Speakers told members of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences to embrace teamwork, each other’s differences and lessons from challenging times in the medical field at the school’s health sciences commencement ceremony Saturday.
Speakers told the 356 graduates that in challenging times, collaboration solves problems that individual efforts cannot. Faculty speaker Susan LeLacheur, professor of physician assistant studies, said societal conflict calls for cross-disciplinary research and encouraged students to remain rooted in their core values that led them to GW.
She said students will have the chance to apply their health knowledge to create a better system than the one they entered.
“Systems of healthcare are dissolving,” LeLachuer said. “You have the knowledge and power to create something better.”
SMHS Dean Barbara Bass said the commencement marked entry into the school’s 201st year, making it the 11th oldest medical and health sciences college in the country and the oldest in the District. She said it was “wonderful” to watch the school add more fields of study, including an occupational therapy program, to its graduating class.
“As we’ve expanded our repertoire to these many disciplines, which we’re going to celebrate today, we have a wonderful opportunity to expand our wings and have an even greater impact caring for all in our community,” she said.
Karen Schlumpf, assistant professor of clinical research and leadership, presented clinical and translational master’s graduate Maira Qayyum and doctor of occupational therapy graduate Shannon Loiseau with the Ozgur Ekmecki Interprofessional Leadership Award.
Cliff Cymrot, assistant professor of biomedical laboratory sciences and Joyce Marring, professor of health, human function, and rehabilitation sciences, presented bachelor’s graduate Ariel Jones and doctoral graduate Robert Bailleu with outstanding undergraduate and graduate student awards.
Bailleu said the graduates should leverage different “narratives and values” between each other to solve “complex” problems in society.
“Our technical expertise and intellectual discourse find their highest purpose and would recognize the dignity and agency of the company we serve,” Bailleu said.
He told students to recognize the “shared responsibility” among the graduates, signified by completing their studies, and encouraged them to fulfill it with “integrity, collaboration and compassion.”
“When faced with complex cases, we have the humility to seek perspectives different from our own while including the patient in all stages of the process,” Bailleu said. “In this way, we are holding the dignity of our patients and of one another.”
