Welcome. It is an honor to address you on this memorable occasion.
Let me begin by thanking our outstanding faculty, staff, donors, and alumni for their dedication to our program.
I would like to especially express our gratitude to Frank and Carol Morsani for their invaluable support of the 黑料社区Health Morsani College of Medicine and its students.
Let me also recognize the family, friends, and loved ones of this remarkable class. You have been our students鈥� chief advocates and principal supporters. Thank you for making their success possible. Please, students, give your family a big round of applause.
But most importantly, please join me in welcoming the 51st graduating class of the Morsani College of Medicine, our class of 2025. Congratulations, doctors!!
You have traveled a long, demanding journey over the past 4 years, a path paved with hard work, academic challenges and hefty doses of sheer exhaustion. I鈥檝e been there, I know.
But you did it. And each of you should feel tremendously proud of finishing this journey and reaching this milestone.
Today, you should reflect on your success 鈥� and look ahead to your next journey as you step forward as physicians.
First, to reflect. You have proven to be an amazingly successful class. I would dare say our most successful class of all time 鈥� and I know I say it every year, but this year, it happens to be completely true. And I could go through all of your accolades, including your extraordinary board scores, among the highest in the country, and an amazing magical Match Day. Everybody has been very impressed by this class 鈥� really from the start.
You also are graduating from the Morsani College of Medicine at a special moment. Just a few weeks ago, the U.S. News & World Report ranked us among the top 16 medical schools in the United States! (I may have to have the smile surgically removed from my face.) And the leading research-intensive medical school in the state of Florida!
Now with so many accolades, it may be tempting to just sit back and bask in your success.
But, as you already know, that鈥檚 not what physicians do. You have chosen a more difficult, yet noble path. And on this journey, you will need to use three vital skills which we have helped you develop.
First, compassion. Caring for our patients is at the heart and soul of what we do as physicians 鈥� and it means bringing your best self every day, for every patient.
I have delivered about 5,000 babies during my career, and I know that every mother and every obstetrician views every new baby as the most special thing imaginable 鈥� and that鈥檚 true of the first and the 5,000th baby.
Second, a commitment to lifelong learning. I know you have all heard me say that scientific knowledge doubles every 73 days. In fact, you鈥檝e probably heard me say that at least 73 times.
But it鈥檚 true 鈥� and that pace of doubling keeps accelerating. So, to succeed, you need to commit to self-directed learning, to continuous intellectual growth and to a steadfast pursuit of scientific knowledge, for the rest of your careers.
Third, grit. The Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, Marcus Aurelias, said it best in his great book, Meditations: 鈥淭he impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.鈥� Embrace all your challenges as opportunities to learn, innovate, and grow stronger.
As physicians, you will face dark days and difficult times. These challenges are not to be feared, they are to be embraced, because they are integral to becoming a great physician.
But equipped, as you all are, with compassion, a commitment to life-long learning and grit, you are ready to step forward into the future 鈥� as outstanding doctors. Again, congratulations!
鈥� Video by Ryan Rossy, 黑料社区Health Communications