WesternU COMP Commencement 2026: Sacrifice transformed into opportunity

Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) celebrated 224 graduates at its Commencement ceremony May 20, 2026, in Pomona, California.   

The COMP Class of 2026 selected Esmeralda Santos-Guadalupe, DO ’26, to serve as their graduate speaker. She provided an inspirational and beautiful testament to the power of family, love and sacrifice.  

Throughout her time in medical school, in moments of doubt when she wanted to give up, Santos-Guadalupe said she thought about her father, who works on rooftops in 100-degree weather, while she studied in an air-conditioned room. And she thought about her mom, who was denied access to education because her grandfather did not believe education was for women.  

“My immigrant parents have been silently carrying this dream for 28 years, sacrificing and believing in a future they could not have for themselves so that I can stand here today,” she said.  

She took a moment to collect herself before addressing her parents directly in Spanish, with the audience providing uproarious applause as encouragement. She thanked her parents for all the sacrifices they made, leaving Mexico to give their family a chance at a better future.  

“For many of us, this degree is not just personal success. It is proof that sacrifice can transform into opportunity,” Santos-Guadalupe said. “I want to dedicate this speech to all the immigrant parents here today because without your sacrifices, we would not be sitting here. To the parents and grandparents who crossed literal deserts, mountains, and oceans in search of a better life for their families, thank you. Thank you for teaching us that when the opportunity is not given, we can always create it. The road may not have always been open for us, but we learned how to pave our own way.  

“Today, our families see more than graduates. They see the dreams they carried across borders finally fulfilled,” she said. “Today, we are making history. We are breaking cultural barriers and rewriting generational stories.”  

The COMP Commencement ceremony was presided over by WesternU President Robin Farias-Eisner, MD, PhD, MBA, who also conferred degrees upon the graduates with COMP Dean Lisa Warren, DO ’01, MBA.

The ceremony also featured special messages from WesternU Provost Paula Crone, DO ’92, and WesternU Board of Trustees Chair Consuelo M. Callahan, LLM, JD, LHD (Hon.). COMP Vice Dean Gerald Thrush, PhD, serves as the University Marshal and led the processional at all 10 Commencement ceremonies carrying the WesternU Mace.    

Dean Warren asked the graduates to take a moment and silently thank themselves for their perseverance, growth and commitment to osteopathic medicine.  

“Know this – you have everything you need within you to be successful in your next steps in your journey: your heart, your ‘why,’ and your skills,” she said. “You have earned the trust placed in you today as osteopathic physicians. I am deeply proud of you. Congratulations, doctors.”  

A deeply meaningful moment in every WesternU Commencement ceremony is family hooding, where loved ones place the academic hood on their graduate. COMP graduate Surbi Dayal, DO ’26, was hooded by her brother, COMP alumnus Sujay Dayal, DO ’22, and their mother.  

The siblings both completed a joint seven-year medical program – three years at Pitzer College and four years at COMP.  

“He really guided me through this path,” Surbi Dayal said. “It was always a dream of ours to come here and become doctors. He guided me, he led me on this path, and now we’re here. It means a lot.”  

They both wanted to become DOs because of the osteopathic philosophy.  

“For us, empathy and compassion are really important, so I feel like DOs really emphasize that, and focus on the whole body, and then also serving our community,” Surbi Dayal said. “We wanted to be local and serve our family. This is where I grew up and these are the people I want to serve.”  

Dr. Sujay Dayal, fresh from the hooding stage, said of his sister, “everything that I’ve done wrong, she did right.” He told her the first two years of medical school are the hardest ones, “so make sure you have a good friend group and a good social group. Know that I’m always there if she needs help and that it only gets easier as she progresses through medical school.”  

His Commencement ceremony did not include family hooding because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“I’m happy at least now my mom and I get to be there to actually hood her and be part of her journey,” he said.  

COMP graduate Justin Don Le Lien, DO ’26, said he knew going into medical school that it would be hard work, but over time he got used to it and it became normal over the next two to three years.  

“I didn’t really know what to expect, how I would fit in. I’m glad we have a really welcoming community,” Lien said. “I made a lot of close friends I’m happy to have made. I’m really glad I was able to come to this school and be part of this community.”  

Each COMP graduate hears the title of “doctor” in front of their name for the first time at Commencement, which Lien said is a culmination of all his hard work.  

“I’ll be happy, though it’s nothing I thought of too much. I was focused on being a student. I think that will take some time to get used to. It means a lot to me, what I had to do to get here,” Lien said. “I think the last four years has really allowed me to explore what I want to do. I’m excited I’m able to go into a field I’m passionate about.”  

COMP graduate Mia Villarosa, DO ’26, spent an extra year at COMP serving as an OMM (Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine) Fellow. She was inspired to become a Fellow based on her interactions with them early in her time at COMP.  

“They were a source of fun, excitement and inspiration when I entered medical school because they’re so hands on and integral in our learning every week,” Villarosa said. “They really made learning tangible and (enabled us) to be able teach others these amazing skills we can carry on forever.”  

Medical school is not a straight path, she said.   

“I’ve had a lot of ups and downs. My friends had a lot of ups and downs, and to see us all achieve this means the world,” Villarosa said. “It’s an honor to begin in this field. I’m grateful I had all the ups and downs to get to this point today.”