190 School of Medicine Grads Commence Careers in Health Sciences
“‘Now is not the end. It is not the beginning of the end,’” said Karen Antman, MD, Dean of the School of Medicine and Provost of the Medical Campus, quoting Winston Churchill as she opened the 163rd MED commencement Saturday at Agganis Arena. “‘But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.’
“This is the commencement of your careers of lifelong learning in the health sciences,” she said. “We hope you will do well, but even more, we hope you will do good.”
Rather than mentioning the current challenges of the health care delivery system or the problems of health care reform, the focus instead was on the positive roles that the 190 graduates are now moving into as they leave BU behind. Some will start residencies in their chosen medical specialties, while others begin post-doctoral fellowships or employment in their fields of expertise.
Two student speakers, one from the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences and one from the School of Medicine, offered comments on behalf of their respective classmates.
Speaking for the PhD grads, Adrian Lynn Oblak, noted about scientists, “We work in a lab to try to figure things out. We crave the unknown and we must explain our contributions to the world and to society. We have inherited the responsibility to make the world a better place.”
Justin Golden, who was elected to speak for his MD classmates, said, “Each challenge that we faced (during medical school) served as a stepping stone to strengthen our resolve.
“The bonds we have built these last four years will carry and support us during the challenges and obstacles we are bound to face in our careers. … There is no such thing as incorrect effort. … We are driven by the desire to help people. … Do the right thing, even when it isn’t the easy thing.”
But perhaps it was the words of Robert Lowe, MD, associate professor of medicine and the educational director of the Section of Gastroenterology at Boston Medical Center, chosen by the students to deliver the commencement address, who stole the show.
“You aren’t the same person as you were when you walked into medical school,” he said. “Being a doctor is the greatest thing in the world. It is about intimacy. It is about access. It is a privilege. It is awesome. People trust us with their lives.
“Medicine extends beyond the office, beyond the OR, beyond the hospital. You are a doctor now. It is who you are, all the time. It defines your role in society, and it defines how you look at people and respond to situations,” Lowe continued.
“Don’t be mean. Love what you do … medicine is big, with lots of opportunities. Be a doc. You’re gonna find out that life is huge, and amazing, and kinda scary — in other words, it’s Awesome.” With that conclusion, the entire audience erupted with cheers and a standing ovation.
Among the graduates who are now physicians, were Gretchen and Jonathon Struempf, a married couple who met as freshmen at Notre Dame and tied the knot one month before they started at MED. Gretchen’s mother, Deborah Dado graduated from BU’s School of Nursing in 1973. They were hooded by Gretchen’s father, W. Murray Ryan MD. “I’ve wanted to be a doctor since I was 7. Now it’s official,” Gretchen said. “Being married worked for us. We studied together; we went through everything together. Boston University was awesome for medical school. I don’t think we would have been as happy if we were anywhere else.” The couple’s next stop is the University of Kansas-Wichita, where Gretchen will start a residency in pediatrics, Jonathon in orthopedic surgery.
Stacey Fulton, MD, deferred her residency for one year to do research on spinal chord injuries and pressure ulcers at the Cleveland Clinic. “BU gave me a top-notch education,” she said. “I am prepared. I know I will conquer things that come my way. BU showed me facets of myself that I never knew I had.”
Elizabeth Housman graduated magna cum laude. She will be starting a residency in internal medicine at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. But not before she gets married next weekend to Jonah Cohen, who will be graduating from Brown University School of Medicine on Memorial Day weekend. Elizabeth’s twin sister, also a Brown med student, introduced them. “I’ve been blessed,” she said. “This is an incredible achievement that is something I will never forget.”
Six faculty members also were recognized during the ceremony. The Educator of the Year awards, established in 1999 by the Committee on Faculty Affairs and selected by student nominations, honor, recognize and reward faculty who, as gifted teachers, facilitate the education of their students. Gwynneth D. Offner, PhD, associate professor of medicine, was named the Educator of the Year in Graduate Sciences; Ann C. Zumwalt, PhD, assistant professor of anatomy and neurobiology, was named Educator of the Year in Preclinical Sciences; and Daniel C-R Chen, MD, assistant professor of medicine, was named Educator of the Year in Clinical Sciences.
Gary J. Balady, MD, professor of medicine, and Robert J. Vinci, MD, professor of pediatrics, received the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Faculty Award. The annual award is presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation to faculty members at approximately 80 medical schools nationwide who demonstrate outstanding compassion in the delivery of care, respect for patients and their families as well as their colleagues, and practice clinical excellence.
In addition, David B. McAneny, MD, FACS, associate professor of surgery, received the Stanley L. Robbins Award for Excellence in Teaching, MED’s highest teaching award that is presented annually for extraordinary contributions to medical education at Boston University.
Submitted by Maria Pantages.