Hooding NYITCOM’s Class of 2025

The College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM) ushered in more than 400 new physicians at Hooding Ceremonies in Old Westbury, N.Y., and Jonesboro, Ark. The graduates join a well-established alumni network of more than 9,400 osteopathic physicians (D.O.s).

NYITCOM’s Hooding Ceremonies, which serve as the medical school’s graduation, are a symbolic passing of the guard from one generation of doctors to the next. New physicians are called to the stage to receive their doctoral hoods, which are presented by medical school faculty and leaders or family members who are also physicians. The Class of 2025 matched with esteemed institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, Georgetown University, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Yale New Haven Health, and many others. Graduates also placed into competitive specialties, including psychiatry, dermatology, orthopedic surgery, pediatric neurology, interventional radiology, and others. In addition, 14 members of the class are completing their residencies in branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

NYITCOM-Long Island

NYITCOM-Long Island’s 44th Hooding Ceremony took place on the Long Island campus following New York Tech’s 64th annual commencement on May 18.

More than 300 new physicians were recognized, including Mahmoud Hamdy Khalil (D.O. ’25), who completed the Émigré Physicians Program (EPP) and will undergo the Aerospace Medicine Operational Pilot Program at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute in Pensacola, Fla. Inspired by his father, the sole physician of a small Egyptian village, Khalil first completed his medical education at Cairo University but chose to pursue a career in aviation after graduation. A licensed commercial pilot, he became a decorated member of the U.S. Navy but ultimately could not ignore his calling to healthcare. Now, Khalil is merging his passions by pursuing a career in aerospace medicine.

“I didn’t just want to serve—I wanted to care for those who serve,” says Khalil, who hails from Gahanna, Ohio. “NYITCOM’s Émigré Physicians Program is one-of-a-kind in the United States, and for me, it was more than a bridge, it was a lifeline. It’s what allowed me to align my military service with my medical background.”

In congratulating the Class of 2025, NYITCOM Dean Nicole Wadsworth, D.O., told graduates, “Today, as you join the ranks of more than 9,400 esteemed alumni, it’s your time to shine…Your journey as healers and advocates for the well-being of others begins now. And I have every confidence that you will continue to uphold the proud legacy of NYITCOM with distinction.”

Alumna Jill Wruble (D.O. ’87), a diagnostic radiologist and assistant professor at the University of Connecticut (UConn) John Dempsey Hospital and chief of ultrasound services and associate director of UConn’s radiology residency program, delivered celebratory remarks. She called on the new doctors to rise to the challenges ahead of them, reminding graduates that trying moments will demand their technical competence, the ability to nurture patient relationships, and always act in patients’ best interests.

“One day, someone will need you to be a…steady hand in the chaos…Be all in,” said Wruble, who received an honorary degree alongside osteopathic medicine pioneer Barbara Ross-Lee, D.O., earlier that day.

Graduates also heard from Teresa A. Hubka, D.O., president of the American Osteopathic Association, who welcomed the new D.O.s to “the osteopathic family.”

NYITCOM-Arkansas

Five days later, on May 23, NYITCOM-Arkansas held its sixth Hooding Ceremony at the First National Bank Arena on the campus of Arkansas State University. Here, 104 new physicians received their doctoral hoods.

Shane Speights, D.O., NYITCOM-Arkansas site dean, opened the ceremony by challenging the Class of 2025 to always honor the title of doctor.

“You are about to enter into the clinical aspects of your training where you will be directly responsible for the care of a patient,” Speights said. “It’s a level of responsibility that many seek and few have. I ask that you guard this responsibility closely, for it is not to be abused, and it is not to be taken for granted. The relationship between a doctor and a patient is one of a sacred trust, and undoubtedly one that we will all experience at some point.”

Melissa Bonano (D.O. ’25) vividly recalled how she felt when she walked into Wilson Hall for the first time in 2021 to begin her medical school journey. “Wide-eyed, uncertain, but hopeful,” said Bonano, president of the NYITCOM-Arkansas Class of 2025.

As she addressed her classmates Friday while donning a black gown with green velvet panels and her green doctoral hood, Bonano beamed with pride as she described what a difference four long years make.

“Today, we stand transformed, shaped by every challenge, and strengthened by every step that once felt impossible,” said Bonano, who will complete her OB/GYN residency at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in Temple, Texas. “We gather today, not just to celebrate the titles we’ve earned or the regalia we wear, but to honor who we’ve become along the way.”

The Class of 2025 arrived in Jonesboro in 2021 as NYITCOM-Arkansas’s sixth class. More than half of its members were placed into residency programs that will keep them in Arkansas, a targeted Delta region state, or a state contiguous to Arkansas. The physicians will carry out the medical school’s mission to improve healthcare outcomes in one of the most medically underserved regions of the nation.

Casey Pearce contributed to this article.