UF Medicine graduate programs celebrate spring commencement
Graduates will pursue careers in medical research and other vocations to advance health
May 8, 2024 — With only about 14% of Americans holding a graduate or professional degree as of 2021, completing a graduate program is a significant accomplishment requiring diligence and determination.
At the University of Florida College of Medicine, 160 students who completed master’s degrees in medical sciences or doctoral degrees in spring 2024 represent a resilient group of future leaders in health and research.
David C. Bloom, Ph.D., director of the Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences and interim associate dean for graduate education at the College of Medicine, acknowledged the determination of these students to complete their degrees during spring commencement celebrations held May 2 on UF’s campus.
“Your accomplishments are a testament to the wonderful faculty here and the great students who take advantage of the opportunities our programs have to offer,” Bloom said. “We are very excited to see where your studies take you and congratulate you all.”
UF President Ben Sasse, Ph.D., speaks with spring 2024 doctoral graduates at the College of Medicine.
Phinally Done
The College of Medicine’s spring 2024 doctoral graduates celebrated their achievements in an intimate event at the George T. Harrell, M.D., Medical Education Building Thursday afternoon following the UF-wide commencement. The 25 members of the graduating class come from all over the world, having grown up in countries like Spain, Ecuador, Syria, and St. Lucia. The new Gator Ph.D.s will now be heading everywhere from Atlanta and Boston to China and New Zealand, where they will apply their research prowess to make an impact in medicine and biomedical science.
UF President Ben Sasse, Ph.D., visited the Harrell Medical Education Building to congratulate the graduates, noting that even though their time learning at the university may be over, the connections and communities they’ve built will have a lasting impact in Gainesville, the state of Florida, and beyond.
“You have big opportunities for service in health and AI that will help us advance the future,” he said. “You’ll forever be part of the Gator Nation.”
Jennifer Hunt, M.D., M.Ed., interim dean of the College of Medicine, spoke to the graduates shortly after commencement to recognize the dual nature of this exciting milestone and the bittersweet feelings of moving onto a new chapter of life.
“There’s a little twinge of sadness because it seems like there’s so much finality to it, and it is, after all, the end of your time as students,” she said. “When my students cross the stage, I catch myself with this little bit of anticipation, thinking about the last time I’ll see them at those desks. We know when you walked across the stage, you were filled with a different kind of anticipation, one of excitement about looking at an uncharted future and launching the next phase of your life.”
Sadeem Qdaisat, Ph.D. ’24, who completed his graduate studies in the genetics and genomics concentration under the mentorship of Elias Sayour, M.D., Ph.D., spent the past several years researching immunotherapy methods to treat pediatric brain cancer patients. He will soon begin a clinical fellowship with the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics at Harvard University, where he will build upon his studies at UF to continue research on the development of alternative cancer treatments to chemotherapy.
“What I love about UF is that I’ve been able to collaborate with people from all over the world while researching here, and from many disciplines, from vet medicine to aerospace engineering,” Qdaisat said.
Masters of their domain
During a recognition ceremony held Thursday evening at the UF/IFAS Extension Straughn Professional Development Center for the 135 members of the class of 2024 who earned master’s degrees from the College of Medicine this spring, graduates and their families celebrated years of hard work.
Many of the graduates aspire to become doctors, dentists and medical researchers, and several worked full time while pursuing their degrees. By completing a Master of Science in Medical Sciences degree in one of the College of Medicine’s 13 concentrations, they are setting themselves up with the medical and scientific knowledge needed for successful careers in their fields.
Skylar Scott, M.S. ’24, completed her studies in the medical physiology and pharmacology concentration this spring, attending classes online from her home state of Texas. After completing her undergraduate degree, she decided to enroll in a master’s program at the College of Medicine to build her skills and experience with medicine-related classes. Scott plans to apply to medical school, with hopes of specializing in neurosurgery and researching Parkinson’s disease.
“I wasn’t sure how effective an online program could be for me, but it really opened up doors and gave me experience with things I was missing from my undergrad studies,” she said.
Riley Yates, M.S. ’24, who completed her studies in the forensic medicine concentration, intends to put the skills she learned from her degree to work in the criminal justice field.
“The professors here have been really helpful and supportive, which was important to me since I was working full time while getting my degree,” Yates said.
Lerah Sutton, Ph.D., the program director for forensic medicine and a coordinator for the college’s graduation ceremonies, congratulated the spring graduates at a recognition ceremony ahead of commencement.
“The completion of your master’s degree is … a testimony to your hard work, your perseverance and your dedication to your goals,” she said. “Undoubtedly, you have faced challenges throughout the process. By overcoming those challenges, you’ve demonstrated your steadfastness and commitment to academic excellence. As you go forward in your futures and your careers, remember that every challenge you face is an opportunity for growth. Never give up your thirst for knowledge or your love for learning. It will bring you to great heights.”
