WesternU Oregon celebrates largest graduating class at 2025 Commencement 

Western University of Health Sciences Oregon celebrated its largest graduating class on Monday, May 12, 2025. The College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest (COMP-Northwest) celebrated 107 Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, and the College of Health Sciences-Northwest (CHS-Northwest) honored 48 Doctors of Physical Therapy.  

WesternU President Robin Farias-Eisner, MD, PhD, MBA, presided over the ceremony. During his welcome remarks, President Farias-Eisner encouraged the Class of 2025 to rely on the skills they’ve acquired during their education and approach every situation with a humanistic lens.  

“You are entering a field that is rewarding and yet demanding. The knowledge and skills you have acquired will empower you to make a profound impact on the lives of your patients,” Farias-Eisner said. “Remember, medicine is not just about treating illness. It is about caring for individuals, understanding their stories, and advocating for their wellbeing, with that critical humanistic touch that you are so blessed to have acquired.” 

During the ceremony, COMP and COMP-Northwest Dean Lisa Warren, DO ’01, MBA, encouraged students to remember their love of medicine. 

“Let inspiration be the thread that you continue to weave throughout your career. Be inspired by your patients, inspire your colleagues with your passion, and above all, never lose the inspiration that brought you to medicine in the first place,” Warren said.  

Similarly, CHS-Northwest Site Dean Jonathan Perry, PhD, MSc, delivered remarks celebrating the CHS-Northwest Class of 2025, recognizing them as the second graduating class of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program and acknowledging the lasting impact they’ve made on the college. 

“This class has so much personality, and every one of you has shaped the way we run our programs and the way we relate to each other,” Perry said. “Your cohort gave us new traditions, created space for future cohorts, and modeled leadership in a way that will continue to ripple through our halls long after Commencement. Thank you all for helping to shape this institution.” 

CHS-Northwest graduate Edwin Parathara, DPT ’25, was selected by his peers to provide remarks at Commencement. Parathara reflected on the hard work and dedication the last three years have required and celebrated the growth it has brought to him and his classmates.  

“This program not only helped us gain a better understanding of the value we bring to the world as a profession, but it has helped us shape our character in ways we couldn’t have imagined. It gave us essential qualities like time management, critical thinking, patience, and discipline, especially when the outcome wasn’t always in our favor,” said Parathara. 

Kye See, DO ’25 was selected to represent the DO Class of 2025 and provide the graduate remarks.  

“I was so fortunate to spend these four years in medical school, working alongside this group of over a hundred incredible people that I am now happy to call doctors,” See said. “From day one, there was always a sense of acceptance, understanding, and community that seems almost impossible in such a large diverse group of people. Medical school isn’t easy, obviously, and there have been countless challenges during the last four years. What I will remember most about my time here is that every time something came up, each time there was a challenge, we stood together.” 

See’s heartfelt reflections captured the spirit of unity and resilience that defined the Class of 2025. That spirit extended beyond academics. For See, medical school was also where he met his future wife, COMP-Northwest classmate and 2025 graduate Holly See, DO ’25. The couple was married just two days before Commencement, making graduation weekend an even more memorable celebration of commitment, both to each other and to their profession. 

“We had one of our professors from our first and second years as our officiant and 10 classmates were present, which was very special. Both the maid of honor and the best man were classmates,” said Holly. “Since we’re a small school, we got to know each other, and we have a really cohesive class. There are so many people who I couldn’t have done this without their support.” 

When reflecting on his experiences at WesternU, CHS-Northwest graduate Jared Dicioco, DPT ’25, is grateful for the relationships he built with faculty and fellow classmates.   

“Between the rigor and the intensity of the program, I think the closeness of the relationships between the professors and the students really made a difference in my growth as a student, as a clinician, and overall as a person. The mentorships that we have has really transformed to be one of the best things that could ever happen to me,” said Dicioco. “From day one, the faculty were there rooting us on but also giving us a realistic view of how hard this journey was going to be. One thing they always reassured us is that they would stick with us through the entire journey.”   

Prior to Commencement, COMP-Northwest held its annual Armed Forces Commissioning Ceremony to celebrate students who will be entering the military following graduation. This year, COMP-Northwest recognized eight students who will be entering the U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy.