Class of 2011: Moving From Academic World to Clinical Wards

On Thursday, April 2, 2009, the front section of Robbins Auditorium was filled to capacity during the Transition to the Clerkships ceremony held for the Class of 2011. The ceremony recognizes the completion of the students' academic training at the College of Medicine, and their transition to "physicians-in-training" at the start of their third year of medical school. In June, the transition will be complete, as each member of the class is assigned rotations in various departments and disciplines, where they can begin to learn about the practice of medicine.

In his welcoming remarks, Stephen Baum, M.D., senior associate dean for students, talked about the fast-paced atmosphere of the clinical realm and advised"Taking time with a patient can make a difference, even if you're not the most knowledgeable member of the team. He then offered a humorous refresher on the various ways in which a stethoscope can be used.

Juan Robles, Christopher Hawk, Adam Rucker,
Jordanna Platt The keynote speaker for the evening was Albert S. Kuperman, Ph.D., esteemed associate dean for educational affairs, who for more than 30 years has developed and implemented innovations to the academic curriculum that shapes the first two years of the medical students' experience at Einstein. Following an introduction by Nadine Katz, M.D., associate dean for students and member of the Class of 1987, Dr. Kuperman began by saying,"It is with great humility that I, as a medical student watcher, offer my wishes for how you will conduct yourselves in your audacious transition to the clinical phase of your education I feel privileged to be invited to speak to you today as you take your next steps in medicine."

In his presentation, Dr. Kuperman noted the many wishes he had for the Class of 2011 in this transition, including "May the tapestry of your life be woven of the threads of learning as you develop a personalized, self-created medical school in which you become self-educators. May you be surrounded by learning from patients, from teachers, from peers and colleagues, and May you never reach a point where you practice arrogance-based medicine, cannot admit mistakes, are afraid to say "I don't know the answer," or suppress humility.""

He also acknowledged the many challenges ahead, among them the high rate of scientific discovery and development of new technology, maintaining an appropriate balance between the practice of medicine as science and as art, the need to integrate information from varying knowledge domains, and global issues where not only molecular malfunctions and microbial invasions diminish people's physical and mental well-being, but also famine, natural disasters, wars between and genocide within nations, terrorism, ecological and climate change, and the burden of disease imposed by extreme poverty and absence of the most basic human services.

Dr. Kuperman concluded his presentation by noting, "This medical school provides a kaleidoscope of opportunities through which you can develop your wholeness and search for meaning and purpose" These opportunities have the potential to strengthen your moral compass, widen your circle of compassion, and increase your view of the range of services you can offer as physicians. They encourage you to think to be agents of change in medicine " whether it be social change or change through scientific discovery"

Student musicians performing violin concerto He continued, "It matters not whether a student becomes a primary care physician or biomedical scientist, surgeon or psychiatrist, pediatrician or radiologist, geriatrician or cardiologist. There is opportunity for all these practitioners of medicine and science to serve the underserved through direct patient encounters, research, or being catalysts for social change" If every one of you would take responsibility for one small part of any of these ways of improving the health of the people, all the people, you would be, in the words of Mahatma Ghandi, the change you want to see in the world. You would be what you wanted to be when you first thought about applying to medical school, with open minds and open hearts.

The evening event included a special reading by Steven Sparr, M.D., professor of clinical neurology, of his personal essay Ummer, sharing his experience with a mentor on the wards during his own clerkships. Following his reading Dr. Sparr told students, "You're about to go through the most incredible experience of your lives. Write it down. Record it!"

The evening also featured seven violinists all members of the Class of 2011 who performed Karl Jenkins Palladio, arranged by Jennifer Lee. The players included Ms. Lee along with Bret Negro, Kevin Hsu, Michael Berlin, Ardy Davarifar, Jenna DeRovira, and Jessica Lee.

The ceremony concluded with Edward Burns, M.D., executive dean at Einstein and member of the Class of 1976, reciting a selection from the "Oath of Maimonides" and the presentation of gifts from the Alumni Association, with remarks from Harris Goldstein, M.D. (Class of 1980). The ceremony was followed by a formal dinner in Lubin Dining Hall.

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