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The annual commencement proceedings returned to the campus of UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester on Sunday, June 5, for the first time in three years in a jubilant gathering. The 49th launch drills, with classes from Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and TH Chan School of Medicine, were held under a tent on the green campus with faculty, family and friends present.
Chancellor Michael F. Collins presided over the ceremony, presenting 162 MD degrees, eight MD/PhD degrees, three Master of Science degrees in Clinical Research, 40 Doctor of Philosophy degrees and one Master of Science degree in biomedical sciences, 33 doctoral degrees in Diplomas in Nursing Practice, eight doctoral degrees in nursing sciences, four master’s degrees in nursing sciences and 11 postgraduate certificates.
“I am delighted to be the first to officially salute the class of 2022, who are the first-ever graduates of Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and TH Chan School of Medicine,” said Chancellor Collins, referring to the schools’ name changes following the Chan family’s transformational $175 million donation from the Morningside Foundation last year. “The Class of 2022 graduates are known for their outstanding academic achievements, as well as their extraordinary commitment to reaching beyond campus boundaries to work with and help others. We congratulate you as you prepare to take your rightful place in our city, our Commonwealth, our nation, and our world as graduates of Massachusetts’ first and only major public medical school.
Honorary degrees were bestowed on Paula A. Johnson, MD, MPH, president of Wellesley College and eminent cardiologist, scientist and educator; James O’Connell, MD, MTheol, president of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, where his commitment to caring for the homeless has earned him the reputation of the city’s “street doctor”; and Cori Bargmann, PhD, chief scientist of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, head of the Lulu and Anthony Wang Laboratory of Neural Circuits and Behavior, and the Torsten N. Wiesel Professor at Rockefeller University.
Dr. Bargmann delivered the keynote address.
“Today we recognize what you have learned and accomplished in the fields of medicine and science, thanks to your efforts, your intelligence and your skills,” she said. “Celebrate science, collaborate with each other and with your patients, and use your unique expertise and trust to be an agent of truth.”
The speakers were Jennifer DiBenedetto, PhD; Daniel Hidalgo, Ph.D.; and Iha Kaul, MD, MPH. Classmates echoed their themes of community, collaboration and caring.
“I think working with such a diverse group and population has been extremely helpful to me,” said Erick Sandoval, DNP. “Working with different students from different backgrounds, careers and mindsets has helped my development.”
“UMass is very collaborative. The faculty have been very supportive,” said Jennifer Eunmi Moon, PhD. “The most valuable thing we had was the career development program, where we got to learn about different professions and think outside the box in terms of what we wanted to do after graduation.”
“People here have really worn me out,” said Sheikh Moinul, MD. “It instilled in me that camaraderie is key to achieving any degree of success.”
Read Chancellor Collins’ full remarks.
Watch the entire 49th launch drills.
Related Stories on UMass Chan News:
Stole Ceremony Celebrates Diversity and Unity Among UMass Chan Classes of 2022
Resilient TH Chan School of Medicine’s Class of 2022 Honored at Awards Ceremony
Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing celebrates student and faculty achievements
Dean Lane to graduate students in biomedical sciences: ‘You address the big questions’
