It鈥檚 Official, They鈥檙e Doctors!
Stuart L. Markowitz, M.D., (left) participates in the 鈥渉ooding鈥 ceremony with class president Bengt Josephson Grua, M.D., (center), his baby Leif, and his father James Grua, M.D.
It鈥檚 official. The 55 members of the class of 2019 are among the nation鈥檚 newest physicians. 糖心Vlog鈥檚 held its fifth commencement ceremony in the , celebrating a long-anticipated day as it conferred the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degrees to the graduating class. Family, friends, faculty and dignitaries filled the auditorium for the commencement ceremony.
Last month, all 55 members of the class of 2019 achieved a 100 percent match for residency programs, which are required for physicians to become license-eligible (board certified).
鈥淟ike running a marathon, your training in medical school has been a time-intensive commitment of mental and physical endurance,鈥 said , M.D., dean of 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Schmidt College of Medicine. 鈥淎s physicians, you will face many finish lines in your careers. When your legs get tired and the journey seems impossibly long, remember that your patients along with your family, friends, and mentors will be your sustenance. As dean, it is incredibly gratifying to see each of you cross the finish line of medical school today and comforting to know that you are well prepared for many more finish lines in your lives as medical doctors. Congratulations class of 2019!鈥
U.S. Congresswoman (D-FL-27) provided the keynote address during the ceremony. Shalala represents Florida鈥檚 27th District, which includes most of Miami-Dade County. She recently returned to Washington where she served as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Clinton administration for eight years. She is one of the most honored academics of her generation, and has been elected to seven national academies including the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Education.
鈥淵ou are some of the most powerful women and men in the world for one simple reason. You have the power to help people every day 鈥 think of the lives that you will enrich,鈥 said Shalala. 鈥淵ou have made an exceptional choice of profession and your work is just beginning. I admire your commitment, I respect your desire to serve and to heal and I have great confidence in your resolve to help build a better world. Congratulations, good luck and God speed.鈥
The symbolic rite of passage from one generation of physicians to the next generation during the 鈥渉ooding鈥 ceremony was truly a 鈥渇amily affair鈥 this year and the largest in the college鈥檚 history. Eighteen members of the class of 2019 were hooded by parents, grandparents, siblings and spouses.
, M.D., an associate professor of surgery, director of clinical education in surgery and a retired major in the U.S. Army Reserve, administered the officer鈥檚 oath during the ceremony to Benjamin R. Childs, M.D., captain, who will serve in the United States Army.
, M.D., senior associate dean of student affairs and 糖心Vlog, , M.D., senior associate dean for medical education, and , M.D., assistant dean for student affairs, all in 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Schmidt College of Medicine, presented four awards and later announced and hooded the M.D. candidates during the graduation ceremony.
鈥淐lass of 2019, you are exceptional and we couldn鈥檛 be more proud of your hard work, commitment and perseverance to become physicians,鈥 said Markowitz. 鈥淵ou leave behind an impressive imprint of your contributions and accomplishments as medical students at 糖心Vlog and we wish you continued success in all of your endeavors.鈥
In line with the medical school鈥檚 mission, one-third or 21 members of the graduating class is entering primary care specialties, which include internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, and obstetrics/ gynecology. Nearly one-third of the class also matched in highly specialized fields that are among the most competitive in the match process, including urology, ophthalmology, dermatology, radiation oncology, and orthopedic specialties, among others.
Among the various Florida institutions where 糖心Vlog鈥檚 class of 2019 placed are Jackson Memorial Hospital; Orlando Health; the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Holy Cross; the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine; the University of Florida College of Medicine-Shands Hospital; the University of Central Florida College of Medicine/GME Consortium; Florida Hospital; Broward Health Medical Center; and 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Schmidt College of Medicine.
The class of 2019 also placed in several top institutions nationally, including Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire; Northwestern McGaw/Lurie Children鈥檚 in Chicago; Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia; Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville; Baylor College of Medicine in Houston; the University of Chicago Medical Center in Chicago; and the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor.
Following the graduation ceremony, the class of 2019 and guests enjoyed a special reception in the Live Oak Pavilion generously underwritten by , M.D., a member of 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Board of Trustees and chair of the advisory board for 糖心Vlog鈥檚 College of Medicine.
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