04-MAY-B-6

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IN GWUMC COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES AT THE OCCASION OF THE HOODING

OF MY MEDICAL STUDENTS,

EACH EXPERIENCED VETERANS OF THE INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL MISSIONS WITH ME

ONE, TWO OR THREE TIMES OVER;

A WONDERFUL CELEBRATION WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILIES AND REUNIONS WITH THE MAGEES

May 16, 2004

What a wonderful celebration! I especially enjoyed meeting the families, each of whom had been primed to meet me by lots of stories and even more pictures form the various missions each of the students had done with me over the four year period. And, some of the students, such as Amy Hayes, of course, preceded medical school itself in her acquaintance with me, which is how she was here to begin with, so it was fun re-living that long and anxious process, from rejected applicant to graduate with distinction in the course of five years and multiple missions. And, then, there is Kevin, super-Mensch! I had a great time meeting the families of all those who had recognized me, and it was a real festival of happy conclusions.

I got up early at Trappe MD, grateful that I had included some of the things I would need for the graduation in the event I could not make it back to Derwood, such as my gowns, caps and capes. I drove in and made it to the office for the copying of several items I had promised the Magees, and packed this material in the box my gown is stored in from the ACS. I then went over with the commencement speaker and Dean Schroth, since I remembered here as a UM pediatrician and an NIH employee before she became the first Hispanic female Surgeon General. She is a real fireplug and is a very forceful speaker, not the kind one would sleep through in any commencement address, which she made clear at the outset after the processional of we the faculty to the platform. I was surprised to see one of my former students and residents Ernie Hannowell take his place on the platform since as part-time faculty he has a son graduating, and I also have his second son as a freshman who will be traveling with me on missions. Norman Isaacson was another old-timer coming up from Florida to hood his (?) grandson, and Jerome Cantor now emeritus hooded his son who was also on the platform. I was honored to have four of my traveling companions from Africa in Malawi (Kevin and Amy) Somaliland (Kevin, Jay and Juan) and Ladakh (Amy, and Kevin) Amy graduated with distinction, and Kevin got the Humanism in Medicine Award voted by his classmates.

I gave each of my “hoodees” the photos of themselves in Africa helping some patient just after I had hooded them. Both Amy and Kevin have their recommendation letters to carry forward with them. Each was met by an ovation. I met every part of several families—Jay’ mother and here husband and his father and his wife. I met the assorted pieces of each family and all had wonderful things to report about the difference the experiences with me had made on the students who had gone on international travels with me. I then met the Magees and their son Trevor who had graduated, and I had snapped a photo of him as he was being hooded. I also got Ernie Hannowell hooding his son—which he may repeat in three years. I saw each of the folk I had seen in Norfolk, including Tom and the Chinese photo team and swapped taking pictures with the being photographed, including the whole Amy Hayes family with her photographer father shooting the pictures.

After the recessional, we went to the reception after the police tried to clear the streets to re-open for traffic outside Lisner and the Smith Center. I am reminded that I am a dues-paying member of the Health and Wellness Center yet have not been there in many months. I went to the reception and had something cold and wet but did not have time to eat as several students and their families came to me saying how much more time they had wished they might have with me. It was a good fun ceremony and party.

I then went to the office and changed to go to the Magee party on “P” Street, and met Cathy’s sister again and talked with a number of the kids in the family who are also doing good work in Anacostia and other parts of the disadvantaged world. One has started an “Operation Fair Chance” and will be working there and a number will be getting gin touch with me, including Bill Magee’s brother Chris an orthopedist at the Washington Adventist Center. Three years ago when Billy graduated, Bill Magee was the commencement speaker and I still have the tape of that event.

After all the hoopla, I drove alone with all the packed up bags still in the vehicle. I went to Diane’s house where my stuff is still residing, but will gradually pull that over to try to re-settle Derwood in the next weeks.

This marks the end of an era, again, and the time for a change to a new group now arriving. I have weathered 36 years since my own medical school graduation and I remember well the rush of something having been accomplished, with yet an overwhelming burden of life and work ahead—the burden being that of other lives rather than the thrill of one’s own life in caring for them.

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