The second annual Deborah Harmon Hines, PhD, Commencement Celebration took place on Friday, May 31. Organized by the UMass Chan chapter of White Coats for Black Lives and the Diversity and Inclusion Office, the event honored graduating UMass Chan Medical School students of color from the T.H. Chan School of Medicine, the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing and the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences by presenting them with Kente and multicultural stoles to wear at the 51st Commencement ceremony on Sunday, June 2.
“I want everyone to know that this is a party and a celebration because these students that we are honoring, they allow the fire inside of them to burn brighter than all the fires around them,” said Marlina Duncan, EdD, vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion.
Three graduating students offered words of reflection from their time at UMass Chan.
“We’ve previously been donned with our white coats, which symbolize purity, compassion and trust. But let us not forget that it also carries a weight of responsibility to advocate for those whose voices have been silenced, to challenge the status quo, and to strive for a world where justice and equality reign supreme,” said DNP student Reginald Sarpong, who reflected on his time working with vulnerable people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Medical student Uchechi Nna reflected on the struggles of imposter syndrome and overcoming it through the practice of radical gratitude.
“I do not only encourage you to practice patience in uncertainty, but to embrace the uncertainty,” Nna said. “When you do this, you’ll find that you live in a world of infinite possibilities. I decided to be extraordinarily grateful for who I am, where I am and the people around me. Because of that, I am no longer waiting to make it because I’ve made it. I’m living my wildest dreams.”
MD/PhD student Tomás Rodriguez thanked mentors and the Diversity and Inclusion Office for positively influencing him and supporting professional development pursuits.
“The important impact that these people have had on my life is they’ve offered structure to any goal that I’ve had outside of my medical student or graduate student responsibilities,” he said.
Faculty and staff in attendance shared their sentiments on the power of the gathering and the leadership of the students honored.
“This event is inclusive and gets us all together to recognize the work that we all do for each other,” said Maria Garcia, MD, MPH, the Dr. Marcellette G. Williams Scholar, professor of medicine and assistant vice provost for diversity and student success.
“I know you’re going to do great things, because you already have, and you will continue to do so. There will be difficult times and times of self-doubt, but remember, you got great training here,” said Alan Acosta, PhD, assistant vice provost for student life and director of positive learning environments.
Dr. Hines, for whom the ceremony is named, presented the Deborah Harmon Hines, PhD, Award to four current students who also exemplify leadership with the passion and fervor she did: DNP student Elizabeth Osa-Agbontaen, medical student Zakiya Carter, MD/PhD student Bethany Berry and medical student Obinnaya Okereke.
