2019 Commencement for Trinity School of Medicine Graduates

 On Saturday, June 1, 2019, Trinity School of Medicine held its 2019 commencement ceremony at the historic Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA.  Forty-five graduates walked across the stage to receive their M.D. diplomas in the stirring ceremony. 

Trinity School of Medicine’s 2019 Commencement Ceremony

This graduation day marked the 7th commencement ceremony since the school’s inaugural class in 2008. The graduating class, along with their family and friends, were welcomed into the landmark theatre by their professors, academic leaders and advisers, and Trinity’s administration staff.

The 2019 commencement ceremony began with a processional of our graduating class making their way to their seats in the ballroom.  The audience stood for the national anthems of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the United States of America, followed by the invocation presented by Dr. Daniel P. Eller of Atlanta.Once the prayer concluded, Trinity School of Medicine President Steven R. Wilson delivered opening remarks. Thanking everyone for coming together for this very important milestone in the lives of the graduates and their families, President Wilson recognized the commitment, dedication and success of all of the graduates during their four-year journey at Trinity. Following President Wilson were speeches by Dr. W. Douglas Skelton, Chancellor of the University, Dr. Linda R. Adkison, Dean of the School of Medicine, and Dr.  J. Patrick O’Neal, the keynote speaker.

Dr. O’Neal is an accomplished physician, Director of Health Protection for the Georgia Department of Public Health, and the 2018 recipient of the Sellers-McCroan Award for his influence on epidemiology and laboratory services. During his speech, Dr. O’Neal noted the connection between public health and specialty fields of medicine. Describing them as “intersections,” he pointed out that public health facilitates policies to protect citizens, and that all physicians should take into account a patient’s social determinants to better their patient’s health outcome and grow as doctors of medicine.

"The passion for medicine is extraordinary, and society is better for it."                                                                                            - J. Patrick O’Neal, M.D.

Dean Adkison welcomed the families and friends of graduates and announced the conferral of degrees. Dr. Frances Jack-Edwards, Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs, then made her way to the stage to introduce each degree candidate as they were individually recognized in the traditional medical school hooding ceremony.  Dr. Jamil Ibrahim, Assistant Professor of Medicine, and  Dr. Cornelious Musara, Clinical Chair and Associate Professor of Surgery, assisted with hooding.

After all candidates were hooded and presented with their diplomas, the Oath of Geneva was delivered by Dr. Marc T. Zubrow, Senior Associate Dean of Clinical Clerkships. This oath is recited by all medical school graduates, who vow to uphold the integrity and ethical practice of medicine.  Once the oath was sworn, our graduates were no longer degree candidates, but medical doctors ready to embark on their careers in medicine.

Dr. Eller closed the commencement ceremony with the benediction prayer, which was followed with the recessional and a reception in the grand salon.  There the newly minted doctors, families, friends, faculty and administrators mingled, celebrated and discussed post-graduation plans, including preparation for residencies and the memories they take with them from their time at Trinity.

‍Another Successful Graduating Class at Trinity

‍Our 2019 graduates are going places. Thirty-nine prestigious medical institutions across the U.S. to be exact, and they will be heading into the following fields of medicine to complete their residencies:

1. Anesthesiology
2. Family Medicine
3. Internal Medicine
4. OB-GYN
5. Pediatrics
6. Psychiatry
7. Surgery

With more than a decade of producing exceptional doctors under our belt, Trinity School of Medicine continues its mission of training and instilling in Trinity graduates a mission of service to the health and welfare of the communities they will serve.

See what the 2019 Trinity School of Medicine graduating class has to say about their time spent at Trinity in our commencement video above.