FENDALL, FEBRUARY 25, 2026| The University of Liberia (UL) has officially administered professional oaths to 89 graduands from the A.M. Dogliotti School of Medicine and the School of Pharmacy, marking their formal entry into the medical field. The ceremony, held Monday, February 23, at the Fendall Campus, follows the successful completion of their Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degrees.

The Oaths and Honors program, hosted at the Theater of the Administrative Complex, continues a long-standing UL tradition. The event recognizes graduands as medical professionals the moment they take their solemn pledge to serve humanity, effectively transitioning them from students to practitioners before graduation day.

Delivering the keynote address, Civil Service Agency (CSA) Director General Dr. Josiah Joekai reminded the graduands that the time for preparation has ended and the time for service has begun.

“Liberia needs you more than you can ever imagine,” Dr. Joekai said. “Our nation stands at a critical stage in its development journey. Across Liberia, we are working tirelessly to strengthen institutions, expand economic opportunities, and improve the lives of our citizens.”

The ceremony unfolded in two parts. It not only inducted the new professionals but also recognized nine top-performing students and distinguished faculty for their outstanding contributions to medical education.

The event brought together a capacity crowd of UL officials, faculty, and proud families to witness the milestone.

Graduating student Jimmy D. Gray was named the class dux and also received two additional awards as the top performer in the Departments of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacology and Toxicology. Miracle Matthews was honored for the best performance in the second-year class, and Moses W. Karnga III was recognized as the top performer in the third-year class.

Alvin G. Isaac won three awards for top performance in the Department of Anatomy and Physiology, the Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, and the Department of Microbiology and Parasitology. Thomasina Mardea Doe and Edwin W. Kollie tied for top honors in the Department of Pharmacies and Pharmaceutical Technology, and Doe earned an additional award as graduand for top performance in the Department of Pharmacognosy and Natural Product.

Frank Alex Peters of the A.M. Dogliotti School of Medicine was named the graduand with the highest GPA and earned the best distinction in most courses. Collins V. Cassell of the School of Pharmacy was recognized as the best performing graduand in Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice.

Dr. Layli Maparyan, President of the University of Liberia, congratulated the graduands for their achievements and urged that their training be not merely a path to personal advancement but a commitment to national development and the betterment of humankind.

“May you always remember that medicine is not only a science, but also a ministry of compassion. To our pharmacy graduates, you are custodians of safe and effective medication use. In an era where access, regulation, and pharmaceutical integrity are vital to public health, your role is indispensable,” said President Maparyan.

She added that graduands’ vigilance, ethics, and expertise will directly influence the health outcomes of the communities. As president of the university, Dr. Maparyan urged the graduands to carry three enduring principles into their professional lives. They are excellence, integrity, and service. She challenged them to never settle for mediocrity, warning that trust is everything in healthcare.

According to President Maparyan, this 105th Convocation is historic, not simply because of its longevity, but because it reflects the endurance and progress of the University of Liberia. She suggested that each graduating class is evidence that this institution remains a pillar of national transformation.

Dr. Joekai informed graduands that in 2025, the government implemented a salary-type of initiative that benefited thousands of workers across key sectors, including health, education, security, and agriculture, significantly improving the compensation structure of essential workers across the country.

In addition, Dr. Joekai said pharmacists who have long contributed to the healthcare system without full integration into the government’s payroll are now being placed on the national payroll system and ensuring proper recognition for service.

Beyond salaries, Dr. Joekai indicated that new financial empowerment initiatives have been introduced through partnerships with commercial banks to provide civil servants with access to responsible financial services and credit facilities designed to support workers and their families.

“So, as you step into your professional lives, know this, your country believes in you, your country values you, and your country is investing in you because you represent the future of healthcare in Liberia.”

Dr. Bernice Dahn, UL Vice President for Health Sciences, told the graduands that leaving the university is not the end of learning, but the beginning of learning. “Medical practice is life-long learning. You are going into the world – Doctors know that when you leave from here, you have to specialize …, Pharmacists know that when you leave from here, you have to continue until you get PhDs” said Dr. Dahn.

While acknowledging that the country needs people with those specialties’, Dr. Dahn urged the graduands to be humbled and respectful in their profession, bearing in mind that they are going to serve people whose taxes funded their learning process.

She admonished that their work should be patient-centered, denying themselves to cater to somebody else. Dahn called for resilience during disease outbreak, a time they are to really work for the country that educated them.

Earlier introducing the program, Jonathan Lomax, a graduand from A.M. Dogliotti School of Medicine, noted that the day marked a defining historic moment in their lives after years of rigorous academic training, sleepless nights, demanding clinical rotations, countless examinations, and personal sacrifices.

At A.M. Dogliotti and the School of Pharmacy, Lomax said the graduands were shappd not only by knowledge and skills, but by discipline, resilience, compassion, and a deep sense of responsibility to humanity. Lomax pledged on behalf of the graduands that they will uphold the highest standards of medical ethics, integrity, professionalism, empathy, and life-long learning.