WesternU welcomes more than 1,000 students with encouragement and inspiration

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More than 1,000 students began their health professions journey at Western University of Health Sciences as they started to build lifelong friendships and take the first steps toward reaching their goal to help others.

Students in WesternU California's eight colleges met classmates, faculty and staff, picked up their equipment, and began forming lifelong bonds during Welcome Week Aug. 5-9, 2024, culminating with eight white coat ceremonies Aug. 9-10.

The white coat ceremony is an annual, nationwide event and a rite of passage. The ceremony plays a vital role in instilling first-year students the values of their profession. It encourages the students to embrace the duties that come with their scope of practice, which includes excelling in scientific knowledge, demonstrating compassion towards patients, and upholding principles of integrity and honor.

Friday, Aug. 9, 20Dr. Linh Lee, Director of Pharmacy for Ralphs Pharmacy, a division of The Kroger Company, provides the keynote address at the College of Pharmacy white coat ceremony at the Sheraton Fairplex in Pomona, Calif. (Stephen Quintero, WesternU)

College of Pharmacy keynote speaker Linh Lee, PharmD, FCPhA, Director of Pharmacy for Ralphs Pharmacy, a division of The Kroger Company, told COP students that the white coat is not just a symbol of respect, but of integrity, a passion for your patients but most importantly, the commitment you have to your patients and to your profession.

"Don't forget about the human aspect of care. The care that you give with every prescription you fill and every consultation you give. Learn to make that personal and emotional connection with your patients," Lee said. "In school we often strive for perfection. But what about if instead of striving for perfection, you are striving for excellence. Because excellence isn't exactly a profession when you think about it. It is giving your all, doing the right thing when no one is looking, it is being true to yourself and your personal values."

College of Podiatric Medicine keynote speaker Shahdad K. Saeedi, DPM '16, and CPM Assistant Professor Kelly Parks, DPM '16, attended the CPM white coat ceremony on Aug. 9, 2024. Both are graduates of the CPM Class of 2016. (Steven Webber, WesternU)

College of Podiatric Medicine keynote speaker and CPM alumnus Shahdad K. Saeedi, DPM '16, told students that the white coat symbolizes purity, professionalism, and the trust that society places in them.

"The advantage you have here at WesternU is that you are surrounded by a variety of medical professionals. Make new connections, everlasting friendships that you will cherish forever," Saeedi said. "Also, make an effort to be closer knit with all of the colleagues within your class. I can't stress this enough. Help each other and grow together. This is not a competition as we will all make it to the finish line. But it will be much more of an enjoyable experience for you all by working in collaboration with one another."

Medicine is an art as much as it is a science, Saeedi said.

"You'll spend years mastering the skills required to diagnose and treat patients," he said. "But you will also learn equally the art of empathy, communication and the occasional well-timed joke to lighten the mood."

College of Graduate Nursing alumna and white coat speaker Julie Soler-Sheffield, MSN '09, RN, PHN, addresses new MSN-E students at the CGN white coat ceremony Aug. 10, 2024. (Jeff Malet, WesternU)

College of Graduate Nursing alumna and white coat speaker Julie Soler-Sheffield, MSN '09, RN, PHN, provided several pieces of advice, including listening to your patients, getting to know and love your team, and pacing yourself. Nurses are patient advocates, and patient safety and patient education will always be a top priority.

"Lastly remember that while nursing will test your mettle, it is a truly fulfilling profession and the journey is worth it. You have made the right choice," Soler-Sheffield said. "My challenge to you is to stay at the bedside for as long as possible. Many of you may want to pursue careers as nurse practitioners, educators, administrators, or whatever the field has to offer. But spend at least five to 10 years or more in an acute care setting. Commit to becoming proficient if not expert nurses and clinical leaders at the bedside so that you can help mentor the next generation."

The College of Health Sciences placed flowers on a chair onstage in memory of Dr. Donna Redman-Bentley, a champion, teacher and friend to many in CHS. (Jeff Malet, WesternU)

The College of Health Sciences held a moment of silence during its white coat ceremony for Professor Emerita of Physical Therapy Education Donna Redman-Bentley, PT, PhD, who recently passed away. Redman-Bentley was a champion, teacher and friend to many of the CHS faculty. She retired in 2018 after 20 years of service at WesternU. She oversaw the Department of Physical Therapy Education transition from a master's program to a doctoral program, then served as a catalyst and mentor in advancing research in her college and interprofessionally with other disciplines as the Associate Dean of Research for the College of Health Sciences.

CHS Assistant Dean and Associate Professor Steven Snyder, PT, DPT, CSCS, said when he joined the College 15 years ago, Dr. Redman-Bentley was already a legend.

"She was the mentor to my mentors," Snyder said. "She believed in our students so much, she gave an endowment to our college. Moreso, even after retiring and with her emerita position, she never missed an opportunity to celebrate our students, whether it was graduation or award ceremonies, and most importantly today, at white coat. She planned to be here today and I know she is here in spirit. I would like to take a moment of silence to remember and honor the spirit and legacy of Dr. Donna Redman-Bentley."

CHS Acting Dean Gail Evans Grayson, EdD, MA, speaks at the CHS white coat ceremony Aug. 9, 2024 in San Dimas, California. (Jeff Malet, WesternU)

CHS Acting Dean Gail Evans Grayson, EdD, MA, inspired the 185 students representing the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Master of Science in Medical Sciences (MSMS) and the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) academic programs, with one caring and thoughtful gesture, "Turn to your neighbor and say, you belong here."

With that said, the students, their family and friends, cheered, clapped and smiled, as they took in the moment.

"We all belong here," shared Evans Grayson. "We are grateful to you for your embarkment on your journey with us. You bring a sense of belonging. A sense of purpose. A sense of identity to our college and community. The world needs more healers, and you are going to be one of them."

College of Dental Medicine alumna and Assistant Professor Hicret Islamoglu, DMD '22, provided words of wisdom to new students at the College's white coat ceremony. (Steven Webber, WesternU)

"First and foremost, remember that the white coat represents your commitment to lifelong learning. Dentistry, like all fields of medicine, is evolving. Technologies and treatments will change. Your dedication to staying informed and continuously striving to be better for your patients is what's going to set you apart as a provider," Islamoglu said. "So while you're here, embrace every opportunity to learn, whether it's from your mentors, your colleagues and your patients themselves."

COMP Dean Lisa Warren, DO'01, MBA, takes a selfie with first-year COMP students at their white coat ceremony Aug. 10, 2024 at Fairplex in Pomona, Calif. (Photo by Tom Zasadzinski)

College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) Dean Lisa Warren, DO '01, MBA, said she has enjoyed sharing meals with new students and beginning to build a lifelong connection with them. She encouraged students to share their stories, gifts and talents with everyone.

"Embrace it. It is who you are and it's what makes you unique, and it will add to the diversity that will have long lasting and positive impact on our community as well as your future patients," Warren said. "Wear your coat with pride and gratitude as it signifies excellence, integrity and commitment to serving the lives of others. To the families and the loved ones present, cherish this moment as well. Embrace the excitement in the room and share your pride with all. This is a special moment and milestone for you as well. And for the entire community here, let's stand united supporting this Class of 2028. Let us provide each student with a deep sense of belonging, a strong connection to their purpose, and the unwavering guidance that they are embarking on this journey of becoming an osteopathic physician."

First-year College of Veterinary Medicine students prepare to enter their white coat ceremony at Chaffey High School Aug. 10, 2024. (Jeff Malet, WesternU)

WesternU students already began building strong connections and a sense of belong during their first week on campus. First-year College of Veterinary Medicine student Eric Santana said he was enjoying orientation.

"It showed me that I'm not alone. The staff here is very willing to back us up and be very supportive of the start of our careers," he said.

Donning the white coat is "going to feel amazing," Santana said. "It's definitely going to be a dream come true, a sign of all the hard work I put in."

WesternU College of Graduate Nursing held its white coat ceremony at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Ontario Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Jeff Malet, WesternU)

First-year College of Graduate Nursing student Julissa Salgado said she felt welcomed even at Preview Day.

"It felt like home. Everyone cares for you. I truly feel that here," she said. "The next few years are not going to be easy, but it will definitely be rewarding at the end."

First-year College of Pharmacy student Diana Fatoohi said everyone has been welcoming and hands-on in making sure students feel safe and comfortable. She also appreciates the professionalism of the school.

"Pharmacy is very rewarding. You get to see which medication will better affect the patient's life," Fatoohi said, then added about donning her white coat for the first time, "I'm so excited. This is the first real moment of me stepping into my career where I dedicate my life to improving health care."

COMP students pose after donning their white coats for the first time. (Photo by Tom Zasadzinski)

First-year COMP student Christian Tatevossian said he had no problems meeting new people because everyone has been friendly. The communication with faculty and staff has been great, and they are also giving students the freedom to figure things out on their own, he said.

COMP has a great reputation in the realm of osteopathic medicine, Tatevossian said.

"It's one of the top schools in the nation for osteopathic medicine," he said. "Another major reason is I grew up in San Dimas knowing about the contributions WesternU has made within the community. It's great to feed back into that loop. I want to get involved volunteering in my local community."

CHS students in the Master of Science in Medical Sciences program started June 10, so they were quite familiar with campus by Welcome Week.

"It's been a lot of fun. Everyone has been so nice," said MSMS student Shelby Piegaro. "Our cohort has gotten so close in such a short amount of time. It feels like I've known them for years.

College of Health Sciences students pose in their white coats. (Jeff Malet, WesternU)

She was first exposed to WesternU dental students at the Care Harbor mega clinic. She enrolled in the MSMS program because she felt she wasn't ready for dental school yet, so her goal is to matriculate into CDM.

"(The MSMS program) is good preparation for me to get used to this type of class style. I needed a little reality check," Piegaro said. "You need to study harder and get used to the pace and rigor that comes with (a graduate program). It's definitely helping me prepare."

Doctor of Physical Therapy student Hoorbod Zarrineh said both his parents are PTs, so he was exposed to the profession at a young age. But they did not pressure him into joining them, instead letting him find his own path.

"I noticed how kind they are when doing their job. Patients perceive them as good and valuable people who are loved," Zarrineh said. "That caught my attention."

He grew up playing soccer and dealing with sports injuries, so he is interested in sports rehabilitation.

"I noticed this is my calling. This is what I'm really good at," Zarrineh said. "That was important to me, to do something I felt confident in and good at from a young age."

College of Veterinary Medicine keynote speaker Courtney A. Campbell, DVM, DACVS-SA, talked about the winding path he took to find his calling. (Jeff Malet, WesternU)

College of Veterinary Medicine keynote speaker Courtney A. Campbell, DVM, DACVS-SA, talked about the winding path he took to find his calling. As a veterinary student, he wanted to become a radiologist and was devastated when he didn't get into a radiology residency. But his friends, peers and mentors told him his talents - his team-building abilities, his composure, and his dexterity - should steer him to surgery. He is now a board-certified veterinary surgeon who specializes in orthopedic, soft tissue, and minimally invasive surgery. His friends also encouraged him to become a veterinary medicine correspondent. He went on to share his expertise on more than a dozen daytime talk shows and news broadcasts and he co-hosted "Pet Talk" on Nat Geo Wild.

"Without that collaboration, without that connection, I would have never created something I had never envisioned before," Courtney said.

He implored CVM students to focus on bonding with classmates, friends, peers, mentors, patients, the profession, and with themselves. He also told them to bond with their community.

"That will help you realize your actions that you take throughout vet school do not happen in a vacuum. The actions you take will have a positive effect on those around you," he said. "And it will also help you embrace diversity.

"I'd like all of you to look to your left, look to your right. Those two people are going to be veterinarians. Those two people are going to be your classmates and who you bond with," Courtney added. "Take a look around the room. You've got friends and family here. This is your hive. These are the people who are going to support you and help you unlock your fullest potential."

Thomas Olzak, a Guide Dogs of America Board of Trustees member and a resource/assistive technology specialist at WesternU's Eye Care Institute, provided the keynote address at the College of Optometry's white coat ceremony Aug. 10, 2024. (Steven Webber, WesternU)

College of Optometry keynote speaker Thomas Olzak, a Guide Dogs of America Board of Trustees member and a resource/assistive technology specialist at WesternU's Eye Care Institute, talked about his own experience in how a recent optometry graduate helped him back when he first learned he was losing his vision. His long-time optometrist was retiring, so a young optometrist fresh out of school dilated his eyes and detected irregularities in his retina.

He got a second opinion from a retinal specialist who told him he had what they believed to be retinitis pigmentosa. Olzak's wife and his mother were both at the appointment. The doctor told his mother that she carried the defective gene and gave it to her son, and now he's going to go blind.

"It took my mom almost 14 years to stop crying because of what she did to her son. That's to say there are other ways of doing things other than that," Olzak said. "Communication is huge. Part of what you do there's always the technical things that we talked about earlier. But is being able to be empathetic and being able to understand what you're telling somebody that they could possibly be losing their vision, a huge sense that we all depend upon.

"You folks in optometry are the pathfinder for people who are losing their eyesight," Olzak added. "You are going to help them with their journey moving forward so they can live productive and quality life."

First-year College of Optometry students recite the Pledge of Commitment at their white coat ceremony Aug. 10, 2024. (Steven Webber, WesternU)

First-year College of Optometry student Nadeene Al-Azzam said she chose optometry because she wants to help people and serve the Pomona community. She worked in an optometrist's office and was exposed to different aspects of the profession.

"I fell in love with it, from patient care to insurance claims, working with doctors, seeing how helpful everyone is. It's a rewarding career to be part of," Al-Azzam said.

The white coat ceremony represents moving one step closer to her goals.

"It's a long time coming and I know it's going to be hard, but I'll push through and persevere," Al-Azzam said. "I'm excited to have friends and classmates around me and to develop a support system here. I know I'm not going into this alone."

College of Dental Medicine students celebrate at their white coat ceremony Aug. 9, 2024. (Steven Webber, WesternU)

College of Dental Medicine student Albert Samson said he was drawn to CDM because the program emphasizes community service.

"I like how community service learning is integrated into the curriculum," Samson said. "There will always be people in our immediate communities who may not be able to access services immediately. I want to provide an avenue for them to get the health care they need. That is valuable experience for every health care professional to experience.

He has been interested in dental medicine since the age of 15. He was injured in an accident and a dentist figured out how to fix his smile.

"I was able to keep smiling and to live my life. They were able to restore that smile and restore my ability to go on with life. I do think dentists have that power and impact to help patients who might need similar treatment plans as well."

First-year College of Podiatric Medicine student Kacey Tran shows off some of the new equipment she picked up during Welcome Week. (Rodney Tanaka, WesternU)

First-year College of Podiatric Medicine student Kacey Tran said while picking up her white coat during Welcome Week that she will feel proud when she puts on her white coat for the first time.

"It shows that my hard work paid off and I'm here at WesternU," Tran said. "I chose WesternU because it was one of the universities that really showed they gave back to their community and supported those in need."

Henry Velasquez, a first-year MSPAS student, made sure the moment when he donned his white coat not only belonged to him, but also to his wife, Adeleny Velasquez, and mom, Princela Gomez.

"I am very lucky to have them," Henry shared. "When I was young, my mom always took me to work. She worked in the emergency room as an emergency medical technician. She still does to this day. Getting that exposure early on definitely shaped my goals."

When Henry and Adeleny learned about his acceptance to WesternU, it was a moment they will always remember.

"It was really exciting," shared Adeleny with tears of joy as she reminisced. "We started crying. I started crying. He is finally going to do his career. He's been waiting to do it. He is so excited to start. He has been waiting for this his entire life."

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