By Cindi Hamar
For Lebanon Local
Western University of Health Sciences in Lebanon celebrated its largest graduating class Monday, May 12, at a ceremony held outside Boulder Falls Inn on the Samaritan Health campus.
The College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest (COMP-Northwest) celebrated 107 Doctors of Osteopathic (DO) Medicine and the College of Health Sciences-Northwest (CHS-Northwest) honored 48 Doctors of Physical Therapy (DPT).
“This was the 11th class of DO’s to graduate and the second class of DPT’s since the college opened,” said Emily Campbell of COMP-NW.
Western University President Robin Farias-Eisner, who presided over the ceremony, 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.
Dean Jonathan Perry recognized the second graduating class of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, 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.”
The graduates included two Lebanon resident, Dr. Kayla Baker, who grew up in Lebanon, and Dr. Alan Goering, who has lived in Lebanon for 10-plus years.
Physical therapy graduate Edwin Parathara, selected to speak by his peers, stated: “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.”
Dr. Kye See, selected to represent the DO Class of 2025, said: “I was so fortunate to spend these four years in medical school, working alongside this group of over 100 incredible people that I am now happy to call doctors.”
See added that, “from Day 1, 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.”
For Dr. See, medical school was also where he met his wife, COMP-Northwest classmate and 2025 graduate Holley See, DO ’25. The couple were married just two days before Commencement, making graduation weekend even more memorable with both to each other and to their profession.
Both grew up in Oregon and have taken internships in Oklahoma, with hopes of returning to Oregon.
“We had 100% residency placement and 19% are in Oregon,” said Jessica Reynolds, career development specialist with the university. Students’ length of residency is dependent upon their specialty. A family medicine residency would last three years.
COMP-NW is a branch of Western University of Health Sciences, located in Pomona, Calif.
Specialties for the Class of 2025 at Western are: 25% internal medicine, 22% family medicine, 11% emergency medicine, 10% pediatrics and 9% psychiatry. Of this year’s graduates in medicine, 29% plan on staying in the Pacific Northwest, while 64% plan to stay in the Western States.