East West College
Portland, Oregon 97215
East West College was founded in 1972 as the Midway School of Massage. It was purchased in 1981 by its current owner, David Slawson, who was vitally interested in increasing the options for health care in the Pacific Northwest.
David's commitment to healing the environment resulted in positive contributions such as the Whole Life Expo and the Everett Healing Center, now known as Common Ground Center for bodywork and hydrotherapy, which remains an integral part of the Portland healing arts community. Today, David is spearheading a global project to bring the benefits of concentrated solar energy to the world.
To reflect the wide spectrum of training available in the massage and bodywork field, David renamed the school East West College and integrated it into the Common Ground Center. As the college grew, it expanded first into a larger facility in downtown Portland and then in 1993 into a beautiful campus in a quiet eastside neighborhood.
As its strong program continued to develop and its reputation spread, East West College opened a Westside campus to increase its presence in the community. Most recently, an additional location containing several beautiful Auxiliary Classrooms as an extension of the Eastside campus and a Professional Clinic has opened in Northeast Portland in the Lloyd Center District with easy access to the light rail.
East West College's curriculum has been approved by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) since the early 1990s and its reputation is reflected in its mission statement "Training for Excellence." The Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) developed from the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), the oldest and largest professional organization of its kind in the world and the recognized leader in the advancement of massage therapy.
Accreditation through COMTA means that the college has not only the institutional accreditation common to any accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, but that its programs have been carefully scrutinized by an agency that specializes in accrediting schools of massage and bodywork.
A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
Thank you for considering East West College for your massage training program. Our school has developed over the last thirty years into an excellent professional school that provides comprehensive training for future massage therapists. The courses you take here are carefully designed to meet or exceed the rigorous requirements of the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) and prepare you to pass the National Certification Exam and any state massage board exam for which you qualify. The instructors are hand-picked for their training, teaching abilities, cooperative and caring attitudes and experience in massage, bodywork and healthcare. And the students are selected from a wide variety of backgrounds and interests to provide a diverse experience for everyone in the college community.
The college's 600-hour Massage Therapy Program will prepare you to pass the National Certification Exam and state board exams so you can begin practicing as a massage therapist. The effectiveness of this program in meeting these goals is illustrated by the fact that the pass rate of East West College graduates on the National Certification Exam is consistently 25% above the national average and the pass rate of graduates on the Oregon Massage Board's practical exam is typically up to 15% above the state average. The college's 801-hour Specialty Certificate Programs offer students the ability to gain specialized training in Asian Bodywork, Western Massage or Spa Management and Techniques. I recommend that you carefully examine the opportunity these certificate programs offer since your personal and financial success as a professional massage therapist will depend on your ability to provide a wide variety of services to your clients.
Recent research shows that massage and bodywork are becoming an important part of mainstream health care in the United States and abroad, so training to become a professional massage therapist can be an exciting, rewarding and potentially life-changing path. I congratulate you on considering becoming a part of this vibrant, growing profession and guarantee that an education at East West College will give you an excellent foundation for your future success as a massage therapist.
Dr. Don Newton, M.A., D.C.
Director of Education
