Vincentians graduate from Trinity School of Medicine

Twenty-six students of Trinity School of Medicine, situated at Ratho Mill, participated in the institution’s Fifth Term Student Clinician Ceremony on Tuesday, August, 19th at the school. Three Vincentians, Glenor Black, Tenneille Da Silva, and Delana Peters, participated in this ceremony.{{more}}

In the midst of mixed emotions, Leighton Elliot stood at the lectern and gave a speech which further drew on the emotions of his classmates and others present. He began by saying that Trinity had given each one of them a special chance. He was adamant that although they will separate as they move on to the next phase in their careers, the experiences that Trinity afforded them had created an inseparable bond. “We will continue on this journey as one. We will continue to stay shoulder to shoulder, as we have done in these lecture halls, although we will be scattered in different states in the US,” he said.

Informing his colleagues that “tonight is about celebrating our class,” Elliot went on to call each by name and to highlight each one’s special attributes that had contributed to that individual’s success and that of the group. It was at this point that the emotions went to a height. Everyone cheered, laughed, cajoled, and gave special commendations. Elliot thanked faculty and staff, reminding them that “We started this journey as strangers, but we will continue as friends!”

Keynote speaker at the ceremony, Dr Bernadette Scott, clinical tutor, began by telling the students that she remembered herself at that same point in her career. She said that she had been a student at St George’s University in Grenada when Hurricane Ivan had struck. She recounted some of her experiences, stating that at one point she had to hold the hands of others in the same storm in order to make it through. “You may not have gone through that, but you would have gone through your metaphorical hurricane,” she told them. “You could claim your own hurricane. You have held hands through the gusty winds at Trinity and have made it.”

Dr Scott stated that that class in particular had given her a very unique experience, and concluded by quoting Edgar Albert Guest’s poem, “Equipment”, which began with the encouragement, “Figure it out for yourself, my lad, You’ve all that the greatest of men have had” and ended with the profound words, “With your equipment they all began. Get hold of yourself, and say: ‘I can’.”

Students were presented with their Professionalism Pins by Dr Frances Jack and Dr Conrad Nedd, assistant professor of Clinical Medicine and clinical preceptor. Student Janelle Hadley then solemnly said the words of the Gold Foundation Humanism Oath. Student Zach Curtis made the presentation of the Student Government Association Awards Most Outstanding Fifth Termers, Best Pre-Med Faculty; Best Term 1 and 2 Faculty; Best Term 3 and 4 Faculty; Best Term 5 Faculty and Best Supportive Staff.

Dr Andreas Reymann, senior associate dean for Academic Affairs and Evaluations, and professor of Pharmacology, presented the Faculty awards for Best Results in Basic Sciences; Best Results in the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) examination; Future Physician Award and the White Coat Award.

The students will now move on to write the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1, and then will for the next five terms do clinical rotations. After these, they will theyn sit the USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills and Clinical Knowledge, for permission to practise as a resident in the United States.