Celebrating The Medical College of Wisconsin’s 2026 Graduates

For all 404 of the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW)’s graduating students, stepping across the commencement stage was the crowning moment following years of effort, dedication, and ambition.

The ceremony celebrated not only academic achievement, but also the personal growth and perseverance that carried students through long hours in classrooms, clinics, laboratories, and communities. As graduates prepare to enter the next phase of their professional journeys, MCW leaders reflected on both the significance of the milestone and the responsibility that comes with it.

“Commencement marks both an ending and a beginning – the culmination of your time as students and the start of your next chapter as physicians, pharmacists, scientists, and healthcare professionals,” says John R. Raymond, Sr., MD, president and CEO of MCW.

“This milestone is an opportunity to reflect on how far you have come – the knowledge you have gained, the challenges you have overcome, and the sense of purpose that brought you here. As you close one chapter and begin another, you step into careers that will call on your intellect, compassion, and courage in new ways. My hope is that the knowledge, resilience, and empathy you have developed here will shape not only your own futures, but also the lives of the patients, communities, and colleagues you will serve.”

MCW-Milwaukee Campus Ceremony

MCW-Milwaukee’s Class of 2026 was honored during a ceremony on May 15 at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. Graduates from all three of the campus schools – medical, pharmacy, and graduate studies – listened to commencement speakers, including MCW leadership, and watched as their support systems cheered them on.

MCW-Milwaukee’s commencement featured keynote speaker Monica Bertagnolli, MD, immediate past director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

“Everyone from basic scientists to clinicians to health policy experts must be both bold and persistent,” says Dr. Bertagnolli. “I want you to understand failure as a part of discovery rather than evidence of inadequacy.”

Amid the excitement of commencement, graduates shared memories of the people and experiences that shaped their medical education.

“There is intentionality behind every interaction at MCW,” says Eniola Fatade, MD ‘26, who will begin a neurology residency at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California after commencement. “Whether it was receiving insightful feedback during clinical rotations, being mentored by dedicated physicians like Lolia Abibo, MD, or having people check in on me during challenging times, the support has been amazing.”

“Looking back, what stands out at MCW is the emphasis on developing students’ grant writing skills,” says Nathan Witman, PhD ‘26, who completed his graduate work in the lab of Renren Wen, PhD, in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology. “I also thought MCW was fantastic at truly listening to the student body and responding to their needs.”

After commencement, Whitman will start a postdoctoral research position at the University of Pittsburgh.

During the ceremony, MCW also honored alumni who were celebrating the 50th anniversary of their graduation. By reciting their respective school oaths, the Class of 2026 soon joined the ranks of these alumni.

“Each of you will carry forward MCW’s mission of ‘Knowledge Changing Life,’” says Cheryl A. Maurana, PhD, provost of MCW. “That is a serious and beautiful charge. Along the way, I encourage you to view wisdom not as a destination to be reached but as a practice to be cultivated.”

For many students, carrying out MCW’s mission won’t feel too distant from their current realities.

“After graduation, I will be starting as an oncology genetic counselor at MCW,” says Lindsay Worley, MS ‘26. “I formed so many great relationships at MCW through the genetic counseling program, my research thesis, and community engagement, so I am thrilled to stay local and continue investing in these connections.”

“After graduation, I’m excited to begin a residency in ambulatory care at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin,” says Maura Keenan, PharmD ‘26. “It’s incredibly meaningful to remain at an institution that has provided me with such a strong academic foundation and I’m eager to continue growing as a clinician and patient advocate.”

MCW-Central Wisconsin Campus Ceremony

MCW-Central Wisconsin’s Class of 2026 celebrated during a ceremony on May 22 at SentryWorld Atrium. Members of MCW leadership spoke at the event, including Matthew L. Hunsaker, MD, FAAFP, interim campus dean for MCW-Central Wisconsin and campus dean for MCW-Green Bay.

“You do not arrive accidentally at a day like this,” he says. “It is a product of hard work and the culmination of all your studies, determination, resilience, and commitment towards those in the community. The communities across the region have given you the laboratory in which to hone your skills. With the care you've given patients in these spaces, you have polished your understanding of humanity.”

The commencement keynote speaker was Kevin O’Connell, MD, program director of the Wausau family medicine residency program, who addressed AI’s increasing prominence in medicine.

“No amount of sophisticated AI mimicry can be the same thing as human altruism,” says Dr. O’ConnelI. “Remember, when you walk into a patient’s room armed with whatever new technological advancement, the most meaningful and impactful thing is you.”

After the event, graduates reflected on their time at medical school and their futures as residents and physicians.

“The MCW-Central Wisconsin faculty and staff truly cared about and supported us,” says Mack Christianson, MD ‘26, who will begin a residency in pediatrics at the University of Missouri. “It really set me up well for residency and I am very appreciative of all the time and effort they gave me.”

“My favorite part of MCW-Central Wisconsin is the freedom they give you to create or do something you are passionate about,” says Dylan Pierce, MD ‘26, who will begin a residency in family medicine at Utah Valley University. “I joined the Rural Resiliency Network, which aims to address health disparities in small towns – things like vaccine hesitancy. I loved that right away in medical school I could start making a difference.”

MCW-Green Bay Campus Ceremony

The MCW-Green Bay commencement took place on May 28 at Saint Norbert College. Graduating students heard from MCW-Green Bay leadership, alumni, and a fellow classmate, Drake Best, MD ‘26.

“[We must] dare to push the boundaries of what we think our capabilities are, maintain an open mind to better enhance the situations we find ourselves in, and have the humility and grace to positively impact those we interact with,” says Dr. Best. “In other words, keep your world big, but keep your circle small.”

Dr. Best is notably the first MCW-Green Bay graduate to match into a military residency. After commencement, he will begin a residency in family medicine at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, the largest U.S. Navy medical treatment center, where he will serve as a lieutenant.

The celebration’s keynote speaker was Michael Hokenson, MD, medical director of the neonatal intensive care unit at Children’s Wisconsin Fox Valley and associate professor of pediatrics in the Division of Neonatology MCW.

“As you move forward in your training and career, there are likely going to be many situations that fall outside of what you define as your comfort zone,” says Dr. Hokenson. “Recognition of this is probably the best first step. Following that, being open to learning something new is a quality that will never steer you wrong.”

The event’s concluding remarks came from Deborah Costakos, MD ‘98, MS, dean of the School of Medicine.

“Your time here has laid a crucial foundation, a robust framework of knowledge and skills upon which you are going to build your careers,” says Dr. Costakos. “Remember this isn’t the end of learning, but the beginning of a lifelong commitment to growth and discovery in the ever-evolving field of medicine. Embrace this next chapter with courage, compassion, and a thirst for knowledge.”

At the event, graduates shared their favorite memories and moments from their time at MCW-Green Bay.

“My favorite memory from MCW-Green Bay was meeting my partner, Quyn [Duffy], who is now my fiancé,” says Parnika Shukla, MD ‘26. “We were able to couples match into residency and will be heading to [the University of] Florida together this summer. Though the road ahead is long, I’m excited for the growth and transformation it will bring.”

After commencement, Dr. Shukla will begin her residency in internal medicine and Dr. Duffy in anesthesiology.

“MCW-Green Bay truly feels like a tight-knit family that wants to see you succeed,” says Ihsan Rizky, MD ‘26, who will begin a residency in internal medicine at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. “You get to know all your classmates and form relationships that will last a long time. From the administrators to preceptors, and even community members, they gave us a lot of support along the way.”