The School of Medicine held its Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 22 at Bartow Arena. Selwyn M. Vickers, M.D., FACS, senior vice president for Medicine and dean of the School of Medicine, welcomed the 182 graduates and their families to the 2021 ceremony.
“These students being hooded today stand out for their resilience, their grit, their innovation and their commitment to the good of all,” Vickers said.
Daniel Sarraf, M.D., addressed the graduates as their class president. He recounted their trials and tribulations as younger medical students, but concluded his speech saying, “I’m confident every one of us is ready to take this step. And with that, let’s get out there and make the world a better place.”
Rep. Terri A. Sewell, U.S. congresswoman for Alabama’s 7th district, gave the Commencement address. She encouraged the grads to use their resources to help all people, but particularly those who are underserved. She discussed witnessing firsthand the need for equitable health care growing up in Selma, and noted that health disparities have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the ceremony, Craig J. Hoesley, M.D., senior associate dean for Medical Education, presented the schoolwide awards. Meredith Thomley, M.D., received the Hugh J. Dempsey Award, which is given to the student with the highest overall academic achievement over the four-year course of medical school.
Taylor Bono, M.D., a 2021 graduate, and Britney Corey, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Surgery and director of the General Surgery Residency Program, were presented with the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Awards. Sponsored by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, these honors are given each year to a graduating student and faculty member in recognition of their value of humanism in the delivery of care to patients and their families.
Alicia Williams, M.D., received the Medical Alumni Association Leadership and Community Service Award, presented by MAA President Michael Bivins, M.D.
Vickers also presented the inaugural Will Ferniany Academic Medicine Leadership Award, which will be presented annually to a health system leader who best demonstrates ongoing commitment to the academic mission. The honor this year was presented to its namesake, Will Ferniany, Ph.D., CEO of the UAB/Ascension St. Vincent’s Alliance, who will retire at the end of the year after 13 years at the helm of the UAB Health System.
The ceremony concluded with the hooding of the graduates and a group reading of the Hippocratic Oath. A Military Promotion Ceremony was held earlier Saturday morning to honor and celebrate graduates who will enter military training programs.
In addition to the schoolwide Commencement ceremony, each of the four regional campuses—Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery and Huntsville—hosted a virtual award ceremony to celebrate campus-specific honors. See all the award winners in the 2021 Commencement program online.
Watch a recording of the Commencement livestream on the School of Medicine website.