LECOM Commencement Ceremonies June 3

Bradenton, FL (May 9, 2018) – After studying for their degrees online for four years, the first Pharmacy Distance-Education graduates will come together to receive their diplomas at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) Bradenton, commencement ceremony Sunday, June 3, 2018, in the Bradenton Area Convention Center, One Haben Blvd., Palmetto.

The LECOM School of Pharmacy is one of only two online programs where a student can earn the Doctor of Pharmacy degree without attending most classes at the school.

The 23 Distance-Education (DE) graduates will join 131 traditional-pathway School of Pharmacy graduates, along with 189 from the College of Osteopathic Medicine, 100 from the School of Dental Medicine, and 77 from the Masters of Medical Science (MMS) and Masters in Health Services Administration (MHSA) programs. They join the 591 graduates from Erie and Greensburg, PA, for a total of 1,111 graduates in the LECOM Class of 2018.

The DE graduates have spent four years studying in the intensive on-line course in hometowns across the nation. Uzoma Stephen Nwaogwugwu, 48, discovered his interest in medicine during his U.S. Coast Guard career as an Internet Technology engineer, and from his home in Baltimore, MD, attended LECOM’s DE Pharmacy School.

“A lot of people think that, when they hear ‘stay-at-home study,’ they think it will be an easy process,” Nwaogwugwu said, “but it’s much more difficult than people realize because you have to be disciplined. Time management and self-discipline are key.”

“I’d always wanted to be a pharmacist,” he said, “and my wife and I have two kids, so I wanted a program that would allow me to be with my kids while I pursued my dream of becoming a pharmacist.

“And with LECOM, the program is perfect, because the instructors are always available whenever you need them,” Nwaogwugwu said. There was never a time that when I had a problem, that I reached out to an instructor at LECOM, that I did not get an answer. And to my classmates, too.”

LECOM has long recognized the integral role that distance-education can make in a person’s education. LECOM DE programs:

• Are mentored by faculty experts who teach, support, and guide students through the programs;
• Provide round-the-clock accessibility and flexibility for practicing professionals ito fit their busy schedules;
• Develop real-world competencies and essential leadership, research, administration and assessment skills through a rigorous and measurable curricula;
• Offer affordable tuition making them one of the best educational investment values.

Many Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) graduates will begin their careers at community and clinical pharmacies across the nation. An increasing number of the new Pharm.D.s elect to continue with post-graduate specialized-residency programs.

Upon graduation, LECOM Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) graduates will continue their post-graduate training at hospitals throughout the nation, with 30 percent continuing their learning in Florida and Pennsylvania. Two out of three LECOM D.O. graduates will go into primary care. U.S. News & World Report magazine ranks LECOM among the Top 10 medical schools that graduate the greatest percentage of primary-care physicians.

One of the School of Dental Medicine’s primary missions is to prepare dentists who can provide oral health care to communities with a need for more dentists. After dental school students have spent three years studying at LECOM’s Florida campus, including one year of clinical training at the LECOM Bradenton Dental Group practice, they complete a final year of clinical practice in dental offices in the under-served areas of DeFuniak Springs, FL, and in Erie.

LECOM MHSA graduates plan to use their new skills in leadership roles at healthcare facilities around the nation and MMS graduates pursue higher degrees in health care or medical education.

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In just over 25 years, the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) has grown to become the largest and one of the most affordable medical colleges in the country. Enrollment in the College of Osteopathic Medicine, School of Pharmacy, School of Dental Medicine and Master’s Degree Programs has surpassed 4100 students at campuses in Erie and Greensburg, Pa. and Bradenton, Fla. More than 10,000 LECOM graduates are providing health care to patients across the United States.

The College of Osteopathic Medicine and School of Pharmacy attract more applicants than any other programs in the country by offering innovative, student-centered and affordable degree programs. LECOM medical college tuition is the second lowest private college tuition in the U.S and LECOM consistently ranks in the top ten programs for graduating primary care physicians. In addition to providing healthcare providers to serve patient needs, the College also offers master’s degree programs to prepare professionals who can run the business of health care, serve the patient’s best interests and teach future physicians, pharmacists and dentists.

LECOM is the core of an osteopathic academic health center. LECOM Health is a highly innovative health care and education system that strives to add to the quality of life of our neighbors by bringing total health care to the community. Members of LECOM Health include the College, Millcreek Community Hospital, Corry Memorial Hospital, the clinical practices of Medical Associates of Erie, LECOM Senior Living Center, LECOM Senior Living Communities, LECOM Medical Fitness and Wellness Center, LECOM Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Lifeworks Erie, and Visiting Nurses Association of Erie County.

As LECOM continues to contribute to health and wellbeing for everyone, it looks forward to continued growth and preparation of future healthcare providers to provide quality care for generations to come.

Class of 2018 graduates of the LECOM School of Pharmacy from Southwest Florida include:

Sarah Ali Mohammed, of Tampa; Tania Cantin, of Naples; Andrea Marie Carson, of Punta Gorda; Brandi Marie Conley, of Valrico; Liana Derringer, of Lehigh Acres; Hassan Fakih, of Bradenton; Hassan Aref Fawaz, of Tampa; Brittney Gomez, of Cape Coral; Michelle Lee Harper, of Brandon; Cameron Jewell Hawkins, of Pinellas Park; Lezlie Fredric Kotlyar, of Fort Myers; Kyrstin Nicole Lapinski, of Clearwater; Hoang Thanh Le, of Naples; Laura Ashley Mangiafico, of Venice; Jonathan Carl O'Donnell, of Valrico; Bryan Pinero-Acosta, of Apollo Beach; Saul Rodriguez, of Wimauma; Adrian Rodrigo Saavedra, of Nokomis; Brittney Nichole Smith, of Bradenton; Amanda Lyn Teets, of Pine Island; Jeffrey Then, of Riverview; and Khoi Huy Cong Tran, of Largo.

Class of 2018 graduates of the LECOM College of Medicine from Southwest Florida include:

Ashley Donelle Ahlquist, of Sarasota; Ashley Logan Althoff, of Sarasota; Bernice I. Baroudi, of Punta Gorda; Melissa Corinne Beljan, of Bradenton; David Augustus Bryant, of Tampa; Kristin Elizabeth deBerard, of Naples; Mark Louis Frangione, of Oldsmar; Kali Zoe Gagnon, of Bradenton; Francesca Maria Gesiotto, of Fort Myers; Courtney Costantino Griffin, of Tampa; Kayla Nicole Guidry, of Tampa; Matthew Christopher Hanewich, of Bradenton; Christopher Stephen Izzo, of Clearwater; Nathan Abraham Karakad, of Valrico; Adrian Taras Kochno, of Bradenton; Siyang Lu, of Sarasota; Vladislav Maksimchuk, of Sarasota; Shelby Elizabeth Mast, of Sarasota; Tucker Douglas Maute, of Fort Myers; William Robert Monahan, of Sarasota; Cassandra Mary Nicotra, of Cape Coral; Sean Leon Pacholec, of St. Petersburg; Chintankumar Jitendrabhai Patel, of Tampa; Anne Elizabeth Prater, of Clearwater; David Michael Ragbeer, of Tampa; Carter Vincent Schwartz, of Dunedin; Atif Ahmed Siddique, of Tampa; Diana Marion Sitar, of Bradenton; Evan Bennett Stutchin, of Punta Gorda; John Gregory Taylor, of Fort Myers; Katie Lynn Tribuls, of Plant City; Dimitri Michael Tsalickis, of Tarpon Springs; Elias Nikolaos Votzakis, of Dunedin; Jaclyn Nicole Weinstein, of Arcadia; Nicole Elizabeth Wells, of St. Petersburg; and Justin Michael Williams, of Fort Myers.

Class of 2018 graduates of the LECOM School of Dental Medicine from Southwest Florida include:

Aisha Gharsalli, of Tampa; Korey Taylor Hurley, of Tampa; Tina Joseph, of Tampa; Robert Kavanaugh Musselman, of St. Petersburg; Kyle A. Piha, of Bradenton; Logan David Poff, of St. Petersburg; Christopher Joseph Ramke, of Clearwater; Robert Anthony Reid, of Tampa; Matthew C. Robison, of Tampa; Lin Sebaihi, of Tampa; Dylan Thomas Tagg, of Naples; Michael Patrick Walbom, of Bradenton; Sherry Marie Walters, of Bradenton.