The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai conferred 201 master’s degrees during a ceremony that was held virtually on Friday, June 26, as New York City continued to observe masking and social distance protocols in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Graduate School now has eight master’s degree-granting programs, including its newest, Biomedical Data Science, which graduated its first student.
“Class of 2020, I applaud your passion, your dedication, and your commitment to hard work,” said Marta Filizola, PhD, in greeting the graduates. Dr. Filizola is Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and the Sharon & Frederick A. Klingenstein/Nathan G. Kase, MD Professor of Pharmacological Sciences, and Neuroscience.
Marta Filizola, PhD
“This has, of course, been an academic year with an unusual conclusion. But even in these times, there is much to be grateful for. In a year when the world is filled with uncertainty, I also feel hope because of all of you,” she continued. “You have seen your studies through, and now, when they are greatly needed, you will be applying your new skills in biomedical sciences, in data science and statistics, in genetic counseling and clinical research, in public health and health care leadership, to meet some of the greatest challenges these fields have ever faced. Whether you continue in academia; pursue careers in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, or other industries; or even start your own companies and show the world what it has been missing, I hope you will do it with drive, with discipline, with integrity, and with empathy. The world can use your help.”
Presiding over the ceremony was Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, Director of The Friedman Brain Institute, Dean for Academic and Scientific Affairs, and Nash Family Professor of Neuroscience. In addressing the graduates, he said: “We were caught flat-footed by COVID-19 and should have responded much better early on, but public health and modern medicine have saved the lives of innumerable people—through medical support, antiviral agents, and mitigation efforts—who otherwise would have died. And how impressive and heartening it has been to see the leadership role played by Mount Sinai and our health care heroes on the front lines in these efforts.”
Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD
Still, Dr. Nestler cautioned, “As we continue to focus on containment and treatment, we must also now heed warnings on the impact of contagion on our humanity. We have already seen a dramatic increase in depression, post-traumatic stress, suicide, and drug overdoses, and we all expect that this is the tip of the iceberg of people who are hurting emotionally from the stress and fear of themselves or loved ones getting sick, in addition to the toll of social isolation and severe unemployment. We should also keep the toll of COVID-19 in perspective. Before the pandemic, 70,000 Americans died each year of drug overdoses, and 50,000 from suicides; one might argue that addiction, depression, and suicide have been pandemics for years to which our society has not paid nearly enough attention.”
Dr. Nestler introduced Helena Hansen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Psychiatry at the Grossman School of Medicine at New York University, who gave the Commencement address. Dr. Hansen also was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree for dedicating her “wide-ranging career to studying the intersections of social forces and medicine, identifying opportunities for improving health, and greatly improving access to care for all.”
Helena Hansen, MD, PhD
Dr. Hansen, who began her training at the peak of AIDS activism, challenged the graduates to seek wisdom in new places. “Our turbulent times have placed health inequalities and climate as centerpieces of social justice, at the very center of our society’s future. You, as highly trained scholars and practitioners of public health, are in the eye of the storm,” she said, as she provided the graduates with three principles for positive action. “Look for expertise and leadership from ‘below.’ The power structure of our society will continually belittle the knowledge of those who never had access to college or graduate education. Your job is to go against the grain and redefine knowledge, expertise, and power.”
She continued: “Look up to larger systems for fundamental causes of syndemics and health inequalities—their roots are almost always in policies and institutions. The predictable patterns of overlapping epidemics signal that they are biosocial in nature, that they represent the biological end points of social environmental assaults. Your job will be to continually redefine health problems from problems of individual behaviors to problems of pathological systems. Build communities of practice wherever you go: you will need the affirmation and power of many like-minded people.” Dr. Hansen concluded, “I congratulate you on choosing the eye of the storm for your career, and I look forward to meeting you there.”
Charles Sanky, MPH
Charles Sanky, a dual MD/MPH degree candidate who received a Master of Public Health degree and intends to complete his MD degree in 2021, was the student speaker. “I’d like to talk about muting ourselves,” he began. “It’s something we tend to do out of courtesy on Zoom calls, but we do this in real life, too—stopping ourselves from speaking our truth, taking action, and sharing what we have to offer. Some of us have felt powerless and incapable of meaningfully effecting change without more education, more skills, more experience. ‘If only I get my master’s, then I’ll be able to tackle the big questions. Then, I’ll be able to contribute. Then, I will be heard.’ We muted ourselves instead of realizing that we had a powerful voice all along.”
Mr. Sanky urged the Class of 2020 to not be silent. “Our graduation, this moment, celebrates our ability to raise our voices, to continue in that fight for serving humanity through health care,” he said. “We have the privilege, ability, and the duty to do something more, to push boundaries to reimagine solutions. In this moment, let’s promise ourselves that we will speak up, take action, be creative, and think beyond the structures handed to us. Class of 2020, let’s live our lives off mute.”
