UNMC honors 29 at minority graduate reception

COM graduate Justin Endo, M.D., with Kristie Hayes, M.D., assistant professor, UNMC department of internal medicine and chief of dermatology section.

UNMC’s graduates of color gathered May 11 to praise and recognize those who most supported their educational journey. This year, 29 students were listed on the roll call of honor.

The 2005 Minority Graduate Reception, sponsored by the Office of Student Equity and Multicultural Affairs, brings together UNMC faculty, staff and graduating students with their respective family members and friends. The university administration’s desire to enhance diversity among the student body and faculty led to this annual recognition of graduating minority students.

Mary McNamee, Ph.D., UNMC assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs and associate director for student recruitment in the Office of Student Equity and Multicultural Affairs, was master of ceremonies. Dr. McNamee is a veritable den mother for minority students at UNMC and is annually one of the faculty members who has the most interactions with the minority students.

Rubens Pamies, M.D., UNMC vice chancellor for academic affairs and dean for graduate studies, spoke on behalf of Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., who was unable to attend for the first time in four years. Dr. Pamies reminded the graduates of their responsibility to live up to their medical callings and remember that they are now about to really start learning medicine.

Richard Rigmaiden, M.D., with COM graduate Oluyemisi Odugbesan, M.D., right, and her mother, Pam Smith.

“I still remember how I felt when I graduated from medical school,” Dr. Pamies said. “I was so proud, walking around with my chest sticking out like I was a really big deal. Then came internship and I was at the bottom of the ladder again. You will find that medical careers can be a continually humbling experience.

“My advice to all of you right now is to take a deep breath. Enjoy these moments with your families and friends. The pace is really going to pick up from here on. But I don’t want any of you to fear for your futures. You have a lot of work ahead of you, but as the saying goes, ‘The only way you can eat an elephant is one bite at a time.’ Success is not a destination, it’s a journey. I just hope that all of you will continue to find the love and support in your future endeavors that you have right now in this room from your families, friends and faculty members.”

A brief keynote address was given by Richard Rigmaiden III, M.D., cardiologist and director of UNMC’s Minority Health Education and Research Office (MiHERO), which is dedicated to educating minority communities about the importance of medical research and minority participation in research. His talk was titled, “Minority Research is a Viable Option for the Future.”

Physical Therapy graduate Jason Wheeler with Pat Hageman, Ph.D., program director for UNMC’s Physical Therapy Education.

In his remarks, Dr. Rigmaiden noted that he has had a rewarding career in medicine and continually enjoys mentoring students and working with the community. He cautioned the graduates to always take time to smell the roses, take care of themselves, remember that their family loves them and always be as willing to receive care and attention as they are willing to give it as health professionals. He told them they have rigorous academic challenges, but more challenges are coming, explaining how he survived some medical school pressures of his own — the birth of his twins (Richard and Meredith) and the death of the mother.

The evening’s crowning moment came during the rose ceremony, when each graduate went to the podium to praise and present special loved ones with a single red rose.
Oluyemisi Odugbesan, Lucille Woodard, MoniqueTolston and Justin Endo – all four who graduated May 13 as medical doctors – attended the event, although it meant not attending the College of Medicine’s annual senior banquet.

The four new doctors said they attended the Minority Graduate Reception to show their support and appreciation for UNMC’s diversity efforts and the minority classmates they leave behind. Dr. Odugbesan’s relatives came the farthest distance to attend the reception. Her brother and sister flew in from London, England, and her mother-in-law came from Nigeria.

COM graduate Monique Tolston, M.D., standing, with her mother, Dolores Turner.

The 2005 minority graduates included:

Allied Health Professions – Christina Araujo (Radiography), Iona Rone (Medical Technology) and Jason Wheeler (Physical Therapy);
College of Dentistry – Casey Burns (Doctor of Dentistry) and Marie Goss (Dental Hygiene);
College of Medicine – Amy Barker, Shreenath Bishu, Kwanza Devlin, Justin Endo, Terry Huang, Louis Lin, Oluyemisi Odugbesan, John Park, Nicole Sherman, Monique Tolston and Lucille Woodward (all received doctor of medicine degrees);
College of Nursing – LaTasha Berks, Yashica Crumpton, Stacy Knapp, Tessa Nowlin, Titilola Obafunwa, Auriestela Southerland and April Williams;
College of Pharmacy – William Davis, Jason Jokerst, Tim Logan and Phuong Nguyen; and
Graduate College – Hope Jackson-Konnath (Masters in Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner) and Sarah Webber (Ph.D).