CLASS DAY 2000
Student Speakers Stress Diversity, Patient Care
Graduates Aaron Cheng, Grace Cheng, and Rebecca Cherry. Photo by Liza Green
The three student speakers at the HMS/HSDM Class Day ceremony on June 8 recounted their journeys to and through the Medical and Dental Schools. They also took the chance to express their gratitude toward family, friends, instructors, classmates, and patients for the variety of ways that each contributed to their success.
Graduate Yashika Dooley (center) poses for pictures with her classmates. Photo by Liza Green
Joanne Dushay, HMS 2000, and her classmates pose for their class picture. Photo by Liza Green
The first medical speaker, Neil Ghiso told of his unexpected medical education during his four years at HMS—being a patient. Telling his classmates of his treatment for a malignant brain tumor, including surgery and chemotherapy, Ghiso said his experience made him understand what was most valuable in practicing medicine: "Caring for your patients—just caring—is the most important part of medicine." While urging his fellow graduates to bear in mind the social work component of patient care, he lamented the current situation under managed care in which doctors are penalized for spending too much time with patients.
Neil Ghiso, HMS 2000, shared the valuable lesson he learned about being a doctor through his experience as a cancer patient. Photo by Liza Green
Ahmad Chaudhry, who received his DMD with honors in a special field, stressed the important influence others have had in the lives of the recent graduates. "Seeing a Harvard student taking those last few steps across the platform to receive a diploma and become a doctor—it's like seeing a turtle sitting atop a fencepost—you know it didn't get there by itself," he said. Chaudry thanked the usual suspects—family, friends, instructors, and patients—but also thanked his classmates for the supportive and cooperative at-mosphere and said he learned much from the diverse group.
HSDM graduates Joel Chasen (left) and student speaker Ahmad Chaudhry. Photo by Steve Gilbert
Andrew Atiemo poses with his sister, Charlotte, and Jocelyn Spragg, the Division of Medical Sciences minority programs director. Photo by Liza Green
The final speaker was former Washington Redskin Mark Adickes, who described his journey from jock to doc. He told the audience of the exhilaration he felt in the transition from challenging himself physical-ly to challenging himself academically. The Super Bowl winner said that just as he had met athletes he admired during
his football career, he also met some superstars in medicine among his classmates. Adickes said the strengths of his class lie in its diversity and potential. Upon entering the MEC on his first day at HMS, Adickes told the audience "the feeling was better than winning the Super Bowl."
This June, for the second consecutive year, HMS graduated more women than men: of the 161 students receiving MDs, 85 were women and 76 men. The class included 34 students from underrepresented minorities, making up 21.1 percent of the class. The 28-member HSDM Class of 2000 comprised 20 women and 8 men.
HMS graduate Dilon Daniel and his son, Timothy. Photo by Steve Gilbert
Liliana Bordeianou (left) holds her son while Gregory Weinhoff (right) feeds his son during the HMS graduation ceremony.
