Kathleen Sebelius, MPA, receives an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Kenneth L. Davis, MD, center, and Dennis S. Charney, MD.
A former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, an influential immunologist, a renowned rheumatologist, and a distinguished social epidemiologist were honored at the 47th annual Commencement of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, held Friday, May 13, at David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center.
The Icahn School of Medicine granted a total of 120 MDs, 37 PhDs, and 22 dual degrees. Two days earlier, the School of Medicine conferred 148 master’s degrees. Kathleen Sebelius, MPA, Chief Executive Officer of Sebelius Resources LLC, delivered the commencement address to more than 3,000 faculty, staff, graduates, and their families and friends who filled the hall.
Ms. Sebelius also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree for her instrumental role in implementing the Affordable Care Act, which provides millions of Americans with access to quality and affordable health care. In her remarks, she described the difficult decisions and risks she took that eventually led to her appointment as the 21st Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Medical students recite a modified version of the Hippocratic Oath.
“The opportunity to succeed won’t ever be harnessed unless you take a leap,” said Ms. Sebelius. “You have to give yourself permission to try and find stretch goals, to find mentors, and to follow a path. You are joining a handful of the best-educated people in the world. So you have a big responsibility to go forth, to do good work, to make a positive difference each and every day—and to give yourself permission to take some risks along the way. Even if you don’t know what’s behind the door, kick it open, because you are capable and you have the opportunity.”
Honorary degrees also were awarded to:
- James P. Allison, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the recipient of the 2015 Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award, who received an honorary Doctor of Science degree for his pioneering research on T-cell regulation, which led to the development of the first drug to improve survival rates for patients with metastatic melanoma.
- Sir Marc Feldmann, MBBS, PhD, AC, FRS, Emeritus Professor, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, and the recipient of the 2003 Albert Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award, who received an honorary Doctor of Science degree for discovering a groundbreaking new treatment for rheumatoid arthritis that has improved the quality of life for millions of patients around the world.
- Camara Phyllis Jones, MD, PhD, MPH, President, American Public Health Association, and Senior Fellow, Satcher Health Leadership Institute and Cardiovascular Research Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, who received an honorary Doctor of Science degree for tirelessly examining the roles of racism and other systems of social inequity on health outcomes and advocating for systemic changes to assure the conditions for optimal health for all people.
Addressing the class on its many accomplishments, Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and President for Academic Affairs, Mount Sinai Health System, said, “The graduates of the Class of 2016 have the creativity and intelligence to discover cures for our most serious diseases, and I am sure they have the motivation to develop and participate in new models of health care designed to reduce inequities of the underserved.” He added: “I ask you to join your alma mater in making a commitment to embrace diversity as it relates to medical education, scientific research, and the delivery of clinical care. There is growing evidence that this is the key to breakthrough science. When science is inclusive, everybody wins. Long underserved communities are finally heard and helped. I want you to lead the charge as advocates and activists to eliminate bias and health inequities in your local communities and around the world.”
New graduates Yukie Takabatake, PhD, left, and Jacqueline Hairston, MD
Kenneth L. Davis, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mount Sinai Health System, likened today’s advances in biological science to the revolution in physics some 100 years ago that dramatically changed our understanding of the world and led to great scientific achievements. “You’re entering the medical profession during a time of revolution in biology, which is giving us unprecedented insight into many diseases,” he said. “This insight will change the world in ways that none of us can yet imagine. This is an exciting time to enter into the practice of medicine. You will be part of a golden era of biological science that’s going to have enormous benefits. In your lifetimes, our ability to treat the most devastating diseases will be utterly transformed.”
Peter W. May, Chairman, Boards of Trustees, Mount Sinai Health System, told graduates: “You are stepping into roles as leaders at the forefront of health care, and you could not be doing so at a more profoundly exciting moment. The promise of genomics and bioinformatics will bear fruit over the next decade. And while there may be growing pains as our health care system grapples with the transition to a population health paradigm, in the long run our patients and communities will be healthier and better cared for. I encourage you to seize these opportunities. You need only harness the creativity and compassion that you have honed during your training here at Mount Sinai.”