Canadian Chiropractic Leader Dr. Ayla Azad to Address Northeast College Fall Graduates

Northeast College of Health Sciences is proud to announce that Dr. Ayla Azad, chief executive officer of the Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA), will deliver the keynote address at the College’s Fall 2025 Commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025.

A transformational leader in chiropractic care and education, Dr. Azad’s distinguished career spans private practice, academia, research and professional governance. As CEO of the CCA, she leads national strategy, advocacy and member engagement for chiropractors across Canada, championing evidence-informed, patient-centered healthcare.

Leader in Evidence-Informed and Collaborative Care

Before stepping into the CEO role, Dr. Azad served as the CCA’s chief experience officer and director of professional practice and previously led a highly regarded multidisciplinary clinic providing collaborative care. She has been a dedicated educator, teaching for two decades at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College and has contributed to chiropractic scholarship through peer-reviewed publications and international presentations.

Dr. Azad’s governance experience includes service on the World Federation of Chiropractic Board, the Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation Board and leadership with the Ontario Chiropractic Association, where she served as board chair.

“Dr. Azad embodies the leadership, integrity and passion for advancing the chiropractic profession that inspire our entire Northeast community,” said Dr. Michael Mestan, president of Northeast College of Health Sciences. “Her commitment to evidence-informed practice and collaborative care reflects the same values we instill in our students and graduates. We are honored to welcome her to campus to celebrate the achievements of our newest doctors of chiropractic and leaders in health sciences.”

Northeast Ceremony Week Celebrates Student Milestones

Northeast College’s Commencement will be held Dec. 6, 2025, at 10 a.m. in the Standard Process Health & Fitness Center on the Seneca Falls campus. The event will celebrate graduates from the Doctor of Chiropractic and health sciences programs as they enter the next stage of their educational journeys and serves as the culmination of the College’s Ceremony Week — a highly anticipated time held each trimester that also includes the Commitment to Excellence Pledge for new chiropractic students and the Transitions Ceremony marking seventh-trimester students’ shift to the clinical phase of their education.

For more information, visit www.northeastcollege.edu/commencement.