Chinyere Kemet being hooded by Hui Feng, MD, PhD (mentor).

MD/PhD Convocation

Trust is Fundamental,
MD and PhD Graduates Told at Annual Convocation

Graduates urged to make the world a better place.

The Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Class of 2026 easily could have assumed that the choice for convocation speaker of Atul Gawande, MD, MPH, renowned surgeon, professor, former assistant administrator for global health at USAID, documentary film producer and writer was preordained.

In their first year of medical school, they received Gawande’s best-selling book, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, from the late Elizabeth Dooling, MD’65, who purchased and distributed his book to the incoming class every year for more than a dozen years, resulting in her gifting more than 1,800 copies.

In his address at the MD/PhD convocation Thursday, Gawande spoke of the fundamental trust that must exist between patient and doctor.

“In medicine and science, we’ve been able to presume a bedrock of trust…But mistrust has become more common, and when trust falters, we struggle for our footing,” said Gawande.

Trust, he advised, is won with competence, integrity and benevolence.

Trust is won with competence, integrity and benevolence.

Atul Gawande, MD, MPH

“In this tricky moment in history, it can seem that the virtues of competence, integrity and benevolence are not valued. But people are hungrier for them now than ever before. They will remain the keys to your success,” he said. “If you consistently demonstrate over time, not only that you can and will do what you say, but also that you truly mean well by people…that you understand where they’re coming from and genuinely put their priorities first, then they will come to believe in you.”

“Today marks the start of your next chapter—one defined by purpose, service and the commitment to make the world a better place,” said Hee-Young Park, PhD, dean, ad interim, welcoming the graduates, their families and friends to the convocation.

Held at BU’s Tennis & Track Center, the ceremony conveyed 161 degrees including 132 MDs, 22 PhDs, five MD/PhDs, and one MD/MBA and MD/MPH. Twenty students graduated with honors, with 14 graduating cum laude, four magna cum laude, and two students, Kevin Senanayake and Nikki Zangenah, taking top honors, graduating summa cum laude.

“We are particularly proud of our PhD and MD/PhD students,” said Associate Dean of Graduate Medical Sciences C. James McKnight, PhD. “The research that these students do…plays a vital part in maintaining the status of Boston University as a world-class research university.”

Jenna Libera was the first of two student speakers. Chosen by her classmates, Libera received her PhD in pharmacology studying aberrant RNA metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease and now works  at Eli Lilly on adeno-associated virus research and development. She spoke about the rewards and lessons of a life devoted to discovery.

“Discovery is a process that is self-revealing and applicable to everything we do,” said Libera. “As we celebrate the completion of our journey at Boston University, may we remember to embrace the spirit of discovery in future seasons of life, in our career ambitions and personal endeavors, continuing to marvel at the wonders that are yet to be discovered around us and within us.”

Selected by his medical student peers, Amos Mwaura spoke about the road ahead: the constantly evolving field of medicine and the hope inherent in scientific discoveries, the need to find common ground with patients, and the necessity of finding a work-life balance.

“Despite all the hard work we’ve put in thus far, we have a lot to learn,” said Mwaura. “And yet, I’m not worried…I’m surrounded by classmates who balanced the demands of medical school with training for marathons, hosting dinner parties, dedicating time to their hobbies and showing up for their loved ones.

“Why should I worry when, time and time again, my peers have demonstrated that we are capable of being outstanding physicians, that we are driven to provide exceptional care …and most importantly, that we are ready to improve the health of our communities one patient at a time,” said Mwaura.

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