Congrats class of 1T6!
A jam-packed convocation day filled with words of wisdom, immense pride, a few laughs, and a few tears, welcomed the class of 1T6 to the profession of Doctor.
The day began with a pre-convocation ceremony attended by graduates and their family, friends as well as faculty and staff. As Master of Ceremonies for the day, Dr. Jay Rosenfield, Vice Dean of the MD Program recognized all attendees for having a role in bringing the significant day to fruition and led the class in the MD Graduation Oath.
The class-selected speaker, Dr. Dante Morra, Chief of Staff at Trillium Health Partners and Associate professor in the U of T Faculty of Medicine offered a clear and simple message to the graduating class – give it your all, but never lose sight of the bigger picture. “Fight for every inch and compete for the good of us all,” concluded Dr. Morra following a personal story that sparked a few tears in the audience.
Valedictorian Louai Musa remarked on the classes’ outstanding diversity and all they accomplished over their four years together. “We have all had meaningful encounters over the last four years that have touched us, and shaped us,” said Musa of the instrumental role that patients played in the classes’ medical education. Musa’s inspirational address implored his fellow classmates to continue advocating and making a difference.
“Over the course of our time in medical school, we asked ourselves many questions:
What kind of Doctor do I want to be? Can I really study all this material? What’s the diagnosis? How can we do better? But there are some questions that are too important not be asked,” he said. He began his address with one of those questions: “What are you going to do with what you’ve been given?”
Dean Trevor Young concluded by dismissing the class and encouraging the new doctors as they take on the new challenge of residency. “Our patients and our communities are counting on us, and I know you are up to the challenge,” said Dean Young.
Following a reception, the newly graduated doctors received their diplomas and were treated to an address by Profession Graham L. Collingridge, Professor and Ernest B. and Leonard B. Smith Chair, Department of Physiology at U of T.
