A distinguished bioethicist and oncologist; a pioneer in the creation and development of integrated, patient-centered health care software; a Nobel Prize-winning neurologist; and an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court were honored at the 46th annual Commencement of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, held Friday, May 8, at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center.
Mount Sinai granted a total of 129 MDs, 20 PhDs, and 94 master’s degrees. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD, Vice Provost for Global Initiatives, the Diane v.S. Levy and Robert M. Levy University Professor, and Chair, Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, University of Pennsylvania, delivered the commencement address to more than 3,000 jubilant faculty, staff, graduates, and their families and friends who filled the hall at Lincoln Center.
Dr. Emanuel received an honorary Doctor of Science degree for his vital leadership in the field of bioethics, on both national and international levels, and delivered the commencement address. In his remarks, Dr. Emanuel asked the graduates to promise they would never forget why they chose to become doctors: “Deep down, you wanted to help people in distress. You wanted to help people improve their health and well-being.”
He emphasized that treating patients must be a team and communal effort that involves far more than a dedication to putting a patient’s well-being first. “To be a professional in the twenty-first century, you have to dedicate yourself to creating a system of care that is constantly rooting out errors and adverse events; measuring, publicizing, and improving quality; and helping patients make hard behavior changes,” he said. “So, if there is anything you remember today, please let it be these two questions: ‘What does it take to create a system that cares for people as well as you do?’ and ‘How can I do my part to create that system?’ Only by keeping those questions at the forefront can you truly be a twenty-first century medical professional—and prove that the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai did the right thing by conferring an MD on you today.”
Honorary degrees also were awarded to:
- Judith R. Faulkner, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Epic Systems, who received an honorary Doctor of Science degree for her contributions to health care information systems and data management, and for creating an integrated, patient-centered electronic medical record platform.
- Stanley B. Prusiner, MD, Director, Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, and Professor, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, who received an honorary Doctor of Science degree for his seminal discovery of prions, a class of proteins that cause neurodegenerative diseases in animals and humans.
- Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, who received a Doctor of Humane Letters degree for her key role in deciding some of the most urgent legal questions of our day—core issues that affect the lives of all Americans.
Addressing the graduates, Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, President for Academic Affairs, Mount Sinai Health System, discussed many of their achievements. “Members of the Class of 2015 have accomplished so much, from conducting groundbreaking research on emerging pathogens, such as Ebola, and investigating new models for studying cancer, to organizing health initiatives in Uganda and Nicaragua,” said Dr. Charney. “I predict that our graduates will provide the leadership needed to move medicine and biomedical science toward a global health care system that provides exceptional health care not only to all Americans, but also to disadvantaged people around the world.”
He added: “My generation of physicians and scientists dreamed of a world where each individual had a fair shot to thrive from infancy into old age. Instead, we have a world where, in many cases, the treatment for the disease is known but the patient does not have access to it. A world where too many of our patients are still dying from cancer, heart disease, and mental illness. A world where many times we know the genes causing disease, but cannot fix them. I know it is in your hearts and minds to pursue great dreams. Stand on the shoulders of our generation so you can turn these promises into reality.”
Kenneth L. Davis, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mount Sinai Health System, encouraged the graduates to carry on Mount Sinai’s heritage and core values. “Mount Sinai’s founders had a dream: that hospitals should take care of everyone regardless of their religious affiliation or their ability to pay,” he told the audience. “Here, at Mount Sinai, we find a place for everyone in our health care system. We operate under the premise that health care is not a privilege that must be earned or purchased. That means anyone who needs health care should receive it. That means people should not have diseases that go untreated because they cannot afford care. That means people should not suffer from conditions that would have been preventable if they could have afforded health care.
“I suspect you agree with the founders of our hospital—that health care should not be denied to those less fortunate. And I suspect that your experiences in the last four years have led you to conclude that enhanced access to care for more Americans is a good thing. I entreat you to preserve those values when you make important decisions about how you practice medicine in the years to come.”
Peter W. May, Chairman, Boards of Trustees, Mount Sinai Health System, said, “As graduates of the Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai’s remarkable legacy of philanthropic and community service is your heritage. I hope that you will keep this heritage central in your lives and in your practice and study of medicine. Draw on the skills and the experiences you have cultivated at Mount Sinai to treat all patients, from all walks of life, with respect and compassion. Seek opportunities to give back, whether locally or globally.” To see a video of Dr. Charney’s commencement address, go to: icahn.mssm.edu/about-us/deans-office/videos.