On Thursday, May 14, 2026, Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest, which is in the process of transitioning to its new name, the Heatherington College of Osteopathic Medicine, celebrated four students entering military service as part of their annual Armed Forces Military Commissioning Ceremony.  

Prior to the Commissioning Ceremony, WesternU hosted a flagpole dedication ceremony honoring Larry Mullins, DHA, LFACHE. Mullins, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, served in South Vietnam with the 26th Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division. Mullins is the former president and chief executive officer of Samaritan Health Services, where he was instrumental in the development of WesternU in Oregon. 

“You are going to be carrying two unique responsibilities. First, you will carry the responsibility of a physician. You will take an oath and have obligations, duties, responsibilities, and accountability from that. Equally, you will be commissioned officer. I want you to think about the significance of what you’re promising to do. You’re making a promise that you’re going to take care of people,” said Mullins in his keynote address to the military graduates.  

The ceremony celebrated Captain Catalina Chesney, DO ‘26, of the United States Air Force, Captain Joey Day, DO ‘26, of the United States Army, and Lieutenants Maui Lee, DO ‘26 and Jillian Perl Manalang, DO ‘26, of the United States Navy. 

The graduates pursued military medicine through the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), which provides financial support for medical school in exchange for service as a military physician after graduation. Through the program, HPSP scholars prepare to care for service members and military families in both civilian and military medical settings. 

Manalang, a first-generation Filipino American and fifth-generation military family, comes from a legacy deeply rooted in service. While military service has long been a defining part of her family’s history, she always knew her path would include medicine. Guided by a lifelong passion for caring for others, she is preparing to combine both callings as she begins her career as a Navy physician.  

Manalang placed into emergency medicine at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) as the medical center’s first Navy DO resident. BAMC is the largest medical facility within the Department of Defense, and the nation’s only Level 1 trauma center operated by the military.  

“I’m very excited to go to BAMC, to represent the Navy, to represent DOs, and to continue trudging that path for a tri-service consortium,” said Manalang. “I specifically chose this because I want to lead that path of making it a true tri-consortium, meaning that the three branches of the military are training together. It’s a great way to train and practice and be able to understand and see from the different perspectives of each branch. It doesn’t matter what uniform you wear, we all still bleed red, white, and blue.” 

Manalang was recently recognized by the Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons at their annual conference.  

“I was honored to be named Senior Officer of the Year, a national recognition awarded to military osteopathic medical students who demonstrate exceptional leadership, service, and commitment to military medicine. The award was presented in the presence of the Surgeon Generals of the Army, Navy, and Air Force,” said Manalang.  

In addition to receiving the honor, Manalang served as National Conference Chair for the 2026 AMOPS annual conference, helping lead a national gathering of senior military medical leadership, physicians, residents, and students from across all branches of service. 

“This year’s conference also marked a milestone for WesternU, with strong student representation from both the Pomona and Lebanon campuses highlighting the growing presence and influence of COMP and COMP-Northwest within the military medical community,” she said. 

For Manalang, the profession represents an opportunity to combine medicine, leadership, and service on a global scale. Military physicians play a critical role in caring for active-duty service members, veterans, and military families around the world. In addition to providing patient care in hospitals and clinics, they are trained to serve in combat and humanitarian settings, disaster response efforts, and global health missions. 

“I want to go out and serve. I want to be out on the battlefield. I want to have boots on the ground. I want to be in the front lines, fighting for everyone’s freedom and protecting those who are fighting for our freedom back home,” said Manalang.