(Music playing)
Good afternoon. Sounds like we have some extra music going on. The music of rain, of pouring
rain. I'm glad we can all be assembled in here. Welcome to today's ceremony where we
will honor the Class of 2021 graduates. I am so thrilled to see you here today, I can't
even tell you. I'm Margit Chadwell, associate Dean for Student Affairs and career development.
It is my pleasure to preside over the medical school's 153rd commencement ceremony. Now
I'm competing with the rain. Here in person or joining us virtually from near and far.
It is fitting that today we are coming to you from the Renaissance City in this beautiful
Detroit landmark. Isn't this a gorgeous atrium? To celebrate a time of rebirth and new beginnings
as we emerge from the pandemic to launch this historic class of 2021 Wayne Warrior MDs.
There is a notable absence in this impressive space where we are gathered today, and that
is the presence of family and friends that have supported your journey to becoming a
physician. To all the parents, grandparents, friends, other family, siblings, acquaintances,
children, and siblings watching today, we have been in a silent partnership these last
four years consult minimum ating in this proud moment. Class of 2021, you can take a moment
now to acknowledge your family and friends. (Applause).
DR. CHADWELL: We will begin with Governor Kelly. Before we do that I see almost everyone
wearing a mask. I'm not. I'm up on stage, but the Dean asked that I remind you to maintain
your masks throughout the ceremony. You can take them off when you come up for your diploma
later for the pictures. Governor Kelly. GOVERNOR KELLY: It's my great pleasure to
welcome you, the school of medicine's class of 2021. Congratulations, doctors. You've
worked so very hard to reach this point, and you should be proud as we are of what you
have accomplished. Your dedication and commitment that brought to you this moment and set the
path for your future success. You're graduating from an outstanding university, and today
you join more than one-quarter of a million alumni who call Wayne State their alma mater.
In the years to come, you will assume positions of leadership and authority in the communities
where you work and live. An expert on leadership and authority, Nelson Mandela had this to
say on the subject on the occasion of his inauguration as President of South Africa.
When Mandela said our deepest fear is that we are all powerful beyond measure. Well,
power can be immensely flattering, but it can be overwhelming, but with great power
comes great responsibility. One must be up to the task. We here at Wayne know that you
are ready. The medical profession provides countless students U opportunities for you
to apply your education and skills and to share your talents and gifts with others.
I hope you'll look forward to these opportunities and use them as you render expert support,
guidance, knowledge, and care for your patients. They will rely on you. We know you have what
it takes to answer that challenge. Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also
a love of humanity. I know each of you as Wayne State grads will embody that love of
humanity in the treatment of your patients and all your interactions with whoever you
come in contact with, in person and virtually. Congratulations from the Board of Governors,
and from the entire Wayne State university community. We extend to each of you our deep
SXES most heart felt best wished for success and fulfillment.
(Applause). DR. CHADWELL: I also want to thank our brass.
Thank you for getting this started. It's just beautiful. Great sounds in here too, right?
I would like to now introduce other important members of our university community who took
time out of their busy schedules to celebrate with us. Today we have the core of those people
here instead of a stage full of people, and I would ask you to please rise and be acknowledged.
The front row, please. Previous (Applause). It is now my pleasure to introduce Dr. M.
Roy Wilson. M. ROY WILSON: We've had to deal with a once
in a century event, and we've all had to do things differently. I will too. I will not
do my usual formal comments. I thought, what are the three things that I would most want
to communicate to you? The first thing I want to tell you is that I'm proud of you. You've
worked hard. You've persevered. You know, Wayne State's Medical School is special. That's
why you came. You are committed to the truest ideals of our profession, but you, you are
the crown jewels for our medical school. Secondly, I am truly awed and thankful for
those in our profession who have been making profound personal sacrifices for a larger
societal benefit. President teddy Roosevelt once said it's the man in the arena whose
face is marred by sweat and blood and dust. These heroes and sheroes, men and women physicians
and other health care workers too, have been in the arena. Why is that? Because they can
make a difference. That's what's expected of them, and it's engrained in their identity
as doctors. That brings me to my third message. That is that being a doctor is not just a
profession. It's more than that. It's an identity. It's a strong identity. After being president,
though, one or another university for more than 18 years now, I still identify as a doctor.
Once you've accepted your M. D. Diploma, you're never going to not be a doctor again. With
that identity comes tremendous responsibility, burdens, and sacrifice and also tremendous
privilege and opportunities. Accept that identity, the responsibilities, as well as the privilege,
and embrace it. Congratulations, graduates. You're great. I'm proud of you. Go out there
and do great things. (Applause).
DR. CHADWELL: Thank you, President Wilson. It is now my pleasure to introduce Dean Mark
Schweitzer. In addition to his leadership role in the School of Medicine as vice president
of Wayne State university Health #K57 cap affairs, Dr. Schweitzer works with the Deans
of Wayne State College of Nursing and the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and health
sciences on clinical training issues and strengthening collaboration between the three schools to
advance interprofessional, team-based approaches to health care.
An outstanding medical scholar and educator, Dean Schweitzer has served in many hospitals
and medical practice roles. He assumed leadership of the cal School of Medicine last April,
and while he was present for last year's commencement, this is his first in-person commencement as
our Dean. Please join me in welcoming Dean Schweitzer.
(Applause). DR. SCHWEITZER: Thank you, Margit. You're
all very excited, and I'm very excited too because this is my first in-person graduation
as Dean. I'm very, very proud of you. It's been a hell of an 18 months. You have persevered,
and that perseverance will hold you in good stead for the rest of your careers. A lot
of people say that an M. D. Degree or any degree is a ticket. A ticket to your vocation.
In all likelihood, a ticket to success. Others say it's a pass for. It's a way to transition.
To go from one place to another. I think they're both wrong. It's the going that's the degree.
It's not the place that's the degree. It's the pathway. It's not the destination, and
your M. D. Degree is the pathway. It's a pathway to change the world. You've been given a gift.
A gift to provide health to people. You can go home every night and think that you have
done righteous work because you have, but I want you to do more than that. You're Wayne
State Warriors. You are leaders, and I want you to change society. For 153 years Wayne
State graduates have changed society, and you will be no different. You will be better
because you lived through and learned through this pandemic. I wish you three things, similar
to President Wilson. First to be safe, and the second, I already said, to change the
world. The most important thing is to TEEP in touch with your school. We're proud of
you. We care you about, and we want to embrace and celebrate your successes. Please let us
know about them. Congratulations, doctors. (Applause). DR. CHADWELL: Thank you, Dean Schweitzer.
Now it gives me great pleasure to welcome Dr. Jack Folbe, president of the WSU medical
alumni association. He specializes in answer thesology and is affiliated with several area
hospitals. He and his family are true Wayne State Warrior MDs. I know that's very true.
He is all for you. Dr. Folbe graduated from the school of medicine in 1989. His brother
Adam graduated in 2001, and his daughter, Elana is a member of this Class of 2021. Now
that is a proud legacy family. Please welcome Jack Folbe, who is on, well, here with us
today, but has prerecorded a message. DR. JACK FOLBE: Thank you, Dr. Chadwell. Good
afternoon. I am Dr. Jack Folbe from the Class of 1989 as president of the Wayne State university
school of medicine alumni association, I have the honor and privilege of welcoming you,
the Class of 2021 into our alumni family. Some of our graduates have parents, such as
me, or have grandparents or siblings that have received their medical degree from Wayne
State. Congratulations, legacy graduates and their legacy families. Like those alumni who took responsibility for you, supporting
you, you as a new alumnis now have an opportunity to support, mentor, and connect the students
that will follow in
your footsteps. Load up on SWaIG. On a more serious note, I would like to close by recognizing
with gratitude, each one of you and your mentors for tirelessly caring for our community during
this COVID pandemic day there's been conflicting reports on best treatment practices and as
responsible clinicians and researchers, you have stepped up and kept up. We do not take
your efforts for granted. While many of your non-medical school friends have learned and
worked remotely and even enjoyed more family time, you have been on the frontline, present,
donning personal protective equipment, trying to care, connect, and comfort patients through
gloved hands and eye shields. For some patients, you are one of the last persons they spoke
to prior to being put on a ventilator. On behalf of our Warrior alumni, we have never
been prouder to welcome you as our colleagues. Cone GRaT Las Vegases, Class of 2021. Remember,
a Nobel heritage has been entrusted to you. (Applause).
DR. CHADWELL: Thank you, Dr. Folbe. I appreciate your humor because humor is always good medicine.
You had a great segue into a more solemn part of our ceremony today. While this day is a
truly momentous celebration and the fact that we are gathered together here mostly in person
is truly joyous, we now come to a very solemn part of our ceremony. When we began our journey
today, remember that in 2017, none of us could have foreseen that a world pandemic was waiting
for us and would challenge and impact the very fabric of your medical education. As
you transition into your final year as a physician in training, you are confronted with an invisible
intruder that threatened to derail your remaining preparation for practice, your transition
to residency, and even the very lives of you and your loved ones. During this last year,
your nobodile response to accepting and adapting to the realities of the COVID surge here in
Detroit, your service to this community and your patience was truly commendable, and I
have often bragged about this class to others and colleagues in different institutions.
Throughout this historic year, you modelled resilience, flexibility, compassion, service,
aptitude, and ingenuity. The isolation of the pandemic rather than dividing united us
to be truly Warrior strong. Together you walked resolutely forward to join the frontlines
as Dr. Folbe already said in the heart of Detroit's COVID surge, learned to Don PPE,
set the example for achieving 100% vaccination and cared for the sick and dying while trying
to keep your loved ones safe with many of us contracting the virus ourselves. Became
rapidly and regularly aKWaBTed with death and dying during your training years in a
way that most physicians really do not experience in their entire career. We each suffered losses,
a patient we cared for, a friend, a valued colleague, a distant or even close family
member. At this moment we would like to pay tribute to all of these precious lives lost
to COVID during the pandemic. To help us through that I would like to now introduce Youssef
Jajo, one of our graduates, and Dr. Eric Ayers, who serves as our director of mentoring and
student engagement. They will take us through this time of reflection, beginning with Yousif,
to light a candle in memory of his father. I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Jajo back
stage at the opera house during the white coat ceremony with his wife where he was beaming
with pride and happiness over Yousif's beginning path in this noble profession, and I'm sure
he would be very, very proud of you today, Yousif. Dr. Ayers will then conclude the tribute
by sharing brief words of reflection on behalf of all frontline physicians whose ranks you
will join today. Yousif, would you please come up?
(Music playing). DR. AYERS: Bless our education, deliberations,
and fellowship. Give us open minds and clear understanding and a steady purpose to make
the most of our talents. Lead us to where we can best serve. Guide and direct our school,
its leaders, and our own actions. Grant that each of us may fulfill our responsibility
to the field of medicine, to our communities, to our country, and to the world at large.
Let us be a source of hope and comfort for those in need. May each of us know the joy
of caring and sharing. We thank you for this opportunity to serve as physicians. Amen.
Before I go, I just Dr. Chadwell will give me a brief allowment to do this, but I personally
would like to say thank you for your class for accepting and supporting the learning
communities. You helped move it from a virtual version to a functional engagement Warrior
machine. Thank you. (Applause).
DR. CHADWELL: Thank you so much, Dr. Ayers. Our next speaker is Mrs. Loretta Robichaud,
your class counselor. She perhaps more than anyone else walked the difficult path many
of you encountered personally with you. For 24/7 unwavering dedication to provide support
in your sorrows, share in your joys, and encourage your best is rare and noteworthy and was even
more illuminated during the pandemic. She has deeply cared for this class and will now
share some words from her vast wisdom and experience with you. Mr. Robichaud.
(Applause). DR. ROBICHAUD: Deer Class of 2021, congratulations
on earning your Doctor of Medicine degree. It's been my honor to serve as your class
counsel or. You have my deepest admiration as you excelled as medical professionals and
first responders during a global pandemic. Have you persevered in your care of patients
with resilience and courage. You have my deep running mate and unconditional positive regard
as you begin a life of purpose as a physician. I encourage you as you leave your school of
medicine to retain a connection with your medical school family and classmates and to
consider a commitment to care for your own health and personal well-being. Care must
start with you. Your health and well-being is precious and must be safeguarded. Establish
a relationship with your own personal physician who can be a valuable source of support for
you. Pay attention to your own eating sleeping, exercise, and relaxation habits. Establish
positive work relationships with those around you and build support systems to share experiences.
Your chief resident or fellow can orient you to your new hospital. They can also be a source
of teaching, support, or conflict resolution. You may be assigned a mentor or you may have
to seem E seek and find one. Ask for help when you need it. These activities are rewarding
and protective. Have you met and excelled at the challenges in medical school. You now
have the opportunity to be a role model to others in your chosen profession. Plan carefully
to provide and maintain a form of self-support so you can maintain the strength to continue
in that profession while providing high quality care to your patients. Lastly, transfer the
compassion you feel for others towards yourself. Take care. I wish you all the very best.
DR. CHADWELL: I've asked Ms. Robichaud to stay up here for a moment. In my sort of looking
back estimation, you have taken responsibility for over 3,000 Wayne physicians that have
crossed the graduation stage, and that is remarkable. I think you are the perfect person
to guide this COVID class. We want to recognize you today, and we want to give you a small
token of our recognition. (Applause).
DR. CHADWELL: Thank you, doctor. (Applause).
DR. CHADWELL: It is now distinct honor to introduce your keynote speaker. Dr. Steffes
is a practicing surgeon and our associate Dean of clinical education. For his numerous
accolades and titles, I will confer you to the commencement booklet because what I have
come to know about him is these are secondary to him. He is a true physician who fiercely
cares about you, his opportunities, physicians in training, his patients and his family as
the largest single campus medical school in the country we are the flagship institution,
if you will. When the U.S.S. Wayne, so to speak, collided with COVID, it felt more like
we were on the Titanic many, many days, but with the fearless captain at the email E helm,
we soon learned we had nothing to woe about. Dr. STEFR espromised you would graduate on
time and navigate this class safely true treacherous waters to the shore of graduation today. Have
I told him on occasion that he, we, are on a God-sized assignment, and it is now complete.
His steady leadership and able guidance has been an inspiration to us all. He will now
give his final charge to you. Not in an email, but in person, to you, you our newest Wayne
Warrior MDs at this very historic moment. Dr. Steffes.
(Applause). DR. STEFFES: Thank you, Dr. Chadwell. Also
nice that I remembered to invite my mother to hear someone say nice things about me.
I can come up on stage here and take my mask off for the next 45 minutes, which you cannot.
Okay. It won't be 45 minutes. Maybe. Fellow physicians and class of 2021 families
and guests, I'm honored and thrilled to share some thoughts today to be part of this special
graduation ceremony. Surrounding ceremonies are central to our culture and profession.
It is fantastic we are able to hold this commencement, even though it is limited somewhat. It's a
signal that we are all getting back to normal and the Class of '21 is leading the way. I'm
happy to see that most of the class can join us here, and I certainly understand that with
all the schedule changes and everything else with graduation, some of the class had to
get on with moving to their new cities and I certainly understand that, and I'm glad
you can all join us over the internet. It is fitting this graduation ceremony has had
its stops and starts and friction. The class of' 21 is very special to me, where not just
because of my family connection, but you all started the same time four years ago when
I took this job. I feel like we've navigated these waters together, and I have been able
to meet so many of you. The seas are dandruff for us getting here today. Curriculum change,
seasonal changes, economic threats, and the final year of pandemic and lockdown. A senior
year unlike any because of travel restrictions and a new residency application process, yet
you have persevered and thrived in the challenge. You were all part of beating the pandemic
and finishing medical school on time as promised. At the beginning of the pandemic many wanted
to totally shut down medical school. There were calling nationally to skip year and DWRaD
wait students a year later because students were in the way. You persevered in your effort
and found ways to contribute and learn. With all the weird schedules, changes in rotations,
testing make-up activity and countless emails from me, I never heard a complaint, which
worried me a bit, but you're all focused. You all hunker the down and learned the best
you could online. With lockdown in the hospitals, you went to volunteer testing centers and
otherwise put yourself in harm's way for your patients. You Defendant's Exhibit act in an
abundance of caution. You acted like physicians. You Donned your masks, as soon as we had them,
and reported to duty as soon as you could leading the charge back to clinical education
and servicing the hospitals. All of you cared for patients of COVID. You are to be recognized,
congratulated, and admired. What a tough bunch of physicians in training you have been.
Now we send you out in the real battle. The career long battle on behalf of your patients
and your profession. On this occasion I have about five hours of anecdotes and advice to
share, but recognizing my mission to finish in ten minutes or less and realizing that
no one remembers what anybody says at graduation anyway, I will limit this to several thoughts
about our profession. I will also try to stay on script because I get in trouble when I
stray from the script. I borrowed the years from more famous people,
presidents and hockey coaches even though they are not original thoughts, they may be
worth sharing today. First, a bit of history. 234 years ago at
the conclusion of the constitutional convention, Benjamin Franklin was asked what kind of government
we had just formed? He replied, a democracy. If you can keep it. A democracy, if you can
keep it. By this he meant that this form of government required continued hard work by
the people to maintain its existence. When looking at the Hippocratic oath, I can imagine
a similar question. If he had been asked what his oath and tradition had created, he would
have said a profession, if you can keep it. We welcome you into that profession today,
but can you keep it as a profession? We have left you in a position of difficulty compared
to years when we finished medical school. It was easy then. This profession, as you
recite your oath in the coming moments, centers on the patient-physician relationship. Not
the relationship with insurance companies, venture capitalists, government entities,
regulations, big data, artificial intelligence, or a host of others that bureaucrats can only
imagine. It only deals with the patient. That is not only the cornerstone, but the entirety
of this profession. A profession takes care of itself. It GORCHs
itself, educates its project any, disciplines itself. It does this in recognition of the
vast responsibility that it owes to the public in exchange for the privileges that they grant
us. However, there are forces that are eroding this. We are in danger of falling short of
our duties and responsibilities to patients because we are not living up to our own expectations
and commitments in defending the profession. A profession whose one responsibility is to
our patients. Patients in general and especially to that one patient we are taking care of
at that particular moment of that day. Three THOOTHS thoughts on keeping this profession
and how the oath of antiquity may speak to our present times.
First, don't be -- second, if you aren't teaching, you're not a doctor. Third, you were born
to be physicians. Don't be a commodity. You're too valuable. We have trained you to conform
well. You have learned the correct answers on the MCAT, the answers that are acceptable
on the Board exams, the Arnold Schwarzeneggers that your residents and attendings want to
hear on rounds. We have started to teach you the information that the computer DMR wants,
and you will soon be learning what billable information needs to put on the patient and
counter in your residency. Checking boxes, attending preferences, best practices, government
mandates, insurance dicta, all these can possibly interfere with what you want to do for the
good of the individual patient. By the way, these are also the factors that physicians
include as causes of burnout as their careers go on, forces that take them away from their
patients. These parting remarks from 1961, president
Eisenhower warned of the government, military, industrial complex that affect world politics
and peace. Today he would warn of the government industry health care complex that often serves
interests other than those of the patient. Over the course of the last 20 and 30 years,
driven by the flow of money from industry and government to capitalists taking over
hospitals and physicians with profit being the clear and singular motive, academic departments
have been shuttered and replaced, physician practices are sold to venture capitalists.
I know I'm sounding a little like Bernie sanders here. Sorry about that. As an example two
years ago 550 residents of a university hospital were fired when the hospital was closed by
venture capitalists who decided that the property was worth more as condos. They closed an unprofitable
hospital in Philadelphia that only -- that had only provided care to the local community.
The residency slots fund bid Medicare were put up for auction guarding a winning bit
of $55 million. This was held up in court first, but the press debt was there. Resident
training slots are traded on the market like bushels of wheat. 50 percent of physicians
work for someone else. Hospitals, governments. Some can call the shots when there's a need
to make the profit. Physicians have lost their financial independence and are at risk to
lose their independence of thought. In the eyes of many, including the payers, physicians
are now just another provider. Someone though them their NPI and license through billable
to make money for investors. This is far from patients deserve or expect.
None of this is really new. It goes back to ancient times. There's always been conflicting
relationship in economics and medicine. Physicians for years have worked hard to keep the profession,
and you must also. My generation is dumping this responsibility on you, the hard work
of preserving the practice of medicine for the patient.
Don't be a commodity. Don't be a number. Don't be just another NPI in a billing form. Don't
be a nondescript provider of some product or service. You are much more than that. Your
patients need you more than that. Understand the system. Understand where the money goes,
and call out malarchy when you see it. Do not become a pawn. Speak up for your patients.
You can start by relying on traditions of the profession from the oath that you are
about to recite with Dr. Baker where, maintain, safeguard, and protect your rights, responsibilities,
and privilege to do what's right for the patient. No matter the budget, political or profit
implications. Don't be a commodity. You are too valuable. Keep the profession.
Page two. If you aren't teaching, you're not a doctor. Doctor means teacher. It's from
the middle English doctor from the Latin Dossier meaning to teach. First used by Cisero for
many centuries B.C. A doctor philosophy teaches philosophy. A doctor of medicine teaches medicine.
If you teach your patients first, your colleagues, fellow medical professionals and then students
of all ages and continue this for your career. Wayne State now is requiring teacher experience
in the senior year. You got out of it, but this is how important we feel it is. Teaching
will drive your learning and keep you current in the scientific foundations that guide practice.
I hear every day that doctors should get paid to teach. Very few make a living teaching.
We teach as part of our daily activity. It's integral to our being. We remember our teachers,
our residence, professors, doctors in practice that teach us how to be better. Continue the
teaching you started in medical student as to day one of your residency. There will be
students and patients to teach. You do not need to be the world's SPET whereby. You are
a better teacher if you aren't the world's expert. When the assistant Dean from Wayne
State or wherever you are calls in a few years when are you in practice and says some students
would like to come and learn, your answer is yes. I'm a doctor, I teach, and I love
it. Teaching the profession to others is a basic way to keep the profession. Now, on
to page three and the final page. Since we are in a hockey arena, a hockey metaphor.
Herb Brooks is legendary led the 1980 Olympic team to a being SHOing victory over the Soviets
that shook the world as the most pivotal sports moment that really affected history.
If you have not seen Kurt Russell portray him in the movie "Miracle" watch it on Disney
Plus. The pregame locker room speech before the final game against the Russians, he told
a team of amateur hockey players that, quote, you were born to be hockey players. This is
your moment. I thought of this in looking at the Class
of '21. He were all born to be doctors, but your moment is not just one game. Your moment
is every day of your career. Every time you talk to a patient, that is the moment you
were trained for and it will occur many times every day. That is your Olympic moment. Your
life's work. You get to do it many times a day for the next 50 years. Not just one hockey
game. Every time you are listening, diagnosing, comforting, reassuring, treating, perhaps
curing a patient, a physical low human, that is your moment. What a privilege that is.
If you take advantage of every one of these moments with patients, you will not be a commodity.
When you fight for every patient against economic, political, and outside pressure, you are bucking
the system and preserving the profession that this is made for. When you use every moment
to teach, you touch so many more patient lives. You are every day a doctor. That is what you
were born to do. Wrapping this up, as I thought through these
risks to the profession of medicine and in looking at the Class of '21, I have concluded
that the practice of the profession of medicine is in good hands. You are welcome and auto
needed addition. You are part of the profession and will keep it.
Thank you for the honor of addressing this graduation ceremony. Congratulation on your
many achievements, persistence and fort TUTD, and I personally thank you all for helping
me get through the pandemic, which we did and got you graduated on time. Wayne State,
your families, and you have so much to be proud of. Thank you.
(Applause). DR. CHADWELL: Thank you, Dr. Steffes, for
are your inspiring remarks on this very special occasion. Ladies and gentlemen, now, the most
solemn moment of commencement, the presentation of the candidates and the conferral of the
degrees by the President. Candidates of the Class of 2021, please rise. President Wilson
and Dean Schweitzer, upon the recommendation of the faculty of the School of Medicine,
I have the honor of presenting the candidates for the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Prosecute
Wilson. PRESIDENT WILSON: The authority to confer
each of these degrees is vested in the Board of Governors of Wayne State university by
the people or the state of Michigan under the Constitution of the state. This authority
is delegated to the president by the Board. Each of these degrees is granted on the recommendation
of the faculty of the university. By the authority vested in me by the Board of Governors and
upon the recommendation of the respective FaK ULTS, I do hereby confer upon you the
degree for which the faculties have recommended you, and I admit you to all the rights, privileges,
and responsibilities of that degree. Congratulations. (Applause).
DR. CHADWELL: Doctors, you may be seated. Nice to call you doctors. We will now perform
the ceremonial hooding of the graduates of the Class of 2021 of Wayne State university
School of Medicine. The hood is part of the academic regalia that was originally designed
as hated covering to keep heads warm in cold, unheated buildings. It dates back to the medieval
days of some of the oldest universities in the world. Today hoods are the most expressive
part of the academic regalia. They indicate not only the field of study, which has been
completed, but also the degree and the institution's colors. The hood, with green velvet running
along a black background, represents the academic color of medicine and the yellow and green
silk colors represent Wayne State University. I will begin by reading the names of the candidates.
We have several sets of hooters that are joining us on stage. The first is Dr. Richard Baker,
vice Dean of medical education, and Dr. Kenneth Sprague, associate Dean of admissions, who
will hood the graduates, and Dean Schweitzer, will congratulate the graduates while handing
them their real diploma. It's the real deal. A professional photographer will then photograph
each graduate on the stage. It looks like we're ready. Can I have that monitor? Thank
you. Our very first candidate is Sam than Abdallah.
DR. CHADWELL: Obviously, some graduates are not joining us in person, so we'll continue
on. (Reading names).
CHADWELL: We call to the stage Dr. Steffes, and Dr. Gene Booza. Yousif Qadeer. #.
Thank you to all the hooders, and let's have a round of applause for the entire class.
(Applause). Now I would like to introduce Dr. Richard
baker, vice Dean of medical education. He has already been up here helping us. He will
administer the oath to the class of 2021. DR. BAKER: We're almost there. Okay. Will
the Class of 2021 please stand and repeat each phrase of the professional oath of the
class after me. Also, I invite all physicians present and those who will see us virtually
to rise and join the newest members of our honored profession in speaking the oath.
I do solemnly swear by all that I hold most sacred that according to my ability and judgment,
I will in every particular keep this, my oath and covenant:
Okay. We got a little -- okay. I ledge to dedicate myself to the service
of humanity and to honor the noble traditions of the medical profession.
To hold those who have taught me this art as equal to my parents and to live my life
in partnership with them. To give to my teachers the respect and gratitude
which is their due. To regard my colleagues equally with my brethren and to teach this
art by precept, by lecture, and every other mode of instruction to those that practice
the healing arts. As a physician, I will maintain the ultimate
dignity of life while guiding its arrival, protecting its course, and easing its natural
passage from this world. I will offer to those who seek my aid not
only my knowledge and skills, but my warmth and compassion as well.
Whatever in the lives of those I shall see or hear, either in my practice or outside
of my practice, which should not be made public, this will I hold in silence, believing that
such things should not be spoken. I will conduct myself with honesty and virtue,
with conscience and dignity will I live my life and practice my art.
In all circumstances, I will consider every individual as equal without regard to race,
Creed, or gender, refusing no one my help. I will abstain from every active injustice
and corruption. Above all else, I will do no harm.
I freely take this oath and will maintain the noble traditions of my profession, always
tempering my science with the warmth and humility of the true physician.
You may switch the tassels from the right side of your tams to the left. Congratulations,
doctors, and welcome to the profession. (Applause).
Please be seated. DR. CHADWELL: Thank you, Dr. Baker. I would
now like to introduce Dr. Yusuf Qadeer, President of the Class of 2021. It has been a pleasure
getting to know Dr. Yusuf Qadeer, and I want to recognize his leadership and dedication
in helping to make this live event possible. Dr. Qadeer.
(Applause). DR. QADEER: Can you guys hear me?
Class of 2021, I can't even begin to describe just how happy I am to see all of your beautiful
faces here today. I feel like the last time we were all together Dr. Steffes probably
had a full head of hair. But in all seriousness, Class of 2021, it truly is an honor and blessing
to see all of you here today. Before I jump into my speech, there's a lot of people that
I need to thank for making this event possible today. Ms. Garadeni -- Ms. Patrick. There's
a bunch of people I'm probably FREFL, but you have gone above and beyond in making sure
not only that we had this event, but everything pertaining to graduation as well. I just want
to thank you guys and the class of 2021 acknowledges all the time and effort you guys have put
in. (Applause).
So there's a lot I would like to talk about today, but I'm going to focus in on three
important topics. The first thing I want to talk you about are the accomplishments that we as a class have
achieved over the past four years of medical school. Then I want to transition to talking
about what it means to be a if IZ in today's world and, finally, I want to end with how
we can continue to make Wayne State University School of Medicine an exceptional place for
physicians to continue to develop. If you truly love an institution, you will continue
to find ways in which to improve it. Class of 2021, let us begin.
I remember our very first day of medical school. We were walking into Jafar Hall for our very
first anatomy lecture, and that was the first and last time seeing Jafar Hall was filled
because our class discovered something beautiful, and that was the ability to stream lectures
online. From that day until today it's amazing to see everything that we have accomplished.
Some of you guys volunteered at local organizations to better support our Detroit community. Things
like project H, street run Detroit, anti-NAS, and for those of you that volunteered there,
you guys applied for and were award the Crseske Grant that further supports the direction.
You presented research at local and national conferences proving to the country that Wayne
State University students strive to be leaders in their respective fields.
For those of you that were part of the AMA, you guys understood that advocating four YOO
patients doesn't just end in the hospital setting. You guys understood that you got
to advocate at the national legislative level as well. An example of some of the amazing
legislation was our students, classmates, Brianna Sole, Kyle, Jake Wilson, towney, they're
trying to ban conversion therapy for people that identify as LGBTQ plus, and their proposal
was so well-written that it was adapted by the national AMA of 2019.
You guys also were part of putting on yearly cultural shows, which highlighted diversity
of our class as well as educating one another about our different faiths, cultures, as well
as our different ethnicities. Of course, you guys were all intraMOOURL champions. Whether
it was football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, the only championship that we missed out on
was the coveted fencing championship. What I'm most proud of this class for was
our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this pandemic, especially in the early onset
when we were removed from the hospitals, not one of you guys sat idly buy. You all found
ways to take an active part in fighting this pandemic. At the start you guys found ways
to raise money for PPE. You guys found ways to volunteer in the COVID-19 vaccination clinics.
You guys found ways to do the COVID-19 testing and you took care of COVID-19 patients in
the hospital setting as well. This pandemic has tested us spiritually, mentally,
physically, emotionally. Some of you guys contracted the virus and had to deal with
that, and worse yet, while there's a few lost loved ones to this virus. For that I'm truly
sorry. Through it all, here we are today, here we are together, and here we are stronger
than ever. I'm so proud of you guys for how you were able to handle this pandemic and
how you guys represented the Detroit community as well.
These are just some -- a short list of things that we've accomplished. We should all be
proud of your individual accomplishments as well. I know that all will be able to have
great success in residency and beyond. The second topic that I would like to talk about
today tries to answer the question, what does it mean to be a physician in today's world?
I fully expect that each and every one of you
are going to provide exceptional care for your patients as well as serve as leaders
in your communities, just as I hope you hold me to that same standard, but in today's world,
the role of the physician needs to be expanded to include serving as a voice for those communities,
those peoples, and those institutions that are being marginalized or oppressed. Society
has put physicians in a position of power, and we need to utilize that power to better
serve those who may not have the opportunity to speak for themselves. I want to give two
specific examples in which physicians served as a voice to a community they oppressed.
Before I share those two specific examples, I want to share with you all two fundamental
belief that is I hold near and dear to my heart. The first one BLOO EF that I hold is
there is nothing in the world that is greater than oppression of any kind. The greatest
atrocity that one human being can inflict on near human being is oppression, and secondly,
if you kill one innocent human life, to me that's as if you killed all of humanity, and
if you save innocent human life, it's as if you save all of humanity. That's how much
I value one single innocent human life. The first example I want to talk about is
how in 2020 we saw a rise in police brutality against our African-American brothers and
sisters. Specifically, I just want to focus in on how physicians helped. What was the
role of the physician? Physicians took to social media to end the
violence. Physicians engaged in protests throughout the country, and physicians gave donations
to the families that were affected. In addition, physicians called on local politicians
to enact legislation as well as calling for institutional reform within police stations.
Those are all different ways that physicians sought to help a community or people being
oppressed. A second example that I want to focus in on
relates to the humanitarian crisis occurring in Palestine. Again, physicians in much of
the same thing. Social media, protests, done a littles WRSHG physicians also did something
that physicians do best. That's to educate. Much like a physician indicates patients about
their disease, physicians were educating the public about the nature of this conflict.
We just need to understand, right, that evicting people from their homeland, that's not okay.
Killing innocent men, women, and children are not okay. The reason why I'm bringing
up these two topics just briefly is to understand that from the first day of medical school,
we are taught to do no harm. The greatest thing in the world that we can do is understand
that being silent and complacent when oppression and injustice are occurring throughout the
world is to do harm. I'll say that one more time. Being silent and complacent when oppression
and injustice are occurring throughout the world is to do harm.
As physicians, I hope we utilize our power to alleges speak for those who can't speak
for themselves. The last topic I want to focus in on how we can continue to make Wayne State
university school of medicine a superior institution for future physicians. The two greatest qualities
of Wayne State are the Detroit community we serve in addition to the clinical experience
that we get here. The clinical experience at Wayne State University School of Medicine
is truly unparalleled. Our clinical partners, particularly Henry Ford and the Detroit Medical
Center, they giver us exceptional clinical experience because of their willingness to
teach, their passion for learning, and their ability to give medical students ownership
of our patients. That's why Detroit is the greatest place to learn in the state of Michigan.
You guys don't have to take my word for it. Take a look at how almost every medical school
in the state of Michigan is trying to establish roots in Detroit. We all know that Henry Ford
and MSU struck a deal. We know that CMU and the University of Michigan, which has a Premier
hospital system of their own, their medical students can do an emergency medical rotation
at Henry Ford, and that's considered a home rotation for them.
We need to protect our clinical experience. That is what makes us exceptional. That's
why we're going to be great residence, and that's what residencies want. As the great
Dr. Steffes once said there's great medical schools in the state of medicine that see
medicine. There are some medical schoolings in the state of Michigan that learn medicine.
There is only one medical school in the state of Michigan that actually practices medicine.
That is Wayne State University School of Medicine. My last parting advice is just that I want
administration, faculty, and students to continue to form memorable relationships with etch
auto other. The class of 20201 is forever indebted to Dr. Steffes, Dr. Chadwell because
we felt that no matter where we were in our careers, they were willing to go to bat for
us. Dr. Steffes, Dr. Chadwell have seen us from our first day as terrified first year
medical students to today, our last day as terrified soon to be interns, and everywhere
in between. It's truly been an honor to learn from them and to grow with them, and I hope
that, you know, this is continuing for every class they have relationships like that. I'm
very proud to have been afforded the opportunity to go to Wayne State University School of
Medicine , and I have no doubt it's going to continue to be an exceptional place of
learning. We must continue to protect our clinical experience and form relationships
with our faculty and administration. I just want to end my speech by addressing
the Detroit community, addressing one special person in my life, and then addressing my
classmates. To the city of Detroit, I want to say thank you. Thank you for allowing me
to learn from you and for giving me the opportunity to serve you these past four years. The trials
I have seen you endure and the resiliency to keep fighting is has humbled me time and
time again. I may be physically leaving the city of Detroit for a residency, but my heart
belongs here. My dream one day is to come back, be an attending at Henry Ford and continue
to serve the Detroit community that I'm forever indebted to.
To my mom, you know, everyone here today probably has one person that either led them into the
field of medicine or one person that helped them reach the point today in their careers,
and for me that's my mom, and it's no secret that I'm a mama's boy. You know, you guys
can't see it, but there's still an umbilical cord attached between me and my mom. In fact,
Dr. Steffes tripped on it earlier on his way to the seat. To my mom, just thankful that
she led me into this profession and for those who have gotten to know me, everything I am,
everything that I'll be, and everything that is good and part of me, it came from I many
mom. To my mom, you know, thank you for everything that you have done, to my family, and thank
you for the man that I am today and for paving the way for the physician I hope to one day
become. Lastly, to my classmates, you guys know that I'm not perfect. Probably the only
perfect thing about me is how perfectly imperfect I am. Throughout our four years here together,
if at any point I said something or did something that offended you, please know that was never
my intention, and you know, from the bottom of my heart, I ask for your forgiveness. I
love you guys. I truly do, and I think I missed the classwide memo that went out earlier this
year where everyone decided to get married or engaged, but, you know, if I would have
known sooner, I would have definitely hit up my grandma to help me get married. In life
there's only three constants, right. Death, Texas, and the ability for a grandma to get
her grandkid married. Class of 2021, congratulations. We did it.
(Applause). DR. CHADWELL: Thank you, Dr. Qadeer. Before
concluding the program I would like to thank my entire staff for working relentlessly behind
the scenes to make this a happy occasion for all of you. They know who they are. I'll point
them out. Our sincere gratitude extends to Ms. Emily Brant and Olympia Entertainment
team, Mark, who worked with our AV team in collaboration and opened their doors to us,
kept us out of the rain today and making it possible to bring this milestone event to
you. I would like to recognize -- yes. Let's applaud
that. (Applause).
I want to also say I neglected to introduce one important individual and that's Dr. Booza,
our assistant Dean, who was helping to pass out diplomas, and he wasn't one of the hooders,
so somehow he got lost in the shuffle, but not forgotten. He is our assistant Dean. Would
you stand up for a second? Of continuous quality improvement and compliance. He is the tall
guy. He does a lot of behind the scenes can work. You guys know. He got you tested through
for four years. All kinds of other things. There's one additional person that I would
like to recognize now before we close who has been with the school of medicine for over
4 7 years and for whom this is the last one. Ms. Jasta Jones. Come on up here. She has
been an INTREL E integral part of every single commencement and
we want to thank her. She's our recorder. She helps to
make sure that your degrees are actually correct, and she deals with all of that. We want to
thank her for her dedication. Come on up here. (Applause).
Finally, graduates, I would like to congratulate you on this amazing accomplishment. I will
venture to say that you have sacrificed and achieved more than
any other class, and that includes my own class -- in the history of our school, and
we could not be more proud of you, our unforgettable Class of 2021. Thank you all for joining us
today, and God bless. (Applause) if you can all turn around, there's
a guy in a bright yellow shirt. You can't miss him. That's Matt Garron, and he would
like a group photo. Matt, you take it away with your instructions up there. (Applause).
DR. CHADWELL: One more last instruction. I'm sorry. I'm reminded to let you know please
turn in your regalia, your rented regalia, and pick up five programs.
(Ceremony concluded)
