As universities across the nation bid farewell to the graduates of 2009, the Military Health System was proudly represented at recent commencement ceremonies, showing that giving back to the community and education can be as simple as passing along a few words of encouragement to graduates.
Col. (Dr.) Bob Ireland, program director for mental health policy, office of assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, returned to his alma mater the University of South Carolina School of Medicine to present the commencement address to the graduating class of 2009. Ireland, who graduated from USC in 1985, spoke about the shifts in physician roles facing the class of 2009, resistance to such roles, and the potential resolutions. He concluded his speech with inspiring words from renowned Canadian physician William Osler, highlighting the importance of physicians being remembered as those who love humanity and science, and also for the physicians to include themselves in the humanity for which they care.
Ireland was later recognized by the president of USC and the dean of the medical school for his extensive accomplishments across multiple professions, at a special dinner following the ceremony.
Maj. Hassan Zahwa, chief, Ancillaries Integration and Federal HealthCare Centers Information Management, office of the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, served as the guest student speaker at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center commencement ceremony held this May.
Focusing on his early days as a student, Zahwa offered a story about how perseverance helped him reach the academic and career goals he set for himself. Most important, he offered the new graduates these words of motivation and encouragement:
“You are leaving this elite University with tools to ensure your success in the next challenge in life. Here at Penn State, you learned from the best, worked with the best, and produced your best work. We step out of this auditorium and into this world as graduates and, more importantly, representatives of Penn State University, we must always remember and say with pride, ‘We are...Penn State.’”
Zahwa graduated last year with a Doctorate of Philosophy in cell and molecular biology, and during his recent return to Penn State Hershey, he was also honored with this year’s Kreider award for his academic accomplishments and outstanding achievements following graduation.