The future begins now
The UF College of Medicine class of 2018 receives medical degrees during annual commencement ceremony May 19
May 24, 2018 — When Cindy Medina Pabon, M.D. ’18, took the stage at Saturday’s commencement ceremony, she delivered a message beyond congratulating her classmates. She invited them to think critically about the responsibilities and possibilities that accompany their new roles as physicians.
The student Hippocratic Award recipient and future internal medicine resident at Duke University School of Medicine recounted her experiences treating patients at the Equal Access Clinic Network. She recalled treating a woman of undocumented immigrant status whose fear of deportation made her initially unwilling to disclose the truth of her home life. Pabon watched as the clinic’s physician gained the patient’s trust.
“I realized the practice of medicine is a deeply personal and human experience. It’s a place where people of all backgrounds come together to share their dreams, hopes and fears in search of a better future,” Pabon said. “We’re not just becoming doctors today. We’re becoming advocates for our patients, acting in ways that can transform the way society views them.”
Student Hippocratic Award winner Cindy Medina Pabon, M.D. '18, addressed her classmates during Saturday's commencement.
Photo by Mindy C. Miller
The 59th annual UF College of Medicine commencement served as a time of reflection and celebration for the 139 students from the class of 2018, who walked across the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts stage to receive ceremonial hoods and certificates. UF College of Medicine Dean Michael L. Good, M.D., welcomed them, their faculty, friends and family and enumerated the class’s accomplishments.
“Over three-fourths of you are headed to residency training at top 50 programs,” Good said. “This is an impressive class. You’re about to become amazing ambassadors for the UF College of Medicine as you travel across the country to prestigious institutions.”
David S. Guzick, M.D., Ph.D., president of UF Health and senior vice president for health affairs at UF, readied the new physicians for what will come next.
From students to physicians
Photos by Mindy C. Miller
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“You’re about to embark on the most fulfilling career imaginable,” Guzick said. “You’re going to build the most important relationships of your lives, not only with colleagues but with patients as you care for them and build their trust.”
Capt. Kimberly Toone, M.D. ’97, provided the ceremony’s keynote address and spoke about blending creativity with technical skill, an art she has honed during her 21-year career in the U.S. Navy.
Saturday's ceremony ended with Patrick Duff, M.D., associate dean for student affairs, leading the new physicians in reciting the Hippocratic Oath and administering the oath of office to the class’s four new military officers. Cordell Hachinsky, M.D. ’18, will soon serve in Fort Benning, Georgia, at the Martin Army Hospital. “The UF College of Medicine prides itself on being a family, and so does the Army,” he said. “That feeling I had during my time here will continue as I serve in the military.”
Photo by Mindy C. Miller
“We’re both scientists and artists. That’s why doctors are the best at problem-solving,” she said.
For Joe Monir and Reesa Lendry, Saturday’s commencement ceremony marked more than the end of their time as medical students. It ushered in a new era for the couple, who will start their life as husband and wife following their wedding this weekend and will begin their residency training at the UF College of Medicine in July.
After the ceremony ended, families gathered around the bubbling fountain for photos and hugs. Monir and Lendry stood with wide smiles in the middle of a large group of loved ones.
“This is the culmination of the last eight years of hard work,” Monir said, “and our wedding is in seven days. It’s an exciting time for us.”
“We’re grateful for everyone who’s helped us along the way,” Lendry said.
