NIH staff, family and friends honored 82 physicians, surgeons and dentists who completed their training across 38 residencies and fellowships at the Clinical Center during the second annual Graduate Medical Education graduation ceremony on June 6 in Masur Auditorium.
In opening remarks, NIH Clinical Center Acting CEO Pius Aiyelawo said he was delighted to celebrate “our graduates.”
“Their dedication, resilience, commitment and contributions to biomedical research and patient care is truly, truly exceptional,” he said. “For that, we’re very appreciative.”
NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya also delivered remarks. In a prerecorded video, Bhattacharya said NIH was an ideal place to train and that the institution was committed to training the next generation of clinician scientist.
“We hope both [groups of] graduates today will continue to be ambassadors for the value of training at the NIH Clinical Center and the importance of the NIH mission: turning scientific discovery into health for all,” he said. “We want to sincerely thank you for your service to that mission and your incredible contributions to the health of the global community.”
Dr. Theo Heller, a senior investigator in the Translational Hepatology Section of the Liver Diseases Branch of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, delivered the ceremony’s keynote speech. The esteemed researcher and educator reflected on the lessons learned from patients and the importance of living a life that contributes to others.
“We are so fortunate,” Heller said. “It’s built into our profession, it’s inherent in what we do every day—the opportunity to touch others in the most profound ways.” Offering parting words of wisdom, he urged graduates to do good. “Do it in your own way, but do good,” he said. “Do something that matters. Don’t get distracted by the negative. Don’t let anything stop you.”
Dr. Dilara Akbulut, a graduating resident of the Anatomic Pathology Program at the National Cancer Institutes, delivered the ceremony’s trainee address. Akbulut thanked her mentors. “Thank you all, professionally and personally. You are true role models and I hope to follow in your footsteps.”
Akbulut said her training experience at NIH far exceeded her expectations. “I’ve never been in a workplace where everyone cares so deeply and gives 100 percent every day.”
The event marked the second year that graduates were honored in a single, campus-wide ceremony. The expanded celebration was an idea championed by Medical Education Executive Director Dr. Joyce Chung and others to foster a greater sense of community among trainees.
“The turnout was incredible,” Chung said, noting the standing-room-only crowd at Masur Auditorium during this year’s event. “Having the ceremony at the NIH CC allowed families and friends to tour campus … and better appreciate the special nature of the Clinical Center,” she added.
Chung said Aiyelawo deserves special thanks for sponsoring the event, as does the staff in the Office of Clinical Research Training and Medical Education for their support.
—Sean Markey
Watch the graduation on NIH Videocast.