Over the weekend of May 18, hundreds of the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) graduates crossed the stage in Lisner Auditorium before cheering crowds of friends and families, taking the next step toward their future successes.
Health sciences program students received their diplomas on Saturday, hearing words of wisdom from Reamer L. Bushardt, PharmD, PA-C, senior associate dean for health sciences at SMHS, and many of their fellow graduates. The following day, it was the medical students’ turn, whose keynote speaker, Barbara Lee Bass, MD, RESD ’86, will take over as dean of SMHS in January 2020.
“I know there were times when you felt like this was a tough path you had chosen,” Bass told the graduates. “But be sure, you have chosen a great path for a life’s mission and just passed another great milestone.”
In his charge to the health sciences graduates, Bushardt told them to be responsible for their own learning and personal growth.
“Learn to harness that knowledge and recognize your limitations. Embrace uncertainty and ambiguity in your careers. Serve the community around you; see what’s missing and provide it, see what’s inadequate and provide it, see what works and embrace it,” he said. “Choose the path of leadership, and lead with the character and values you have lived here at GW.”
