On the morning of Tuesday, May 28, McGill University kicked-off its 2019 Convocation period with the Health Sciences ceremony, held under the tent on lower campus. In addition to the graduates hearing their names called as they crossed the stage to receive their hard-earned diplomas, several awards were handed out during the ceremony, including the Osler Award for Outstanding Teaching in the Faculty of Medicine, which went to Dr. Nicole Ventura, Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology and the David Thomson Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching & Supervision, which was awarded to Dr. Chantal Autexier, Professor in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology.

Dr. Alfred Sommer, a prominent ophthalmologist, epidemiologist, and Dean Emeritus at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, was conferred with an honorary doctorate and delivered the Convocation Address. The valediction was delivered by Dr. Brian Tran, an MDCM graduate and President of the MDCM Class of 2019.

Convocation offered the graduating students an opportunity to reflect on their McGill experience. “It’s a lot about growth,” says the newly-minted Dr. Tran, who will be staying at McGill to complete his residency in anesthesiology. “The degree itself and the program we got it from is conducive to growth personally and professionally. It was a great opportunity to meet some of the best people I’ve ever met. Bonds have been built and lasting friendships.

Jessica Alvarez, who received her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and is currently working at the Richardson Hospital says that she loved her experience at McGill. “All of my professors were very knowledgeable and people were friendly.”

For nursing graduates, a common theme was inspiration. “McGill has been inspirational for the building of my life,” says Ryan Hendrick, who received his Bachelor’s of Nursing and is now working in the Emergency Department at the McGill University Health Centre. “McGill for me has been a life-changing event,” adds fellow Bachelor of Nursing graduate Jamie-Lee Potter. “I definitely want to come back for any future studies.”

“McGill is hard work, it’s dedication to excellence,” notes Catherine Habel, who received her Graduate Diploma in Nursing and is now at the St. Mary’s Hospital Center working as a nurse practitioner candidate. “But it’s also a family that I can come back to.”

Congratulations to all of our graduates!

Related coverage

Q & A with Dr. Nichole Austin, 2019 Governor General’s Medal
Spring Convocation 2019: Q & A with Award-Winning Nursing Graduates
Convocation 2019 at McGill’s School of Physical & Occupational Therapy
Reflections from the MDCM Class of 2019
And they’re off! Health Sciences kicks off Spring 2019 Convocation (photo gallery of the event on the McGill Reporter)
Photos : Owen Egan

May 31 2019