TouroCOM Middletown Celebrates Class of 2026 at Ninth Commencement

Following a processional, Color Guard, Pledge of Allegiance led by military students and their commissioning, Touro University Executive Vice President Rabbi Krupka delivered a heartfelt invocation followed by entertainment by the American Jewish band Pey Dalid.

Dr. Patricia Salkin, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, graduate and professional division, provided a warm welcome from Touro leadership and spoke of the mission of TouroCOM and that of Touro University – both of which are rooted in expanding access to education and serving the underserved.

“TouroCOM’s mission – to train osteopathic physicians with a particular emphasis on practicing medicine in underserved communities; to value public service, research and graduate medical education; and to use innovative educational techniques to graduate highly qualified osteopathic physicians - is not simply aspirational. It is lived every day in the classrooms, clinics and communities where you have served,” she said.

Rise of AI

Dr. Salkin also noted the rise of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies in medicine and their benefits, but cautioned AI will not replace human interaction between physicians and patients. “Technology can enhance care, but only you can deliver compassion,” she said.

Middletown Campus & Clinical Dean and Executive Dean TouroCOM New York and Montana Dr. Kenneth Steier offered warm congratulations.

“You have earned the privilege and responsibility of joining one of the most trusted and noble professions. Each of you arrived at this school with a dream of becoming a physician,” he said. “Today you leave not only with knowledge and clinical skill but with the values and principles that define osteopathic medicine.”

Keynote speaker Dr. Matthew Meigh, system medical director of emergency medicine and hospitalist medicine for Garnet Health, offered congratulations and asked the students to reflect on why they pursued medicine, and to then put the emotions they feel aside but reflect on them as they progress in their careers and confront a variety of experiences.

“Appreciate the privilege you get to experience as a physician. The spaces that we are allowed to occupy every single day,” he said, from birth to delivering bad news – “is a privilege and we should all feel grateful that we get to take part in it.”             

Class President Shreya Patel and Kelly Ng, Class of 2019, addressed the class, and numerous awards were presented.

The Deans Award, to those with highest academic achievement, went to eight students who earned 4.0 GPAs: Benjamin Brisman, Nidhi Chwla (also received Research Award), Andrew Eldeiry, Timothy Gouveia, Alija Hot, Frank Miele, Jennifer Rose (also winner of Pre-Clinical Years Award), and Prakhyat Sunuwar.

Ramon Sison received the OMM Award, recognizing achievement in and dedication to osteopathic medicine; Christina Viso received the Clinical Years Award, and the Tow Humanism Award went to Judith Yurkofsky.

After the conferral of degrees and turning of tassels, the program closed with Pey Palid singing “I believe in Miracles,” an upbeat inspirational song about optimism, love and the idea that extraordinary things can happen even in ordinary life.