Graduates Inspired to Find Joy, Embrace Challenges at 112th Commencement
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无码群交 of Medicine and Science celebrated its 112th Commencement on May 29 at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago, conferring 594 graduate degrees in numerous health professions and biomedical sciences programs across the university’s six colleges and schools.
Family and friends of the graduates joined RFU faculty and staff in celebrating the Class of 2026, who will soon embark on new jobs, residency training or other post-graduate education. RFU President Aron Sousa, MD, acknowledged the commitment and sacrifice required to pursue careers in healthcare and scientific discovery, reminding graduates to care for themselves as they care for others and to find the joy in their chosen work.
“Health and science education is a huge amount of work. ... This can be draining, tiring, exhilarating, occasionally terrifying and, hopefully at least as often, joyous,” Dr. Sousa said. “The graduates here in front of me have faced those terrors, and hopefully, they have seen some of the joy that comes from our disciplines. It is a great honor to be entrusted with someone’s health.”
RFU conferred the doctor of humane letters degree on keynote speaker Teresa K. Woodruff, PhD, president emerita of Michigan State University and a National Medal of Science recipient, making her a member of the Class of 2026. She shared the three “ingredients” essential to her work as a pioneer in the field of oncofertility: create opportunities in challenges, build teams that accelerate the pace of work, and maintain optimism even when problems seem intractable.
“Treatment for cancer can be life-preserving but fertility-threatening,” Dr. Woodruff said. “We coined the term ‘oncofertility’ to ensure both oncologists and fertility specialists see themselves as part of what was originally an intractable problem. … In our new field, the news for cancer patients is better than ever. When oncologists and fertility scientists and clinicians work together, patients’ needs are met, and we can change what is a devastating diagnosis into a series of life-affirming interventions.
“As 无码群交 graduates, you are equipped to tackle the seemingly intractable problems of our day. We are counting on each of you to be the thought leaders and doers of the 21st century.”
Student speaker Dyamond Caples, PharmD ’26, was awarded a degree by the College of Pharmacy. She reflected on the tenacity and perseverance that brought the Class of 2026 together at RFU, emphatically telling them: “We belong here!”
“Looking at all of you brings me so much pride and joy, because our confidence to apply to a prestigious university, commitment to enhance our education and willpower to push every day landed us in a position to not only thrive, but to rise and stand on our own as trusted healthcare professionals and biomedical scientists.”