Message from the President

It is my honor to welcome you to Midwestern University’s virtual commencement ceremony for the College of Health Sciences, Class of 2021. This past year has shown us the resilience of our students, faculty, and staff at Midwestern University. We have all worked together to respond to new challenges with determination, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. The circumstances that prevent us from being together in person to celebrate this achievement in your lives have also given us all a renewed conviction of your critical role in the future of healthcare. As you go forward from this day, you already have immediate confirmation of how vital you are and will be to the well-being of others.

Today, we come together as a Midwestern University family to celebrate the academic accomplishments of our extraordinary Cardiovascular Science, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology students. Our commencements have always focused on our graduates while acknowledging the faculty, loved ones, and supporters who helped them reach this important milestone. I personally thank every graduate for being a member of the Midwestern University academic community and entrusting us with their dreams. 

While you were studying at Midwestern, many of you experienced happy additions to your families and other personal milestones in your lives. Those joys were tempered by sadness – several of you lost loved ones to COVID-19 and other causes. I hope that you will often recall the memories of their kindnesses, love, and support throughout your education, and that those treasured memories will encourage you to return those kindnesses to your patients and communities.

The Class of 2021 is a remarkable one. Together you bravely faced the uncharted waters of a global pandemic and propelled yourselves forward with high standards of excellence through which you earned industry and academic awards, as well as scholarships. You were recognized for your professionalism, for your research, and for achieving your student goals. The challenges you confronted while pursuing your education created a special bond between each of you as classmates. As you go out to begin your careers, keep that passion for excellence as a motivator for your success and the well-being of your patients.

Even in these days of social distancing and lockdowns, your class found ways to serve the community. When Midwestern University received approval to become a Point of Distribution for COVID-19 vaccines, many of you volunteered to support our community vaccination effort, Operation Hope. You have all set a wonderful example for our University community, and we urge you to continue to do so as you transition to your professional lives.

For those of you entering the military, we are tremendously proud that you will represent the University as you stand for our nation.

Some of you will be staying in Arizona to practice. The rest will be going out across the nation and the world to practice your craft. Wherever you go, we know that you will represent Midwestern University and your College well, and that the lessons you learned during your years of study will help you become the best version of yourselves, personally and professionally.

Please join me in celebrating our graduates and know that they are leaving Midwestern University with the full love and support of their faculty and staff. We are so proud of each and every one of our graduates who will soon join the team of healthcare heroes caring for our nation. Thank you for letting Midwestern University be a part of your journey.