Last Sunday, 195 of our graduates walked across the stage of Severance Hall to receive their diplomas and the hood of the MD degree. We allow relatives who are also physicians to hood their family members and this year 47 did so, which if not a record, must be close. In addition, students can ask faculty members who have had profound influences on their development as new physicians to hood them; this year there were an unusually large number of faculty members given this honor.
This year was also a family affair. Appropriate for our 175th Anniversary year, we graduated a direct descendant of our very first dean!
We also graduated the grandson of one of our most prominent alumni, the late Dr. Ted Castele -- the nation's first TV news doctor -- and the daughter of one of this year’s Kaiser Permanente Excellence in Teaching Award winners, Dr. Ted Parran. Quite a few of our graduates this year are the children of faculty members.
Our speaker, Dr. Thomas Boat, dean emeritus of the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, member of the National Academy of Medicine, and this year’s recipient of the Howland Award, the highest honor bestowed by the American Pediatric Society, reminded us of the honor and duty of caring for our children and the vital role of behavioral health in maintaining physical health.
The research achievements of our students were especially impressive. About half the class received honors with distinction in research, and 57 papers have already been published based on their investigations. Every one of our graduating students matched at fine residencies, and all of our hospital affiliates claimed a share of the class of 2018.
We are proud of our students! But we also congratulate our wonderful faculty members who prepared such an outstanding class and salute the families and friends who nurtured them through the process.
Success all around!
Pam
Pamela B. Davis, MD, PhD
Dean, School of Medicine
Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs, Case Western Reserve University
Arline and Curtis Garvin Research Professor
2109 Adelbert Rd. BRB 113
Cleveland OH 44106
Phone 216-368-2825