For the 220 master’s students who had started—and completed—their academic studies at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai entirely during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was an especially joyful in-person graduation at Stern Auditorium on Tuesday, June 21. This was an event that honored much more than degrees—this was a rousing celebration of the Class of 2022, a highly diverse group of students who displayed fortitude, resilience, and altruism as they worked together to achieve their career goals and to serve the Mount Sinai community during unprecedented times.

Click here to meet five of the graduating master’s students and learn more about their experiences and passions

Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, Dean for Academic Affairs and Chief Scientific Officer for Icahn Mount Sinai, greeted the students and guests, saying that two words come to mind when he thinks of this class—grit and optimism. “Grit expresses the idea that a crucial component of success is a person’s ability to pick a goal and stick with it,” said Dr. Nestler. “Grit is interesting because empirical research has shown that it does not correlate with IQ or standardized test scores. Rather, it more closely maps an individual’s conscientiousness to work hard, with scruples and care, and to adapt to new experiences.”

Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, salutes the graduates’ grit and optimism at Master’s Commencement 2022

Dr. Nestler continued: “Optimism may seem like an ephemeral stance in today’s world,” but it “is especially poignant for today’s graduation because each of your master’s degrees…imbue you with the ability to make the world better.” Dr. Nestler is also Nash Family Professor of Neuroscience and Director of The Friedman Brain Institute.

Marta Filizola, PhD, Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, told graduates: “Class of 2022, as I stand here, I applaud your passion, your dedication, and your commitment to hard work. Your experience at the Graduate School has been like no other…Not only have you witnessed history at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai during the COVID-19 pandemic, you have also helped make history with your extraordinary contributions to biomedical research and volunteer work across the Health System.”

Dr. Filizola added: ”We are proud of the diverse group of talented students graduating today, and, now more than ever, we see a need for that diversity in science and health care…You have seen your studies through and added to your growing abilities, and now, when they are needed most, you will be applying your new skills across biomedical and clinical research, data science, genetic counseling, public health, epidemiology, health administration, and health care leadership. We’ve worked together to prepare you to meet some of the greatest challenges these fields have ever faced, and we know you are ready for them.” Dr. Filizola is also the Sharon & Frederick A. Klingenstein/Nathan G. Kase, MD Professor of Pharmacological Sciences, Professor of Neuroscience, and Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health.

Dean Marta Filizola, PhD, congratulates the graduates at Master’s Commencement 2022

The Commencement address was presented by Torian Easterling, MD, MPH, the first Deputy Commissioner and Chief Equity Officer for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene who was appointed at the height of the pandemic in 2020. Dr. Easterling also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree for a career committed to combatting longstanding complex public health disparities that include violence, maternal health outcomes, and chronic disease.

Dr. Easterling received his Master of Public Health degree from Mount Sinai in 2012 and passionately addressed the graduates. “In my role at the Health Department over the last two and a half years, the more public facing part of my job has been to change people’s minds about vaccines,” he said. “But a more longstanding and behind-the-scenes parts of my work involves changing minds, both inside and outside the agency, around public health itself, around equity and why it matters, around why notions like equality and inclusivity and even diversity are insufficient to eliminate inequity and to make the larger changes we need.”

Torian Easterling, MD, MPH, Deputy Commissioner and Chief Equity Officer, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, is Commencement Speaker and receives an honorary degree at Master’s Commencement 2022

He added: “Around health inequity in particular, good intentions—without rigorous science and data-informed analysis, a clear-eyed understanding of root systemic causes, and a fierce ideology of purpose matched with boldness of vision—are stultifying…When I’m asked to describe the work I do, I can answer in one word—change, and the work of change comes in three main forms: changing minds, changing lives, and changing society.” He asked each graduate to join “in solidarity, resolving to change the systems that imprison far too many of us, and by never settling for good intentions.”

There are 220 graduates from nine programs: Master of Science in Biomedical Data Science (7); Master of Science in Biostatistics (5); Master of Health Administration (29); Master of Science in Health Care Delivery Leadership (11); Master of Science in Clinical Research (23); Master of Science in Biomedical Science (61); Master of Public Health (62); Master of Science in Genetic Counseling (12); and Master of Science in Epidemiology (10), which graduated its first class.

When the time came for graduates to receive their degrees, it was a boisterous audience that joined in the celebration. Beyond the formal handshakes, and smiles and hugs onstage, graduates could count on robust applause of friends and family, and special shouts of congratulations from all reaches of Stern Auditorium. This is the Class of 2022, of whom Dr. Easterling had said in his Commencement address: “You are not burgeoning health leaders. You’ve been health professionals and heroes for quite some time already. How about a huge round of applause for yourselves?”