News & Events

The St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine – William H. Quasha Memorial (SLMCCM–WHQM) proudly celebrated the Class of 2026 and their dedication to the medical profession during the College’s 28th Commencement Exercises held on August 9, 2026.

Composed of 105 graduates, the Class of 2026 includes a Master of Science in Molecular Medicine graduate, the Valedictorian, five Cum Laude honor recipients, five Special Awardees, and six Outstanding Interns. The ceremony marked the culmination of five years of rigorous medical education and the beginning of a new chapter as they embark on their journeys as physicians.

Delivering the commencement address, Fr. Johnny C. Go, SJ reminded the graduates that becoming a physician is more than achieving a professional milestone. It is a vocation grounded in service, compassion, and a commitment to remain present for patients—especially when medicine can no longer offer a cure.

“Medicine can never be just a career choice. It has to be nothing less than a higher calling.”

As artificial intelligence continues to transform medicine, Fr. Johnny acknowledged its potential to sharpen diagnostics and support physicians in their work. Yet, he challenged the graduates to ensure that technology never comes at the expense of human connection.

“AI will sharpen your diagnostics, but its greatest gift… is that it gives you back your most precious and irreplaceable resource: the doctor’s personal attention and time for the patient.”

He cautioned the graduates against becoming overly dependent on technology, allowing it to fragment their attention, replace their own judgment, or weaken the relationships they build with their patients. For Fr. Johnny, the future of medicine must remain deeply human.

He encouraged the graduates to hold on to three essential pillars of their vocation: Presence. Purpose. People.

“Technology is never just a tool. It is a Trojan horse.”

As they enter a profession increasingly shaped by technology and rapid change, Fr. Johnny urged the Class of 2026 to remain intentional about the kind of doctors they choose to become. He reminded them that while medicine will continue to evolve, the responsibility to care for another human being remains unchanged.

Drawing from the life and example of Saint Luke, Fr. Johnny challenged the graduates to embody the physician who does not simply arrive, diagnose, and move on, but one who remains with patients through uncertainty, suffering, and difficult moments.

“Be like Saint Luke. Be a Lucan—the physician who stays.”

He further encouraged them to become the kind of physicians whose presence leaves a lasting impression on the people they serve:

“Be the doctor of whom your patients and their families will say, in their most vulnerable moments: ‘That doctor stayed with us.’”

Fr. Johnny also reminded the graduates that their education does not end with the receipt of their medical degrees. As they continue to grow in their careers, the values they have developed throughout their formation must remain their guide.

“These four values are no longer just educational goals on your school website. They are your moral anchor in a storm of rapid change.”

His message ultimately returned to the heart of the medical vocation: caring for people even when there is no longer anything left to cure.

“Medicine isn’t just about curing. It is about caring when you can no longer cure. You can still, and you must still, care.”

In her valedictory address, Dr. Rose Bernadette Y. Aspirin reflected on the five-year journey that brought the graduates to the commencement stage and reminded her fellow physicians that graduation is not the end of their learning.

As they transition into practice, she acknowledged that the road ahead may be even more challenging—but that continued growth is an essential part of becoming better physicians.

“The learning never stops, and everything we know now is only the tip of the iceberg.”

Dr. Aspirin also encouraged her fellow graduates to recognize that they do not have to navigate the challenges of medicine alone. She reminded them to learn from their mistakes, celebrate their progress, and extend grace to themselves as they continue to grow both professionally and personally.

The College also honored Fr. Johnny C. Go, SJ with a token of appreciation: Refraction, a wire sculpture created by Khristian D. P. Santos, MD (Batch 2011). The artwork reflects a person continually shaped by the changing light of experience, symbolizing how physicians are likewise formed through their encounters with patients, colleagues, and the realities of medical practice.

As the Class of 2026 begins this next chapter, the College entrusts them with more than the knowledge and skills gained throughout their medical education. They carry with them the values that define what it means to be a Lucan physician: to be clinically competent and ethical, committed to academic and research excellence, collaborative and patient-centered, and socially engaged and compassionate.

For the newest members of the medical profession, the journey ahead will continue to demand excellence, resilience, and lifelong learning. But as they step into their roles as physicians, they are reminded that at the heart of medicine are three enduring principles: Presence. Purpose. People.

To the Class of 2026, we look forward to seeing you once again in the halls of St. Luke’s Medical Center—not only as graduates, but as colleagues and future leaders in healthcare. Your alma mater remains proud of all that you have accomplished and confident in all that you will continue to become.

Congratulations, Class of 2026! May you always choose to stay, to care, and to serve.