Northeast College Hosts Fall 2025 Ceremony Week, Celebrates Student Milestones
Northeast College of Health Sciences marked Fall 2025 Ceremony Week with milestone events celebrating graduates of its Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) and Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) programs, while recognizing key achievements within the chiropractic curriculum.
The week’s events began with the Commitment to Excellence Pledge for first-trimester chiropractic students on Dec. 3, followed by the Transitions Ceremony for seventh-trimester D.C. students on Dec. 4, and concluded with the Fall 2025 Commencement Ceremony on Dec. 6, honoring new D.C. and BPS graduates.
Keynote Highlights Legacy, Compassion and Defining Success
Northeast College welcomed Dr. Ayla Azad, CEO of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, as the keynote speaker for the Fall 2025 Commencement. A respected leader in chiropractic care, Dr. Azad has built a career defined by innovation, advocacy and a commitment to evidence-informed, patient-centered practice. Her experience in clinical care, education, research and organizational leadership made her an inspiring guide for Class of 2025 graduates.
Sharing a few of her own life lessons, Azad encouraged graduates to define success on their own terms, urging them not to compare themselves with others. “Comparison is the thief of joy,” she said. Azad also shared how her father’s journey from East Pakistan to Atlanta, Georgia, and the mentorship he received from his host family’s father, a chiropractor, later set her own career path in motion, illustrating how small acts of guidance and leadership can ripple across generations.
The Power of Small Acts and Lasting Legacy
Highlighting the importance of compassion and attention to detail in chiropractic practice, Azad introduced a lesson she calls “tie their shoes.” She explained that patients will be the most important part of their careers and that true professional impact comes from connecting with them on a human level by listening to their stories, asking about their lives and performing small acts of care that leave lasting impressions.
“Your career won’t be measured by patient visits, income or clinic hours,” counseled Azad. “It will be measured by something far more profound: the impact you leave behind, the people you help, the story you write with your choices.”
She continued: “Your legacy is the cumulative footprint of your character over time. It grows with every patient you serve, every colleague you support and every choice you make about the kind of chiropractor and the kind of human you want to be.”
Dr. Azad has helped shape the chiropractic landscape in Canada through her strategic leadership at the association, where she oversees national advocacy and member engagement for chiropractors across the country.
Pledge and Transitions Ceremonies Mark Student Advancement
Earlier in the week, 94 first-trimester chiropractic students kicked off Ceremony Week when they formally took Northeast’s Commitment to Excellence Pledge, a tradition that signifies their entry into the profession’s values and expectations. The ceremony not only marked the start of their academic careers but also underscored the responsibilities they are preparing to assume as future healthcare providers.
Chiropractic Students Celebrate as They Enter Clinical Studies
The College also recognized 43 seventh-trimester chiropractic students during the Transitions Ceremony, a milestone that reflects their progression into the clinical phase of their education. To reach this point, students must complete more than two years of rigorous work in foundational sciences, clinical sciences, integrated chiropractic therapies and the principles of chiropractic practice, followed by a clerkship in the campus health center. The ceremony confers upon the students’ white coats, celebrating their shift from classroom-based learning to hands-on patient care, where they begin applying their knowledge, refining their clinical judgment and developing the skills that will shape their future practice.
Together, these events reflect Northeast’s mission to graduate highly skilled, compassionate healthcare professionals prepared to lead and serve their communities.