Northeast College to celebrate historic commencement

Northeast College of Health Sciences will mark a major milestone at its Winter 2026 Commencement ceremony on April 4.

On that date the college celebrates not only new DC graduates but also the first-ever graduating classes from its Massage Therapy certificate, Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in radiologic technology and AAS in diagnostic medical sonography programs.

To commemorate the occasion, the College has invited physician, educator and Northeast alumna Sylvia H. Regalla, MD, to deliver the keynote address.

More about Sylvia Regalla

Regalla shares a deep connection with Northeast College. In addition to serving as an adjunct professor of nutrition, she earned her master’s degree in applied clinical nutrition during the program’s early formative years. Her return as keynote speaker underscores the significance of this commencement as the college celebrates graduates across multiple healthcare disciplines.

“As our graduates step forward as the next generation of healthcare professionals, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Sylvia H. Regalla as our keynote speaker,” said Northeast College President Michael Mestan, DC, EdD. “Her work reminds us that excellence in care is not just about treating illness but about helping people build health. For more than two decades, Dr. Regalla has been a leader in functional and integrative medicine, and her approach reflects the future of healthcare while exemplifying the core principles of a Northeast education: prevention, whole-person care and collaboration across disciplines.”

Leading the way in functional and integrative medicine

A native of Buffalo, New York, Regalla earned both her Bachelor of Arts in biology and her Doctor of Medicine from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She completed her training in internal medicine and has practiced in the Buffalo community for more than 25 years.

She specializes in functional medicine, nutritional medicine and nutrigenomics—fields that explore the root causes of chronic disease and the complex interactions among a patient’s history, physiology and lifestyle. Her work integrates traditional internal medicine with prevention-focused strategies centered on nutrition, lifestyle medicine and advanced diagnostics.

A founding diplomate of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine, Regalla has been recognized internationally for her contributions to integrative and preventive healthcare. She remains active in organizations including the Medical Society of the State of New York, the American College of Physicians and the New York Academy of Sciences. In addition to her role at Northeast, she serves in adjunct faculty positions at Maryland University of Integrative Health and Notre Dame of Maryland University.

Regalla has also demonstrated leadership in advancing the medical profession. She previously served as president of the University at Buffalo Medical Alumni Association and is an emeritus member of its governing board. She is co-founder of the UB DoctHERS Network at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, an initiative supporting women in medicine and scientific research.

A milestone for healthcare education

As Northeast College celebrates its Winter 2026 graduates, this commencement represents a significant step forward in preparing skilled professionals to meet the growing demands of 21st-century healthcare. The ceremony will honor graduates across chiropractic, massage therapy, radiologic technology and diagnostic medical sonography—reflecting the College’s commitment to interdisciplinary, patient-centered education.