BCOM graduates first class online

BCOM graduates first class online. 133 medical students in the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine’s first ever graduating class earned doctor of osteopathic medicine degrees during online ceremonies held Friday, May 8. BCOM co-founder and President John Hummer told graduates, “The pride and honor that we have for you has not be diminished by (the COVID-19) pandemic at all.” Dean Don Peska, DO, conferred degrees on the graduates and led them in the recitation of the osteopathic oath. Ogechika Alozie, MD, chief medical officer of Del Sol Medical Center in El Paso, told the graduates during his keynote speech that they are becoming physicians during a challenging time in healthcare. “Never before have we needed you like we need you now,” Alozie said. He counseled the new doctors to be open and amenable to change as they build pathways for patients. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also delivered her congratulations to the students via a recorded video message. John Rajala, the first person to be offered and to accept an invitation to enroll at BCOM, was also the school’s first graduate. The graduation was streamed lived on BCOM’s Facebook page.