In June, academic programs around the country returned to in-person graduation events after two years of pandemic-related cancellations. Long honored as the highlight of the academic year, graduation ceremonies are often coupled with resident research presentations, entertaining speakers, and alumni returning to socialize and reconnect. Given the depressing world news that surrounds all of us, graduation festivities are a great reminder of what’s good in our lives: that we remain impassioned about patient care and community health, and that we’re enthusiastic about scientific inquiry and are equally proud of our efforts in teaching, mentoring, and sponsoring the next generation of otolaryngologists.
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July 2022I’ve spent the past 20 years in academia and have had the honor of attending not only my own program’s ceremonies, but also nearly a dozen programs in which I have been invited to be the speaker. It’s one of my favorite things in the world to do. For those of you who haven’t attended a ceremony in a while, let me share some of the wonderful moments I’ve experienced.
The era of mean-spirited resident roasts is long over, replaced by playful speeches bringing out the comedic skills of even the most stoic junior residents—I’ve seen a resident talk for 10 minutes in a pure Christopher Walken imitation. There isn’t a ceremony that doesn’t have a short action movie highlighting the journey to graduation, and I’ve heard everything from rap to beat boxing to a ukulele to celebrate the event. There has been dance, some of it good. But the best moments have been from the heart, in the speeches made by the graduating residents.
My favorite featured a stoic older resident who was clearly the one whom everyone respected. By all accounts, he was an outstanding resident, a great leader and team player, and had excellent clinical skills. Throughout the ceremony, he had been playfully teased about his levelheadedness and ability to be calm under pressure. When it came time for his speech, he showed a few slides about his journey: He was a father of five, had worked in a non-medical industry previously, and had moved his family around the country.
He then showed pictures of his wife when she was a high school student, an outdoor rock climber, a college athlete, and an established professional. He thanked her for not only being a supportive partner but also for everything she had personally sacrificed to make his dream a reality. He ended by saying that, for the rest of his life, he would dedicate himself to making her the priority, as it was time to pay back what she had given him. I get goosebumps whenever I think about that moment.