and chemical conversions
• ��and phenomena for energy storage
• Materials and characterization for��.

In the fall of 2021, the new $90��million ESC will open at PNNL. Research in the ESC will focus on fundamental studies of chemistry and materials for energy storage, as well as the development and characterization of materials for quantum information sciences. With capabilities that include advanced electron microscopy, x‑ray spectroscopy, and magnetic resonance instruments, the ESC will be one of the most advanced facilities in the world with the combination of experimental capabilities unavailable anywhere else in the country. The 140,000‑square‑foot facility will feature a combination of research laboratories, flexible-use open spaces, conference rooms, and offices for 250��PNNL��researchers, visiting scientists and engineers, and support staff.

“The ESC will be a focal point for collaborative research among PNNL��scientists, industry, and partners at the university, and other major institutions in the region, U.S., and abroad,” said Wendy Shaw, the chief science and technology officer in PNNL’s Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate. “Through these workshops, we are excited to work with the WSU��faculty, researchers, and students to building collaborative pathways.”

Register for the eight‑hour workshop by going to��.

A second workshop is being planned by PNNL and university partners to foster discussion and identify collaborations around the three topic areas.

For questions about the event, contact Wendy Shaw at��wendy.shaw@pnnl.gov��or 509‑375‑5922 for technical information and Becky Ford at��bford@pnnl.gov��or 509‑372‑4977 for logistical information.

Washington State University, as the state’s land-grant university, has an obligation to serve the public good and promote the health and safety of the communities it serves. The COVID‑19 vaccine, now widely available, has been shown to nearly eliminate the chances of death or serious illness related to a COVID‑19 infection, and is a critical element in protecting public health locally and worldwide.

Vaccine requirements for students

WSU��system-wide will require proof of the COVID‑19 vaccination for the 2021–2022 academic year for all students engaging in activities at a WSU��campus or location.

Exemptions will be allowed for medical, religious, or personal reasons. Information about how to submit proof of vaccination and the process to request an exemption will be provided in the coming months.

Students whose programs are fully online and/or for which an on‑campus/location presence does not occur are automatically exempted from this requirement.

In order to participate in any on‑site or in‑person courses and activities, students at all WSU��locations will be expected to be vaccinated by the start of the fall semester. Some programs may designate an earlier date for proof of vaccination or an exemption based on when fall semester in‑person activities begin.

Beginning Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, ���سԹ� students will be required to have documented proof of vaccine or an approved exemption. Students who fail to meet this requirement will be prevented from registering for spring semester courses and/or face other restrictions. Students with approved exemptions may be required to participate in regular COVID‑19 testing and/or other COVID‑19 public health measures.

Vaccine requirements for employees

WSU system-wide intends to extend the requirement to all employees and volunteers engaging in activities on a WSU worksite. Exemptions will be allowed for medical, religious, or personal reasons. Any employees and volunteers who receive exemptions may be subject to COVID‑19 testing and/or other COVID‑19 public health measures. More information, including how to submit proof of vaccination or an exemption, will be provided in the coming months.

Acceptable vaccines

WSU will accept proof of any vaccine that was authorized for use in the United��States at the time of administration. For vaccinations requiring two doses, students and employees must have received both doses of the vaccine to meet the requirement. Proof of vaccination will also be required for anyone with a prior diagnosis of COVID‑19. WSU will work with any international students and employees who may have received a vaccine that is not approved for use in the United��States.

The University reserves the right to modify this policy at any time in accordance with changing public health guidance or directives, best practices, and/or university needs.

Additional information about the requirement process will be made available this summer. For employee-related questions, please contact Human Resources Services at��hrs@wsu.edu��or 509‑335‑4521. For student-related questions and all other inquiries, please email�����DZ�����‑19.���Դڴǰ��ɲ���.����.

Join ���سԹ� with a gift to support student success and student hardship relief as part of #CougsGive Day on Wednesday, April 14!

���سԹ� is raising dollars for the following funds as part of��#CougsGive Day:

• ���سԹ� Chancellor’s Excellence Fund
• ���سԹ� Scholars Excellence Fund
• ���سԹ� Emergency Hardship Fund

To donate, visit cougsgive.wsu.edu/tricities.

Every dollar goes toward supporting student success and preventing student hardship. It’s been a tumultuous year. Let’s celebrate our students with a donation that celebrates them!

 

SEB/ASWSUTC Student #CougsGive Day Sharing Challenge
Win Coug prize packs or a $200 Bookie gift card
Winners announced at noon (prize packs) and 8 p.m. (gift card)

Share a quick sentence or story about someone at ���سԹ� who changed your life for the better on , or and tag @WSUTriCities AND #CougsGiveTC.

• Five students will be randomly selected to win a ���سԹ� prize pack (announced at noon)
• One student will be randomly selected to win a $200 gift card to The Bookie (announced at 8 p.m.)

 

Alaska Airlines Faculty Challenge
Faculty can earn a $2,500 Alaska Airlines voucher for their department
Winner announced at 1 p.m.

The ���سԹ� academic department with the most donations from faculty to one of the three�����سԹ� #CougsGive Day funds��will earn a $2,500 Alaska Airlines flight voucher for their department.

 

HAPO Cares Challenge
Unlock a $500 HAPO matching gift
Announced at 3 p.m.

The first 10 gifts to the�����سԹ� Scholars Excellence Fund��unlocks a $500 gift from HAPO Community Credit Union.

 

Show Your Cougar Pride Challenge
Win a Coug prize pack
Winner announced at 5 p.m.

Share on��,�����ǰ�����about why you give to ���سԹ� and tag @WSUTriCities AND #CougsGiveTC.

A winner will be selected to win a ���سԹ� Coug prize pack.

 

CougsGive Employee Challenge
Unlock a $500 Advancement matching gift
Announced at 7 p.m.

The first 10 ���سԹ� employees to give to the�����سԹ� Student Emergency Hardship Fund��will be matched by the ���سԹ� Advancement team (up to $500).

 

���سԹ� Chancellor Challenge
$500 and $250 additional gifts from Chancellor Haynes
Winner announced at 10 a.m. next day (April 15)

The top two�����سԹ� #CougsGive Day funds��with the most unique donors will unlock $500 and $250 gifts, respectively, from Chancellor Sandra Haynes.

 

PULLMAN, Wash. – The ��voted today to stop requiring and using the SAT and ACT tests in the admissions process.

��approved by regents also recommended that WSU no longer use SAT or ACT scores in the selection process for scholarships as well as tuition waivers.

“This is the trend,” Provost and Executive Vice President Elizabeth Chilton said. “I think COVID just sort of pushed a number of colleges and universities a little further along because we saw that we were able to make informed decisions without those scores.”

Chilton noted that years of scholarship has demonstrated significant issues of bias with standardized testing. Instead of using these scores, admissions officers will rely on metrics, including grade point average, that better reflect a potential student’s ability to succeed.��

In response to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the����allowed public universities to waive or make optional SAT and ACT for students applying during the 2020 and 2021 admission cycles. The Board of Regents decision makes the waiver permanent for the WSU system.

As part of her presentation to the Board of Regents, Chilton shared data from the university showing that GPA is a better predictor of success at WSU than standardized test scores. Both 6-year graduation and first year retention rates are higher for students with a high school GPA above 3.5 than for a student that scores above 1200 on the SAT.

The move to eliminate consideration of the SAT and ACT is part of a national movement away from standardized tests due to concerns about implicit cultural bias and persistent inequalities among racial and ethnic groups. With the Board of Regents approval, WSU joins several of its peers in moving away from standardized tests as a means of evaluating potential students.

No longer requiring prospective students to submit SAT and ACT scores eliminates the ambiguity that can persist when universities make tests optional. It also alleviates the financial and structural barrier to taking the testing in an effort to make WSU a more supportive and inclusive environment.

The move is overwhelmingly supported by WSU chancellors, deans, vice presidents, as well as leaders in Enrollment Management, Academic Engagement and Student Achievement and other campus partners.

“I just want to applaud the efforts here,” Regent Lisa Schauer said. “I do think that this is leadership and I think it’s the right way to go. It lives our values and centers equity and I think that’s what we want to continue to do.”

The regents meeting in its entirety can be viewed on��.

Media contact:

Phil Weiler, vice president of marketing and communication, 509-595-1708,��phil.weiler@wsu.edu

By Maegan Murray, ���سԹ�

RICHLAND, Wash. – Data analysis from a Washington State University Tri-Cities psychology statistics course will be used to help , a camp for children with serious medical conditions, improve recruitment strategies and further refine camp programming to meet the needs of the children and families it serves amid COVID-19 and beyond.

The ���سԹ� course, titled “Statistics in Psychology,” which is taught by associate psychology professor Janet Peters, partners each semester with a regional nonprofit to analyze data and turn it into useable sets of information. The opportunity not only allows students to use their developed knowledge of statistics, but also to learn more about the vast areas in which they can apply a career in psychology to help people and regional organizations, Peters said.

“When I first started doing service learning in my classes, the first question I asked was ‘How do I help students understand the power of the skills they are learning?’ ” she said. “The power of those skills become so much more apparent when you are helping somebody. That is what truly changes their perspective. They are learning for a purpose. When they see the benefits to their community, it changes the culture of the classroom.”

Peters was connected with Camp Korey through Academic Program. The center works closely with faculty and instructors to integrate service learning into numerous courses across the WSU system, partnering for more than 1,500 opportunities.

“We see ourselves as a way to get students connected with off-campus engagement,” said Jessica Perone, faculty consultant with the WSU Center for Civic Engagement. “Janet participated in the 2017 Center for Civic Engagement Faculty Fellows program. Camp Korey was looking for some support with data analysis, and we were able to establish a great partnership with her ���سԹ� class.”

Changes amid COVID-19

Camp Korey provides year-round camp programs for children with life-altering medical conditions free of charge. It offers traditional summer camp activities, which are modified to meet their specific condition or circumstances. It also offers a year-round hospital outreach program known as “Camp to You,” which brings camp activities to children while they receive treatment in the hospital setting.

Kimberly Puhrmann, director of marketing and community engagement for Camp Korey, said in

a normal year, summer camp participants have the opportunity to partake in onsite activities ranging from horseback riding, to arts and crafts, to a special event called “Silly Olympics” where kids can fling paint, throw food and generally enjoy being a kid.

“This year, we had to creatively and quickly pivot our programming to a remote, virtual experience for campers and for our volunteers,” she said. “While we normally think of camp as an analog activity, in 2020, we found ways to blend analog fun in a digital experience as we strived to stay connected with our campers and community.”

From data to community action – all virtually

In groups, ���سԹ� students collaboratively worked virtually to analyze data for a variety of factors, ranging from identifying camp participant sense of belonging, feelings of isolation, confidence levels, as well as general demographics. All factors were compared using data from before and amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The students used Google Docs, Zoom and other digital platforms to communicate back and forth, keep track of their project progress, as well as complete their final reports detailing their analysis.

“Thankfully, we have technology that allows us to communicate,” psychology student Angelica Mendoza said. “We had to hold each other accountable and regularly have conversations about our work and progress.”

Analysis revealed that the camp was doing a great job in a variety of areas. For example, camp participants did not report feeling any more isolated in 2019 as compared to 2020 amid the pandemic, despite the switch to virtual offerings.

Analysis from other components revealed areas that could be further fine-tuned in their programming and supports. For example, female camp participants saw a decrease in continued participation from year to year after the age of 10, whereas male camp participants saw peak participation in their mid-teens. Stemming from research, the students indicated that one reason for the difference could be that male participants tend to participate more in outdoor activities than female participants for that age range.

“The data analysis and impactful insights provided by Dr. Peters and the psychology students will be instrumental when making future key decisions in the strategic planning of our camper programming, mission development and community outreach initiatives,” Puhrmann said.

She said the data will help the camp moving forward in identifying how they can best recruit and reach families with children with serious medical conditions, in validation for some of the things they are doing well, and for enhancing some of the programs and activities they provide to children and their families. It will also help them pursue further fundraising efforts and in the sharing of their brand and mission, she said.

“Our medical and program team will be using this, especially in looking at the social and emotional aspects of our programming,” she said.

Rewards of applying course learning to community

Many ���سԹ� students in the class said the opportunity to work with Camp Korey provided them with an extensive insight into the possibilities with psychology, gave meaning to their coursework, and made a course that can be intimidating much more approachable.

“I never would have expected to have had such an amazing experience in a statistics course, of all things,” Mendoza said. “(Peters) made me passionate about statistics because of the dedication she demonstrated to the material and to her students. The project only emphasized the importance of statistics to me and I wanted to show my newfound interest and appreciation for it through my work.”

Mendoza said working on the project with Camp Korey was one of the most rewarding experiences of her college career because of the service-based, real-world connection to what she was learning.

“Knowing that we were analyzing data for an organization like Camp Korey motivated us to stay dedicated to learning the material and produce quality work to be able to share with our community partners,” she said. “I personally felt so inspired by Camp Korey’s mission. This organization is devoted to allowing kids with serious medical conditions experience childhood. I am very grateful for this opportunity in collaborating with such an amazing cause.

Psychology student Jocelyn Martinez said it helped open her eyes to the world of research in psychology and the impact that it can have, regionally.

“My favorite aspects were analyzing their data and creating the final presentation,” she said. “It did open my eyes to research psychology, since I was leaning toward a career in clinical psychology. It helped me see that with research, I could learn more about different ways of treatment … It was very meaningful because a lot of times, you don’t have a lot of chances to work with nonprofits. It also helped me learn the material way better than I expected.”

The ���سԹ� class will continue to work with Camp Korey this spring semester to analyze some alternative sets of data. The class is now examining data as it applies to diversity, equity and inclusion.

“The next wave of data will help guide and inform how we engage the process of recruitment for staff, volunteers and especially our campers and camp families,” Puhrmann said.

Holistic support from WSU

Peters’ class was one of several WSU classes and groups of students working to provide direct support for Camp Korey. One group created friendship bracelets for the campers. Other groups helped with creation of camper kits that were shipped out to camps participants, encouraging letters and painting rocks for use in beautifying the grounds.

“Being a WSU alumna, myself, this partnership has been incredibly rewarding,” Puhrmann said. “While this has been a challenging time for everyone, it is simply through the grit and determination of our community that Camp Korey continues to thrive. We are beyond grateful to WSU, the Center for Civic Engagement, Dr. Peters and the students for this opportunity and impactful partnership.”

By Maegan Murray, ���سԹ�

RICHLAND, Wash. – An exhibition at Washington State University Tri-Cities will showcase art professionally created by WSU faculty and staff from across the state now through Feb. 28 at the ���سԹ� Art Center.

A grand opening for the exhibition is scheduled for 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. on Jan. 31 in the ���سԹ� Art Center. The event is free and open to the public.

The exhibition will feature a range of styles of art, including interactive and electronic sculptures, ceramics, photography, painting, drawing and more. It will specifically feature works from 16 faculty and staff from the ���سԹ�, WSU Vancouver and WSU Pullman campuses.

At the grand opening on Jan. 31, attendees will have the opportunity to meet many of the artists featured, enjoy wine and light refreshments, as well as get an up-close look at the works of art.

Remarks begin at 5:30 p.m. and will feature:

• Sena Clara Creston, ���سԹ� clinical assistant professor of fine arts and digital technology and culture
• Squeak Meisel, WSU chair and associate professor and sculpture coordinator of fine arts
• Kathleen McAteer, ���سԹ� vice chancellor for academic affairs and clinical associate professor of biology
• Matthew Jockers, dean of the WSU College of Arts and Sciences
• Reza Safavi, WSU associate professor, graduate coordinator and digital media coordinator of fine arts

The grand opening reception is free and open to the public. For a complete list of artists and their works featured, visit tricities.wsu.edu/art-center.

“We have a variety of highly-skilled and wildly talented faculty and staff members whose work will be featured and prominently displayed for this WSU exhibition,” Creston said. “We invite our community members to come out and witness the excellent artwork of our accomplished faculty and staff.”

The ���سԹ� Art Center is open from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Friday.

For more information about the exhibition, visit tricities.wsu.edu/art-center/.

By Maegan Murray, ���سԹ�

RICHLAND, Wash. – Go Fish. Life. Apples to Apples. Checkers. These are games that bring people to together for the purpose of family and friend bonding. But for some new to the English language, translating how to play the games into a structure that is easy to understand can be difficult, considering the complexity of some instructions.

That is why Tri-City Area Gaming partnered with an English course at Washington State University Tri-Cities to refine board game instructions into a simpler structure, which makes it easier to translate those instructions into a variety of languages.

Tri-City Area Gaming is a local nonprofit that hosts an assortment of community and private gaming events. They wanted to be even more inclusive by having instructions of each of the games to include all families, rather than just those who spoke English.

“Board games are great ways to spend time with families, and they wanted a way to make their game nights not only more inclusive, but more accessible by a variety of individuals locally in the Tri-Cities,” said Vanessa Cozza, clinical assistant professor of English. “This is a fun project for students to use the skills they learn and develop in an English class to make a difference in their local community.”

As part of the course, students were split up into groups where they first dissected the established written instructions for a respective game assigned to their group. From there, the students developed even simpler instructions, where they gave great care to use words that are easily translatable into other languages. The students then played the games with the new instructions to make sure that each of the instructions were easy to decipher.

“Having the opportunity to work on a project that has that real-life connection makes the project so much more relevant and important,” said Kylie Downard, a junior elementary education major in the course. “People are actually going to use these instructions and it makes the project a lot more interesting to work on. It’s a great project to work on as part of an English class.”

For student Andres Ponce, a junior mechanical engineering major, the project hit close to home.

“I personally have Hispanic parents who aren’t fluent in English,” he said. “Working on these sorts of games where more family nights are spent together is really cool.”

Maggie Cooper, a senior English major, also liked the idea of working on a project that would be more easily translated into other languages to benefit families.

“It is cool that we are keeping in mind the translation,” said student Maggie Cooper, a senior English major. “Some parents don’t speak English, so this is a great way to make sure that everyone can participate in the family game nights.”

Ponce said one of his favorite components about the project was also identifying the language and terms to use for different age groups.

“Keeping the audience in mind, you can make the instruction more or less complicated,” Ponce said. “Games for those ages 7-12, for example, could have slightly more complicated instructions compared to those for kids that are younger. It’s been fun making the games more applicable to different age groups and refining the instructions. Plus, we get to play games until we get it right.”

The students presented the project to Sara Quinn, who leads the nonprofit. Cozza said Quinn was impressed with the students’ work. She said they hope to continue the collaboration with Tri-City Area Gaming, as well as partner with other organizations.

“These are great opportunities for students to not only develop their skills in the English language, but also give back to a local organization that will have a real-world impact,” Cozza said.

SPOKANE, Wash.– The Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine recently announced the launch of Range Health, a non-profit academic health network designed to bring health care to Washington’s rural and underserved areas. The College of Medicine also unveiled the William A. Crosetto Mobile Health Care Unit, the network’s first traveling health clinic.

Named for its intent to deliver care to all of Washington’s 39 counties with a nod to its rural emphasis, Range Health is a separate 501(c)(3) entity in partnership with WSU and the College of Medicine. The organization will provide prevention and wellness strategies, as well as treatment to patients across the state, focusing on communities where health care is limited. Leveraging its network of doctors, nurses and pharmacists, Range Health will increase access to health care while serving as a training ground for future doctors and health care providers.

“From the earliest days of the College of Medicine, we envisioned a time when we would not only educate medical students to become doctors in our rural and underserved communities but create new ways of delivering health care to the people of our state,” said John Tomkowiak, founding dean of the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine and chair of the board and ex officio director of Range Health. “Range Health fulfills this vision and, while there is a lot of work ahead to scale up, extend our reach and expand our offerings, we’re excited to take our first steps toward serving the communities that need us most.”

Range Health launches with its first mobile medical unit named for William A. Crosetto, a cattle rancher from Othello who passed away in January 2018. Known to friends as Bill, he worked with Innovia Foundation to create the William A. Crosetto Charitable Foundation to support medical education and rural health among other philanthropic interests. His legacy lives on in the William A. Crosetto Mobile Health Care Unit, which will travel to rural and underserved communities to provide comprehensive primary care, urgent care procedures, and preventive screening for conditions such as diabetes, cholesterol, pregnancy, STDs, asthma and more. The unit is slated to begin providing services in January 2020.

As a Washington State College runner who went on to compete in the Olympics, Bill’s father had a significant impact on his life, but he was most proud of the legacies established by his uncles, Fred Hutchison, a famous baseball player and Dr. William Hutchinson, who founded the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center as well as the Pacific Northwest Diabetes Research Institute.

“Bill was proud of his family’s legacy but often felt he lived in the shadow of his uncles, and yet his generosity in our region will have just as deep of an impact,” said Shelly O’Quinn, CEO of Innovia Foundation. “Bill wanted to ensure rural residents would have access to doctors in their hometown. His legacy will allow people to age in place in the communities they love.”

Led by executives from the colleges of Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Range Health and the William A. Crosetto Mobile Health Care Unit will initially focus on care from doctors and medical students with plans to expand across all health sciences disciplines in the future.

“Humankind��is demanding solutions that support modern health care needs. Health care must be reimagined. With Range Health, we’re signaling steps taken to our larger vision of WSU Health—our initiative to advance health care across the Pacific Northwest,” said Daryll DeWald, WSU Health Sciences vice president and chancellor. “As education becomes more and more a critical component of health, WSU Health Sciences is uniquely equipped to embrace modern health care needs.”

True to its emphasis on bringing care to communities, Range Health will take its mobile unit on tour across the state in October. Sponsored by Banner Bank, the tour will travel to the college’s clinical campus sites in Vancouver, Everett and Tri-Cities where third-year medical students are now based full time for clinical training. All community members are encouraged to attend the tour events to see the mobile unit, meet locally based WSU students, and hear from WSU and Banner Bank leadership. Tour dates and locations include:

• Vancouver: Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. at the Banner Bank East Vancouver Branch 3100 SE 164^th
• Everett: Oct. 17 at 1 p.m. at the Banner Bank Everett Colby Branch 2531 Colby Everett Ave.
• Tri-Cities: Oct. 23 at 1 p.m. at the Banner Bank Richland Branch 1221 Jadwin Ave.

“It is our pleasure to partner with WSU to bring this tour to each of their clinical campus communities,” said Mark Grescovich, President & CEO of Banner Bank. “Like WSU, Banner Bank serves communities all across Washington, including many rural areas that will directly benefit from the mobile medical care unit. We are excited to help shine a light on the important work of the medical school and Range Health.”

For more information visit the��.

Media Contact

• Christina VerHeul, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, 509-368-6850,��christina.verheul@wsu.edu