{"id":146490,"date":"2026-09-17T10:05:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T14:05:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/camed\/?post_type=bu-article&p=146490"},"modified":"2026-09-17T10:05:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T14:05:15","slug":"graduates-step-into-their-futures-at-annual-convocation-ceremonies","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/camed\/medicine\/articles\/2026\/graduates-step-into-their-futures-at-annual-convocation-ceremonies\/","title":{"rendered":"Graduates Step into Their Futures at Annual Convocation Ceremonies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Advised of the importance of trust, class members urged to make the world a better place<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGraduates Step into Their Futures at Annual Convocation Ceremonies\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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September 17, 2026<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
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Families and friends marked the passage of hundreds of Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine graduates into the worlds of medicine and science in two separate ceremonies held May 14 at BU\u2019s Track & Tennis Center. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his address at the afternoon MD\/PhD convocation, invited speaker Atul Gawande, MD, MPH, renowned surgeon, professor, and former assistant administrator for global health at USAID, spoke of the fundamental trust that must exist between patient and doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Invited MD and PhD Convocation speaker Atul Gawande, MD, MPH, surgeon, professor, former assistant administrator for global health at USAID, documentary film producer and writer. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Trust, Gawande advised, is won with competence, integrity, and benevolence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn 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,\u201d he said. \u201cIf 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\u2026that you understand where they\u2019re coming from and genuinely put their priorities first, then they will come to believe in you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That ceremony awarded 161 degrees, including 132 MDs, 22 PhDs, five MD\/PhDs, and one each MD\/MBA and MD\/MPH. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jenna Libera was the first of two student speakers. Chosen by her classmates to address the convocation, Libera received her PhD in pharmacology and works at pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly. She spoke about the rewards and lessons of a life devoted to discovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs we celebrate the completion of our journey at Boston University, may we remember to embrace the spirit of discovery in the future seasons of our 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Selected by medical students as their speaker, Amos Mwaura discussed 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Amos Mwaura, MD\u201926, receives congratulations from\nhis classmates after delivering the MD student speaker\naddress.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy 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\u2026and most importantly, that we are ready to improve the health of our communities one patient at a time?\u201d said Mwaura.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

C. James McKnight, PhD, associate dean of graduate medical sciences (GMS), told master\u2019s degree students at their morning convocation to continue making a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour hard work here has prepared you, and we are confident that you have the will, the courage, and the tools that are necessary to make a difference in all of our futures,\u201d said McKnight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were 42 MA, 334 MS, and eight combined degrees awarded at the morning ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe world is undergoing profound and rapid change with the impacts of artificial intelligence, a constantly shifting political and policy arena, and changes to federal research funding,\u201d said Hee-Young Park, PhD, dean ad interim. She urged GMS graduates to continue what they\u2019d done during their graduate education. \u201cYou remained focused. You stayed determined. You continued your pursuit of knowledge with purpose,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is exactly how you will make the world better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    GMS student speaker Farihah Chowdhury, MS\u201926 <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
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    GMS student speaker Samuel Camilli, MS\u201926. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Farihah Chowdhury was the first of three students chosen by their peers to speak at the GMS convocation. The child of immigrants from Bangladesh, Chowdhury cited her parents\u2019 determination to build a better life in the US for their family, instilling in her a profound sense of duty to serve others. She also spoke of the 18 months she spent volunteering in the hematology and oncology unit at Boston Medical Center learning valuable life lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cMy time volunteering at the hospital has helped me realize the importance of the smallest acts of kindness and what it feels like to play an essential part in someone\u2019s larger medical journey,\u201d said Chowdhury, who received an MS in medical sciences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Yerke Suleimenova (holding her child) receives her diploma from Hee-Young Park, PhD, dean ad interim. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Headed to the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School with an MS in pathology laboratory science, Samuel Camilli chose to reflect on what he\u2019d learned from failure, not success. The Sarasota, Florida, native said he was disappointed when he couldn\u2019t meet the rigorous demands of working a hospital night shift while attending graduate school. He also internalized the rejection he invariably received when
     applying to medical schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But Camilli discovered three things that carried him forward: being fully present, being deliberative in how he spent his time, and observing and learning from the unexpected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cTake time to look over your shoulder at the road behind you. See the victories and the failures, the highs and the lows,\u201d he told classmates. \u201cUse that information in the present to adjust; not to panic\u2026but to make a thoughtful next step.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The transition from small-town Virginia to Boston and BU\u2019s physician assistant program was initially daunting for convocation speaker Paige Conner, who found Bostonians were reserved, made only brief eye contact, and favored quick conversation. But that changed when she met her friendly and supportive classmates and found that kindness takes many forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cSometimes it\u2019s quiet. Sometimes it\u2019s just someone showing up,\u201d said Conner, who is returning to Virginia to begin practicing as a physician assistant. \u201cEven in the most ordinary moments we have the ability to impact someone in ways we may never fully realize.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Conner also observed that healthcare professionals tend to meet patients on what may be the worst day of that patient\u2019s life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cWhat they\u2019ll remember won\u2019t always be the diagnosis or the treatment,\u201d she said. They\u2019ll remember how we made them feel. As we move forward, don\u2019t underestimate the impact of how you show up\u2014for your patients, your colleagues, each other, and yourself.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Osaretin Aimufua receives congratulations from her hooder and sister Esosa Aimufua. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
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      Ainsleigh Scott, a 2026 MAMS graduate, is hooded by program director and Associate Professor of Medicine Gwynneth Offner, PhD.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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