Southern California University of Health Sciences graduates 517 new healthcare professionals in 2025

Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) hosted its annual commencement ceremony on Monday, December 15, at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach conferring health science degrees to 517 graduates of the Class of 2025.

The commencement ceremony is available for on-demand viewing via SCU’s YouTube channel.

The Class of 2025 represents the broad variety of SCU’s academic programs, with the Doctor of Occupational Therapy and Doctor of Medical Sciences programs each having their first graduating class. SCU’s class of 2025 has the following numbers of graduates in each respective program:

• 153 Doctor of Chiropractic graduates
  • 124 Master of Science in Medical Science graduates
  • 48 Master of Science in Human Genetics and Genomics graduates
  • 47 Master of Science: Physician Assistant Program graduates
  • 36 Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences graduates
  • 23 Graduate Certificate in Pre-Genetic Counseling graduates
  • 22 Doctor of Occupational Therapy graduates
  • 21 Ayurveda Health Counselor Certificate graduates
  • 16 Ayurveda Practitioner Certificate graduates
  • 14 Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine graduates
  • 10 Doctor of Medical Sciences graduates
  • 2 Graduate Certificate in Human Genetics and Genomics graduates
  • 1 Master of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine graduate

Dr. John Scaringe, President of Southern California University of Health Sciences, delivered an inspiring and heartfelt address at the 2025 Commencement Ceremony, challenging the graduates to lead with compassion as they step into their professional careers.

Drawing from personal experiences, Dr. Scaringe emphasized that compassion goes beyond simply understanding another person’s struggle, reminding graduates that “empathy feels, but compassion moves.” He encouraged students to view compassion as an active choice. One that requires presence, courage, and a willingness to show up for others during moments of vulnerability.

Throughout his remarks, Dr. Scaringe highlighted the critical role compassion plays in healthcare, noting that while knowledge and technical expertise are essential, they are not enough on their own.

“Compassion doesn’t require perfection. It requires presence,” he said, underscoring the importance of truly being there for patients and treating not just symptoms, but the person behind the diagnosis. He also reframed compassion as a form of leadership, describing it as “courage in everyday form,” especially during moments when taking the compassionate path may be the most challenging.

As he concluded, Dr. Scaringe left graduates with a powerful reminder that compassion is not an optional trait in healthcare, but a foundational one. “Compassion isn’t something you add to healthcare — compassion is healthcare,” he said, encouraging graduates to carry that mindset forward as they begin their careers and work to transform the lives of others through whole-person, human-centered care.

The ceremony also featured a reflective and inspiring commencement address from Dr. Russell Greenfield, a nationally recognized physician leader in Whole Health who has spent his career advancing human-centered models of care across healthcare systems nationwide. Dr. Greenfield has served in senior leadership roles with the Veterans Health Administration, the Whole Health Institute, and Novant Health’s Weisiger Cancer Institute, and continues to work directly with patients while helping communities build whole-person approaches to care.

In his remarks, Dr. Greenfield framed the healing professions as a sacred calling rooted in service, humility, and presence. He reminded graduates that true healing begins not with fixing problems, but with honoring lives, stating, “You see people not as problems to be fixed, but as lives to be honored.” Drawing from personal experience and long-standing traditions within the healing arts, he encouraged graduates to approach their work with gratitude and compassion, even in the smallest moments of care.

As he concluded, Dr. Greenfield offered the Class of 2025 a message of reassurance and purpose, emphasizing that meaningful impact does not require grand gestures. “It’s not your responsibility to heal the world… and yet, odds are very good that you will,” he said.

His words reinforced SCU’s commitment to Whole Health and left graduates with a powerful reminder that through humility, service, and presence, they are uniquely prepared to help shape the future of healthcare.

Graduating Master of Science: Physician Assistant program student Jamie Grabiel was named the SCU Class of 2025 valedictorian. She delivered a powerful and personal address that reflected perseverance, balance, and service in healthcare.

A full-time captain with the Los Angeles County Fire Department and a nontraditional student, Grabiel shared how returning to school later in life was driven by a commitment to lifelong learning and setting an example for her family.

In her remarks, Grabiel emphasized the importance of whole-person care and the responsibility healthcare professionals have to see beyond diagnoses and data points. “Our patients don’t come to us as symptoms or lab values. They come as people with stories, fears, hopes, and dreams,” she said, underscoring the integrative approach that defines SCU’s educational philosophy. She also highlighted the need for balance—not only in patient care but also in clinicians’ own lives—reminding graduates that personal well-being is essential to providing meaningful, compassionate care.

Grabiel closed by challenging the Class of 2025 to lead with accountability and service. “Leadership in healthcare is not about authority. It is about the responsibility of service to others,” she said, encouraging graduates to step confidently into the roles they are prepared to fill and help shape the future of healthcare through humility, balance, and purpose.

SCU’s  2025 Alumni of the Year Whole Health Achievement Award was presented to Dr. Valerie Johnson. Dr. Johnson embodies the spirit of this award through her pioneering leadership in integrative, whole-person healthcare. As one of the first chiropractors employed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, she has been instrumental in shaping the role of chiropractic in federal healthcare and advancing the VA Whole Health model.

Dr. Johnson’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity shines through the welcoming, collaborative environments she fosters for patients, colleagues, and learners. Through her compassion, advocacy, and clinical excellence, Dr. Johnson has redefined what integrative chiropractic can achieve.

The President’s Leadership Award was presented to Doctor of Chiropractic graduate George Zakhary for his leadership in contributing to the campus community, advocating for their chosen profession, and providing community service.

Photos and videos from the commencement ceremony can be viewed on SCU’s social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.