NUHS honored over 50 graduates for their years of hard work and accomplishments during a commencement ceremony held today, December 16. The graduates took home diplomas in chiropractic medicine, naturopathic medicine, biomedical science, acupuncture, oriental medicine and advanced clinical practice. 

Ray Tuck, DC, past president of the American Chiropractic Association and 2019 Alumnus of the Year, served as commencement speaker. He shared one concept that he hoped students would remember throughout their health care careers: the platinum rule. Similar to the golden rule to treat others as you would like to be treated, the platinum rule is about treating others as they would want to be treated. 

According to Dr. Tuck, the challenge of the golden rule is that it assumes everyone has the same experience as you. He encouraged students to partner with their patients to help them achieve their unique goals. 

“I think if you did that, the success you would have in today’s health care world would be tremendous,” he said. 

Valedictorians also spoke at the ceremony, including Isaac Masters, valedictorian of the chiropractic medicine program andJennifer Stotlar, valedictorian of the naturopathic medicine program. 

Dr. Masters thanked his family, friends and mentors for their support. He also reflected back on his time at National University, particularly the challenges students faced during the early days of the pandemic. 

“Those hard times made us the doctors we are today,” he said. 

Dr. Stotlar’s speech recognized the hard work of all graduates at the ceremony. 

“This is how passionate we are about our medicine,” she said. 

NUHS President Joseph Stiefel, MS, EdD., DC, shared some final remarks. 

“The ‘why’ that has brought you to this point has served you well,” he said. “Remember your ‘why’, and maybe most importantly, the ‘why’ of your patients.

Doctor of Chiropractic

Kinan M. Abdulbaki

Justin Faivre Backstrom

Sara Linda Bermudez

Sara-Lynn Kristen Bernard

Shane Bruni

Kevin Brusky

Garrett Ryan Butters

Jessica Chabot

Korakot Simsiriwong Cohen

Nicholas Luke Contestabile

Erik Eggert

Stephanie Marie Gannett

Gabrielle Gray

Hannah Dever Hardy

Morgan Xiomara Horn

Zachary T. Johnson

Kevin Lubowich

Evana Makhoul

Jacob Mammosser

Benjamin Markworth

Isaac Masters

Riley E. Mullins

Katherine Quiroz-Esparza

Zachary C. Rosenberg

Madilyn A. Seyller

Zachary Shasteen

Katherine E Smoron

Nicholas Sorchych Hoffman

Peter Anthony Stadalsky

Michael Tyler Stern

Erin Todd

Vad Turlak

Sophie Marie Ville

Rachel Vittardi

Elizabeth Wade

Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Mariah Leann Brown

Amanda Mackenzie Driscoll (Spring ‘20)

Sophia Fox

Chezalyn Grant

Whitney Grier

Kirsten Louise Kessler

Joshua Redd

Jennifer Stotlar

Dervis Vila Torres

Master of Science in Acupuncture

Corey Brown

Olivia Muzones

Clayton Schumacher

Jessica Taylor

Rachel Torres

Dervis Vila Torres

Master of Science in Oriental Medicine

Emily Louise Doudlah

Sarah Louise Montesa

Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences

Hannah Jeanne Carter

Maryam Khalilah Muhammad

Hannah Tamboureas

Master of Science in Advanced Clinical Practice

Zory Kate Pérez Luna