Graduation Marks Beginning of Careers to Advance Health Worldwide
2014 Grads Answer the Question: What is the Most Surprising Thing You Learned at UCSF?
For members of the Class of 2014, years of hard work, training and sacrifice are culminating this month as they graduate from UC San Francisco and embark on their careers in health and science.
About 900 students are earning degrees across the schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy, as well as the Graduate Division and Global Health Sciences.
As the next generation of health leaders moves forward, we asked some of them one last question:
What is the most surprising thing you learned at UCSF?
"How dedicated and committed my professors and mentors at UCSF were to my success. It is amazing just how much they believed in me and encouraged me to achieve beyond the goals I had initially envisioned for myself."
"Going to the first-year prom with three buddies, wearing powder blue tuxes, feeling right at home and totally embraced by 150 new friends. One the most memorable nights of my life."
"My experiences at UCSF have met all my expectations in terms of training. What’s surprising was the wealth of colleagues, mentors and friends I’ve gained in the process, a network of connective support that will certainly be invaluable in the future."
"I've always respected the opinions of experts and seasoned clinicians, but during my time at UCSF, I've also learned an incredible amount from fellow students and novice clinicians. Trainees offer a fresh perspective that's a valuable contribution to the health care team."
"How willing people are to help you out. My PhD would not be possible without the numerous collaborations, and countless, frequently meandering, discussions with friends, colleagues, or just generally nice people."
Student photos (except of Kanizeh Visram) by Susan Merrell
Carrie Evans, who earned a master's degree from the School of Nursing, brings her children on stage to share in her milestone. School of Nursing Dean David Vlahov, RN, PhD, presents the diploma to her son, as Elizabeth Watkins, vice chancellor for Student Academic Affairs, looks on. Photo by Elisabeth Fall
Family Nurse Practitioner students gather for fun group photo after the School of Nursing commencement ceremony. Photo by Elisabeth Fall
Monifa Willis (left) adjusts Maha Alkaid Albqoor's hood before the School of Nursing commencement ceremony. Photo by Elisabeth Fall
Two nursing students peer into the auditorium of Davies Symphony Hall before the June 9 commencement ceremony. Photo by Elisabeth Fall
Friends, family members and UCSF supporters were able to post their congratulations to Graduate Division students on a giant "social media wall" during a reception after the ceremony. Photo by Susan Merrell
Physical Therapy graduate Annemarie Everett (center) gives a high-five to classmate Lauren Friedman at the May 23 commencement ceremony. Photo by Susan Merrell
Helen Byakwaga, PhD, adjusts the hood of her classmate during the Graduate Division commencement ceremony. Photo by Susan Merrell
Elizabeth Watkins, PhD, dean of the Graduate Division, shakes the hand of Martina A. Steurer, MD, graduating with a Master of Advanced Study degree in clinical research at the May 23 commencement ceremony at the Mission Bay Conference Center. Photo by Susan Merrell
Graduate Division commencement speaker Allan Basbaum, PhD, chair of the Department of Anatomy, presented a human brain to illustrate the importance of "plasticity," or the ability to continue learning throughout your life. Photo by Susan Merrell
Divya Thapar joins other new doctors in reciting the Hippocratic Oath at the end of the School of Medicine commencement ceremony. Photo by Elisabeth Fall
Edna Prieto (far left) and Trinidad Solis (second from left) join other School of Medicine grads in reciting the first line of the Hippocratic Oath in their native or family languages. This year Spanish, Tagalog, Haitian/Creole, Farsi, Hindi, Punjabi, Swahili, Cantonese, Mandarin and Yoruba were among those represented. Photo by Elisabeth Fall
School of Medicine Dean and Interim Chancellor Sam Hawgood, MBBS, looks on as graduate Wesley Chin is hooded by his parents on stage. Photo by Elisabeth Fall
School of Medicine graduate Malia Paik-Nicely laughs during opening remarks of the May 16 commencement ceremony. Photo by Elisabeth Fall
From left: School of Medicine graduates Jensara Clay, Eric Seymour, Meron Haile and Ono Nseyo huddle for a selfie before their commencement ceremony on May 16 at Davies Symphony Hall. Click here to read more about Clay and Seymour's journey through medical school as first-generation-to-college students. Photo by Elisabeth Fall
School of Pharmacy graduate Diego Juarez Viveros walks on stage with a special sash decorating his robe. Photo by Elisabeth Fall
Dennis Ankrah has a special handshake with School of Pharmacy Dean B. Joseph Guglielmo after receiving his hood on stage. Photo by Elisabeth Fall
School of Pharmacy graduate Nicha Tantipinichwong listens to speakers during the ceremony. Photo by Elisabeth Fall
Lisa Kroon, PharmD, chair of the Department of Clinical Pharmacy, lines up with other faculty members for the opening processional at Davies Symphony Hall. Photo by Elisabeth Fall
School of Pharmacy graduate Kanizeh Visram captures the moment on her phone as she settles in for a class photo before the May 15 commencement ceremony. Clockwise from top left: Angela Yu, Vanessa Shih, Lena Yoo, Xixi Cheng and Christine Bui (bottom left). Photo by Elisabeth Fall
Yoonyoung Choi, a graduate of the International Dentist Program, hugs a faculty member after being hooded. Photo by David Hand
School of Dentistry Ryan Ray Rabago Dela Cruz (center) shares a laugh with faculty member Stephan Eakle, DDS, after being hooded on stage. Antonio Dias Sanchez (right) is up next. Photo by David Hand
School of Dentistry students stand during the June 5 commencement ceremony. Photo by David Hand
Candace Lee (center) glances at the camera as she and her fellow School of Dentistry graduates gather for a class photo before the June 5 commencement ceremony at Davies Symphony Hall. Photo by David Hand
Stalinjeet Gill, graduating from the International Dentist Program, hangs out with fellow students before the School of Dentistry commencemnt ceremony on June 5. Photo by David Hand
School of Nursing students Brian Zunner and Rachel Rojo pose inside the Davies Symphony Hall auditorium. Photo by Elisabeth Fall