106th School of Medicine Commencement Recognizes 201 Students

Photography by Mark Stehle, Mark Stehle Photography

Four years ago, more than 200 students came to North Broad Street to earn a degree at the School of Medicine. They arrived with dreams: to save people’s lives, make scientific discoveries, and improve the health care system. On May 23, at the School of Medicine’s commencement at the Academy of Music, these hopeful students became graduates who had become well-equipped to pursue those dreams. 

The commencement recognized the achievements of 201 students who were awarded degrees: 173 students earned the doctor of medicine degree; 5 earned a dual doctor of medicine and doctor of philosophy degree; 20 earned the doctor of philosophy degree; and 3 earned the master of science degree.

Organist John Binsfeld provided a prelude and the processional and recessional music.  The Transplantations, the medical student a cappella group,  sang the national anthem. Executive Associate Dean Richard Kozera served as Master of Ceremonies.   

Dean John Daly addressed the diverse audience of students, faculty, staff, family members and friends.  He recognized the students’ achievements, and the importance of positive personal relationships to their success.

“These graduates’ hard work and study have made them well-prepared to enter the next phase of their careers,” he said. “And their success is due in considerable measure to the support of family and friends. You have helped develop their talents to the fullest extent.”

Darrell Kirch, MD,  President and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges, served as the commencement’s keynote speaker. He encouraged the graduates to “See the World through New Eyes,” the eyes of those who would, at some point in their lives, come to rely upon the current and future medical and scientific expertise gained by the graduates.

“Soon, you’re going to have initials after your name,” he said. “When that happens, are you going to look at patients through your new expert eyes, or will you retain the ability to know what it’s like to be a patient?” He asked the graduates to cling tenaciously to their values. “Never forget the personal statement that you wrote for your application to medical school, because it is that idealism that will lead you to make the right decisions.”

Joseph Gwiszcz, president of the Class of 2008, echoed Kirch’s sentiments.

“I challenge you to remember the way that you felt the day before medical school started, when you were filled with an idealistic vision,” he said. “You have all proven yourselves in the world of academia; now prove yourselves in the world of humanity.”

Jenny Chiang, editor of the 2008 yearbook, Skull, presented its dedicatee, Gerald Sterling, PhD,  Associate Dean for Medical Education and Professor of Pharmacology.

“He was always there when we needed guidance,” Chiang said about Sterling. “His willingness to listen to us truly brought together the Temple community.”

In his acceptance, Dr. Sterling summed up the commencement’s theme of talent, hard work and the constant pursuit of excellence.

“This class set a very high bar for all following classes – they had remarkable levels of performance,” he said. “But I was reminded of how truly great a Temple education is when my mother was in the hospital this year, and all of her doctors were Temple graduates. It confirmed for me that a Temple physician is simply the best. The Class of 2008 is now a part of that great tradition.”

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By Holly Otterbein for Temple University School of Medicine

May 27, 2008