Photo by Scott Kennedy

UCSF alumnus Richard H. Carmona, the Surgeon General of the United States, joined Dean Kessler and the Faculty of the School of Medicine in a time-honored ceremony graduating 135 new doctors last Friday at the Nob Hill Masonic Center in downtown San Francisco.

In their separate speeches, both Carmona and the Dean emphasized the vital necessity for physicians to base their judgment on facts, not on politics, and called on the graduates to be healers and leaders with integrity in a world challenged by divisiveness.

In his welcoming remarks, Dean Kessler addressed the class "as one physician to many" and urged them to consider the patient-physician meeting as "sacrosanct," a place that should not be invaded by the presence of politicians. While they should respect personal beliefs, these should not replace a physicians' professional judgment. "We have faith in your judgment," he told the new doctors.

The Dean then introduced United States Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona. Carmona, a self-professed former "street kid," who stated that he "owed everything I have today … to many of the faculty you see behind me … who took a chance on me." Being a UCSF alumni, he said, was "an enviable title in the global halls of medicine," and that it wouldn't be until they went out into the world that the young physicians before him would appreciate "the extraordinary education" they had received, not only in science, but in diversity and cultural competence. "You can't begin to appreciate the gift you have been given today," he told the class.

Speaking about the perspective afforded to him by his position, Dr. Carmona stated his belief that "all public health today is global health," and he expressed his appreciation for the numerous members of the class that had already been active in world-wide health projects. Naming "asymmetries" in health, wealth and ideologies as root causes of war and terrorism, he urged the graduates to use the "currency of health" to build bridges across divisions. "Never forget the power you have … locally and globally … to achieve not only health but peace and stability," he said, and concluded that a "troubled world needs you to guide them into this new millennium."

As is the tradition, the gravitas of the key note address was followed by a lighter-hearted talk from a member of the graduating class chosen by his peers. In his humorous ode to medical school, Sam Ives described the hardships of studying in San Francisco, "sipping soy frappuccinos during morning lectures and relaxing in the afternoons with glasses of Dry Creek Zinfandel in small group." He evoked the most memorable experiences of his rotations, such as the miracle of birth, "some poor woman … walked around for nine months with this baby, and then all I did was put on some sterile gloves, made sure not to drop the thing, and I got to give her the million dollar present;" and he cited examples of the magnitude of knowledge he gained, including learning "what personality disorders my family members had" during his psychiatry rotation."

Graduates reciting the oath in each's native language
Photo by Harras Zaid

Like the other speakers, Ives marveled about the diversity of the student body, a fact that was demonstrated most eloquently during a later part of the ceremony, when 22 students born into non-native English speaking families recited the first line of the medical oath in 19 different languages, including Russian, Hindi, Armenian, Cantonese, Mandarin, Hebrew, French, Tagalog, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Spanish.

A poignant moment was the formal passing on of the gold-headed cane to the one student judged by classmates and the faculty as best exemplifying the qualities of a "true physician." The gold-headed cane is traditionally handed over by a senior faculty member. In this year's ceremony, it was given by retiring Professor Susan Wall, who received the award in 1978. The recipient was Reid Pierce, who had been nominated along with classmates Damon Francis and Genevieve Preer.

Pierce was warmly congratulated by all, especially Surgeon General Carmona, who was himself the gold-headed cane recipient of the class of 1980.