WesternU College of Graduate Nursing Commencement: Hope givers and life savers

Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Graduate Nursing celebrated 119 graduates at its Commencement ceremony May 14, 2025 in Pomona, California. CGN Class of 2025 graduates are the heartbeat of health care, said CGN Dean Mary Lopez, PhD, RN.

“Nurses are caregivers, scientists and scholars. They are leaders and advocates. Nurses are innovators who improve systems, teachers who guide the next generation, and clinical analysts who make sense of complex co-morbidities,” Lopez said. “Nurses are hope givers and life savers standing at the intersection of compassion and clinical excellence. You, our College of Graduate Nursing graduates, are saving lives, solving problems and inspiring everyone around you, improving the care of patients and communities.”

Graduate speaker Kristelle Louise Patricio Gatchalian, MSN-E ’25, told her fellow graduates to be thankful to those who supported them, including friends, family, faculty and clinical instructors. And above all, be thankful to yourself, she said.

“You are here today because you believed in a dream. Your purpose. You believe that you were meant to make a difference, so continue to hold on to that purpose because when life challenges you again and that little fire in you starts to fade away, just remember why you’re here and why you chose to stay because this wasn’t easy,” Gatchalian said. “But by sitting here today you’ve already proven that you are worthy. That you are capable. And the nursing world is waiting for all of us. So let the lessons and experiences we learned here at WesternU shape the way we care, the way we lead, and the way we impact others because I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m excited for all of us to live it.”

Doctor of Nursing Practice graduate Dhara Patel, DNP ’25, said WesternU has served as the foundation upon which she has built her entire nursing career. She earned her MSN, post-master’s FNP and now her DNP degrees from the College of Graduate Nursing.

“This institution has shaped me both as a professional and as an individual, providing me not only with the knowledge and skills to excel in my field but also with the values, resilience and perspective that have defined who I am today,” Patel said. “This journey has been one of growth and inspiration. While some of us may have faced doubts about our decision to pursue this field, we were quickly reminded of how nursing is one of the most rewarding professions.”

Many graduates may feel this moment is anticlimactic since they are still completing their final semester or semesters of their respective programs. But remember that today is a celebration of how far we’ve come and how much further we are prepared to go, Patel said.

“As we move forward, we do so not only as nurses but as leaders, innovators and advocates of change. We are equipped with the advanced knowledge honed by expertise and an unwavering commitment to make a lasting impact in today’s health care system,” Patel said. “To my fellow graduates, hold on to the passion that ignited your journey. Keep learning when the path is steep. Keep leading when the way is dark and keep caring when hope feels lost. We are not just the future of health care, we are the force driving its transformation today.”

CGN graduate Andrew Sincuir, MSN-E ’25, said prior to the ceremony that he has thought about this moment for a long time, and it feels great now it’s here. Sincuir graduated from UCLA with a degree in anthropology and worked at the UCLA Blood and Platelet Center, where he fell in love with health care.

“The nurses there told me I should go into nursing because I have compassion when speaking to people and a passion for health care,” Sincuir said. “I came to (WesternU) to get my nursing license and become a nurse. Through the years, I’ve become so much more. I’ve become a better, natural leader. I’ve become more compassionate with patients and other co-workers. I underhand how it is to work with other specialties – physician assistants, PTs and DOs. So this really prepared me to become a better nurse and reassured me this is the right career choice.”