West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine celebrates 48th commencement ceremony
LEWISBURG, WV (WVNS) – It was a day to remember at the end of a strenuous academic journey for some medical students.
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A total of 209 students walked across the stage at West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine' 48th commencement ceremony. 185 of those graduates matriculated with a degree in Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine or a D.O. The other 24 graduates received their Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences. This is the first WVSOM class to receive this masters degree through the school.
These grads hail from all over the country, like Utah native Jason Mitton.
'[Graduation Day] is always a day you are kind of fighting for hoping that you will get to, but to actually be here feels kind of surreal. So [I am] just excited and grateful to be here really, and grateful that WVSOM gave me the opportunity,' said Mitton.
Mitton worked rotations at Beckley ARH and Raleigh General Hospital, where he found himself drawn more to the field of anesthesiology.
The next step for those graduating with a D.O. is their residency. Mitton will be continuing his training at UPMC Lititz in Pennsylvania.
Hira Cheema, another graduate, will be continuing her training at Methodist Dallas Medical Center.
'Being in Lewisburg, West Virginia was amazing. Everybody was very welcoming. Everybody was very nice. The community is very friendly. It was my first time in West Virginia. I am from Oklahoma, but it felt like home [in WV], and I will miss it. Everybody at the school – faculty, the friends that I made, everybody was very supportive and very helpful,' said Cheema.
Cheema said she hopes to move back to Oklahoma to be a physician after she finishes up at Methodist Dallas Medical Center.
WVSOM President Dr. Jim Nemitz was thrilled for his 37th commencement ceremony with the school. He left one final message to the graduates.
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'We are so very proud of each and every one of you go out there and do good,' said Dr. Nemitz.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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