COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES – “Find your place in the world of health care and once you are there, make a difference.”

This was the core of the message of Marilyn Young-Tiu, member of the Professional Regulation Commission’s Professional Regulatory Board of Pharmacy, when she spoke during the 15th Joint Clinical Graduation, Pinning, and Ring Ceremony held March 29 at the Teatro Ilocandia.

In this occasion, 251 BS Nursing students, 96 BS Pharmacy students, and 32 BS Physical Therapy students were pronounced clinical graduates based on their complete fulfilment of the requirements of their clinical training through internship and related learning experiences.

Concurrent to her government post, Young-Tiu is the program manager of the International Pharmaceutical Federation-Tuberculosis Challenge, Surigao Pharmacy-Direct Observation Treatment Schedule (DOTS) Initiative, and the United States Agency for International Development-World Health Organization (USAID-WHO) Linking Initiatives and Networking to Control Tuberculosis. She is also member of the Pharmacy Board of Advisers of the United Laboratories (UNILAB) Medical Education Division and the Honorary Editorial Advisory Board of MIMS Pharmacy. She holds consultancy programs relating to medications and pharmacy administration as the program director of the Asia-Pacific Institute for Medication Management.

In her speech, she stressed the significance of being graduates of this millennial and Internet-and-gadget-based generation, and the effectiveness of future collaborative practice of the three professions. As parting words, she told the graduates to “make their lives spectacular.”

The program started with a thanksgiving mass which was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Melchor B. Palomares of the Immaculate Conception Parish, City of Batac. The graduation proper started with the recognition and conferment of clinical graduation by MMSU President Miriam E. Pascua. Clinical graduates were awarded certificates, pins, rings, and busts, and exemplary students in the fields of academics, clinical, and leadership were recognized.

In her inspirational message, Dr. Pascua urged the graduates to make a dent over their counterparts by staying focused, especially during the licensure examinations. She also inculcated the value of developing an attitude for gratitude. She announced that the university’s Board of Regents has approved of a cash grant to be given to CHS as a reward for keeping up with the standard of excellence that MMSU is known for.

In her words of gratitude, Alyssa Mae B. Agustin, BS Pharmacy student and this year’s lone CHS graduate with an academic honor (cum laude), thanked all those who have helped her and her batchmates throughout their stay in the institution. She also expressed her gratitude to the people of the Republic of the Philippines for the taxes that they are paying which help subsidize the education students in state colleges and universities. She reminded her fellow graduates that “knowledge brings them to success, but it is the attitude that keeps them there.”

The joint clinical graduation and pinning and ring ceremony is held every year as a tribute for the students, parents, and teachers for a job well done during the school year. It started in 1993 when the pharmacy and physical therapy programs produced their first batch of graduates. The nursing program, however, has long been observing this tradition since 1980.