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At commencement ceremonies held from June 1st through 3rd at its Glendale Campus Auditorium, �������� proudly celebrated the graduation of 1,004 master’s and doctoral degree recipients during nine commencement ceremonies. These ceremonies marked the beginning of professional healthcare careers for graduates across a wide range of disciplines.

Students heard inspirational remarks from �������� President and CEO Joshua Baker, O.D., M.S., their Deans, Associate Deans, and fellow classmates.

Reflecting on the milestone, student speakers highlighted the hard work, spirit, and sense of purpose that defined their academic journeys. “’Journey before destination’ reminds us that success is not just the moment we walk across this stage today,” said Jacob Hoffman (AZCPM ’26). “Success is every patient we listened to, every mistake that taught us humility, every setback that built resilience, and every small step forward that brought us here. Today, we celebrate the destination - but tomorrow, a new journey begins. One where we have the privilege to restore mobility, relieve pain, and help people walk through life with dignity and confidence.”

“No one earns a degree in isolation from the rest of life,” Pegah Biparva (AZCOM ’27), a dual-degree student who earned a master’s degree in Precision Medicine, remarked. “Some of us studied while working. Some while caring for family. And some while carrying grief, uncertainty, illness, or responsibilities no one else could fully see. Some of us had to find our way forward more than once - and still, we kept going.

“We became more patient with complexity, more honest about uncertainty, and more aware that the most important answers - in science, in research, in life - rarely come from quick fixes, but from learning how to stay with a question long enough for it to perhaps also shape us along the way. So, as we celebrate this milestone, I hope we remember that this degree may look neat on paper, but the life that earned it never was.”

�������� Glendale Campus Class of 2026 Graduates
(by college, degree, and number of graduates)

Arizona College of Optometry
Doctor of Optometry (O.D.): 61 graduates

Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.): 205 graduates

Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.): 32 graduates

College of Dental Medicine-Arizona
Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.): 142 graduates

College of Graduate Studies, Glendale Campus
Master of Biomedical Sciences (M.B.S.): 12 graduates
Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences (M.A.): 69 graduates 
Master of Science in Precision Medicine (M.S.): 7 graduates 
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.): 10 graduates

College of Health Sciences, Glendale Campus
Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.): 51 graduates
Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.): 13 graduates
Master of Science in Cardiovascular Science (M.S.): 42 graduates
Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies (M.M.S.): 81 graduates
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (M.S.): 32 graduates 
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (M.S.): 44 graduates
Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Leadership (M.S.N.): 4 graduates

College of Pharmacy, Glendale Campus
Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.): 70 graduates

College of Veterinary Medicine
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.): 123 graduates