Illinois Medicine

commencement by Ed Finkel Next Chapter for Class of 2011 Commencement ceremony honors 375 graduates, including 301 MDs T PHOTOS: DIANE SMUTNEY HE LARGEST graduating medical school class in the United States walked across the stage on May 6 at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago and elsewhere around the state. The University of Illinois' College of Medicine Class of 2011 comprised a total of 375 students, including 301 Doctor of Medicine graduates: 184 in Chicago, 45 in Peoria, 43 in Rock- ford and 29 in Urbana. The class also included 41 Doctor of Philosophy de- grees and 33 Master of Science, Mas- ter of Health Professions Education and Master of Public Health degrees. "Class of 2011—congratula- tions! Carpe diem!" said Dean Joseph A. Flaherty '68, MD '71, Res '75. "At long last the big day has come, and not a minute too soon. You've been looking forward to this since kinder- garten—always No. 1 in your class, moving and hurtling head first through grade school, high school and college, bound for medicine. And these last four years will soon seem to have gone so quickly." John Mason, MD '55, chair of the Medical Alumni Council, welcomed the 129th COM class to the ranks of more than 25,000 alumni. "This is a transformational moment," he said. "You entered this university as medical students and will leave this afternoon as doctors. Using the experience and knowledge you gained from the Col- lege of Medicine's world-class educa- tion, it is now your turn to help build healthier communities by providing world-class patient care and thereby transforming and saving lives." Keynote speaker Arnold Relman, MD, told them medicine would provide a path to do well by doing good. "The practice of medicine is a 'win-win' relationship that benefits both parties involved—patient and doctor," he said. "So it is a great privilege to become a physician. But it is a privilege that carries great responsibilities." Class president Bhavna Balaney, MD '11, looked back on all her classmates had accomplished. "Our students have gotten multiple degrees, had their research published, won national awards for their excellence and traveled to Africa and Asia to provide medical care," she recalled. "And they still found time to get engaged, married, have children— sometimes all three!" 16 | SUMMER 2 011

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