{"id":103673,"date":"2025-04-23T08:58:16","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T12:58:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/?p=103673"},"modified":"2025-04-23T09:47:16","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T13:47:16","slug":"introducing-our-2025-gms-commencement-speakers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/2025\/04\/23\/introducing-our-2025-gms-commencement-speakers\/","title":{"rendered":"Introducing Our 2025 GMS Commencement Speakers!"},"content":{"rendered":"

We are quickly counting down to Spring 2025 Commencement, where the Graduate Medical Sciences community will come together and celebrate this year\u2019s graduating students.<\/p>\n

Today, we are excited to introduce you to the four students selected to speak at this year\u2019s GMS Convocation exercises.<\/p>\n

Three students were chosen to speak at the Master\u2019s Ceremony, and one student was chosen to represent GMS at the MD & PhD Ceremony. All speakers were nominated by their programs, and finalists were selected by a committee of GMS representatives.<\/p>\n

Meet Yousuf Al Naseri, Joshua Kidwell, Cynthia Ordo\u00f1ez Salguero and Jhonatan Henao Vasquez below!<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"YOUSUF AL NASERI
\n<\/strong>Master of Science in Oral Health Sciences (OHS) <\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Yousuf was born in Baghdad, Iraq, and immigrated to the United States when he was seven years old. He grew up on the Eastern Shore in Salisbury, Maryland, before moving to Boston to pursue his Master of Science in Oral Health Sciences.<\/p>\n

For Yousuf, a core memory of his time in GMS centers on the relationships he built with faculty in the OHS program and his fellow students.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom day one, I have felt support from my professors, who never hesitate to answer any questions I have, to my wonderful director Dr. Davies, and to my fellow classmates who motivate and challenge me every day,\u201d Yousuf said.<\/p>\n

Yousuf, who is an active mentor for first-generation students through the Community Catalyst Center, advises students to reach out for support and to make connections within the GMS community. Being an active member of student groups during graduate school has helped Yousuf connect with the community and build invaluable friendships.<\/p>\n

\u201cA huge part of my success comes from the guidance and unwavering support of the community here at Boston University,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Following Commencement, Yousuf will move on to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a dentist. He will matriculate into the BU Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine in Fall 2025, where he will work toward a Doctorate in Dental Medicine.<\/p>\n

We highlighted Yousuf in a Spotlight article in January 2025. Click here to read the full story<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"JOSHUA KIDWELL
\n<\/strong>Master of Science in Medical Sciences (MAMS) <\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Joshua grew up in Ormond Beach, Florida, and matriculated into the MAMS program in Fall 2023. He also works as a Research Technician II at the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).<\/p>\n

Joshua\u2019s thesis research focused on examining significant health challenges faced by unhoused populations in the United States, with a particular focus on risk of skin cancer development. Due to various factors like geographic location, skin color, socioeconomic status, ultraviolet radiation exposure, social stigma and barriers to healthcare access, skin cancers have a more adverse effect on unhoused populations as compared to the general population.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe unique challenges they face change what is widely considered a preventable form of cancer into a significant health concern,\u201d Joshua explained. \u201cThis highlights the urgent need for tailored healthcare approaches that address the treatment of skin cancers through not only treatment itself but by addressing the broader social determinants of health impacting this vulnerable population.\u201d<\/p>\n

After Commencement, Joshua will finish out his work at MGH in June before traveling home to see his family and surf. He plans to take a road trip across the country to catch up with old friends before matriculating into Creighton University School of Medicine.<\/p>\n

Throughout his time at GMS, Joshua valued making friends and exploring all that Boston has to offer with them. He also gave a special thank you to his advisers, MAMS Program Manager Karen Carter and Assistant Professor of Medicine Isabel Dominguez.<\/p>\n

As he moves into the next stage of his academic career, Joshua advises GMS students to find their own path, to discover new opportunities, to try new things and to not be afraid to pivot if needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know it can be scary trying things your way, but at the end of the day, this is your journey,\u201d Joshua said. \u201cMake it unapologetically your own.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"CYNTHIA ORDO\u00d1EZ SALGUERO
\n<\/strong>Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling & Behavioral Medicine <\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Cynthia considers two places to be her hometown: El Progresso, Jutiapa, in Guatemala, where most of her family is from, and her community in Malden, Massachusetts.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the last two years, Cynthia said that she values the relationships that she has built and strengthened during her time at BU. Cynthia is also a talented artist whose work was displayed in the GMS Suite for one month. During the exhibition opening in late March, her professors, supervisor, colleagues, classmates and friends came to see her work and support her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe opportunity to share my art was an absolute honor, and to be able to share it with the people I love made it so special,\u201d Cynthia said.<\/p>\n

Following graduation, Cynthia plans to rest, create and enjoy the summer season. She also plans to take a trip to Guatemala with her best friend \u2013 a trip she has been dreaming of for a long time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to paint, read, ride my bike, hang out with loved ones, and somewhere in between having fun and resting, look for jobs that align with my professional goals,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Cynthia advises current and future GMS students to \u201cput [themselves] out there\u201d and to be open to new connections and new opportunities as they pursue their academic and professional journeys.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you to all the faculty and staff at BU for making this a wonderful graduate school experience,\u201d Cynthia said. \u201cA special thank you to Dr. McKnight for giving me the opportunity to showcase my art.\u201d<\/p>\n

We recently highlighted Cynthia in a March 2025 Spotlight article. Click here to read the full story<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"JHONATAN HENAO VASQUEZ, PHD
\n<\/strong>PhD in Molecular & Translational Medicine; Program in Biomedical Sciences<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Jhon is originally from the city of Cali in the Valle del Cauca department of Colombia and immigrated to the United States when he was two years old. He grew up in coastal New England and considers Dover, New Hampshire, his hometown. \u201cThis allows me to appreciate the taste of fresh coffee grown in the Andes Mountains, but at the same time enjoy a nice Dunkin\u2019 cold brew,\u201d Jhon said.<\/p>\n

Jhon matriculated into the PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences (PiBS) in 2019 before transitioning into the Graduate Program in Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM).<\/p>\n

Throughout the program, Jhon completed his dissertation research at the BU Pulmonary Center under Associate Professor of Medicine Matthew Jones, PhD, and Professor of Medicine Alan Fine, MD.<\/p>\n

He studied how a small RNA binding protein, MIWI2, in a rare subset of lung airway epithelial cells, contributes to influenza A pathogenesis. This work was recently published in iScience<\/em>. Jhon is also the former president of the Biomedical PhD Student Organization (BPSO) at GMS.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on his time at BU, Jhon values the connections made with fellow graduate students, postdocs and faculty.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will forever cherish our time together. whether it was in lab, colloquium, conferences, or off campus shenanigans,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Jhon\u2019s advice to current and future GMS students is to \u201ctrust the process\u201d through the inevitable uncertainty that comes with being a graduate student.<\/p>\n

\u201cA PhD truly is a marathon, not a sprint,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen things don\u2019t go as planned, don\u2019t get discouraged\u2014learn from them. When things do go as planned\u2014celebrate them. Over time, you\u2019ll realize just how much you\u2019ve grown along the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following Commencement, Jhon plans to transition back into the biotech industry, where he worked before matriculating into GMS. He shared that he is honored to have been selected as the 2025 PhD student speaker and thanked his family, friends, mentors and colleagues for their guidance along the way.<\/p>\n

\u201cCongratulations to all the other PhD, MD and MD\/PhD graduates,\u201d Jhon said. \u201cWe made it!\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Congratulations to our Commencement speakers! We look forward to seeing them, and all our graduates, take the stage in a few weeks.<\/p>\n

The 2025 Commencement exercises will take place on Thursday, May 15 at the BU Track & Tennis Center, located on the Charles River Campus at 100 Ashford Street.<\/p>\n

The Master\u2019s Convocation Ceremony is first at 10 a.m., and the MD & PhD Convocation Ceremony is next at 3 p.m.<\/p>\n

For more information, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We are quickly counting down to Spring 2025 Commencement, where the Graduate Medical Sciences community will come together and celebrate this year\u2019s graduating students. Today, we are excited to introduce you to the four students selected to speak at this year\u2019s GMS Convocation exercises. Three students were chosen to speak at the Master\u2019s Ceremony, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20706,"featured_media":103674,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1,795,54,1534,7153],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103673"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20706"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=103673"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103673\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":103676,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103673\/revisions\/103676"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/103674"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=103673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=103673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=103673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}