Jasmine Marcelin, MD, assistant professor of internal medicine, looked out upon the 133 assembled degree candidates May 6 at the College of Medicine’s annual honors convocation, and …
No, wait, actually, she didn’t. Dr. Marcelin, the event’s keynote speaker, took to the podium only to find that the soon-to-be graduates were seated behind her.
It was just one of several elements in her address that did not go according to plan. She thought about singing an ode to new doctors to the tune of "Dear Theodosia" from Hamilton. But, "I definitely chickened out," she said.
See a photo album by Kent Sievers with images from the event.
She’d re-written her speech again and again, but the words wouldn’t work as she wanted them to.
"Nothing was perfect enough to send you out on your journeys," she said.
But, turns out, something was. Dr. Marcelin’s message to the College of Medicine Class of 2022 was to "stick to the mission," rather than sticking to a plan.
"Stick to the mission," she said. "Plans may change or fail but stick to the mission and you will still get to where you need to be. Remember why you care about patients. Remember why you are wearing this hood and what you want for yourself.
"Stick to the mission."
This class already has shown the capacity to do so.
"The Class of 2022 was the first to endure the brunt of the ravages of the pandemic on their medical education," said Wendy Grant, MD, professor of surgery, and associate dean for student affairs in the college.
"They rebounded by giving to the community and then excelling in their required clinical rotations. While it is not fair that these students had to adjust, they did," Dr. Grant said.
"They grew together and supported each other, and I believe will change the world. Resilience comes from hard times. This class is resilient. This class also has been generous in their mentorship of the classes that are following them.
"From the College of Medicine leadership, we applaud this incredible group of strong now-doctors," Dr. Grant said.
In addition to the traditional hooding by mentors, the convocation included numerous student honors and the awarding of the Hirschmann Prize for Teaching Excellence to Amy Canella, MD, professor of rheumatology, and Keely Cassidy, PhD, assistant professor of genetics, cell biology and anatomy.
Dr. Marcelin told her own story of seeing her plans fall apart, only to find herself in her mission. And she sent the class on its way with this:
"If you stick to the mission, I promise you, you will have more days of joy than days of weariness. You will have more sunshine than clouds. And someday, you’ll blow us all away."