The Katz School of Science and Health conferred 260 master鈥檚 and 18 doctoral degrees and recognized its first M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies graduates at its eighth commencement ceremony on May 16.
During the ceremony in 麻豆区鈥檚 Lamport Auditorium, Dean Paul Russo lauded the graduates as values-driven leaders who stand for truth reflected in their scholarship and practice, champions of a life built on humane values and compassionate practitioners.
鈥淓ach of you brings a unique sense of purpose to the Katz School,鈥 he said. 鈥淵ou are compassionate practitioners who bring your know-how in science, technology and health to transform our world for the better.鈥
A graduating student from each program was recognized for academic excellence. They are: Samuel Akingbade (Ph.D., Mathematics); Ashish Bachuwar (M.S., Data Analytics and Visualization); Sejal Bhutani (M.S., Digital Marketing and Media); Gianaliz Cancel Garcia (M.S., Cybersecurity); Moshe Gordon (M.A., Physics); Rachel Horwitz (M.S., Speech-Language Pathology); Brynna Kaplan (Occupational Therapy Doctorate); Sayanto Pal (M.S., Biotechnology Management and Entrepreneurship); and Sheng-Han Yueh (M.S., Artificial Intelligence).
A special honor was reserved for Aishwarya Rajendra Deshmane. Deshmane, who passed away this spring, was posthumously awarded an M.S. in Data Analytics and Visualization. Rana Khan, director of the M.S. in Biotechnology Management and Entrepreneurship, called her a 鈥渃herished member of the Katz School family and a stellar student.鈥 Deshmane鈥檚 husband, Parth Bhivate, received the diploma on her behalf.
In his student address, Anthony Pagan, who graduated with an M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies, thanked the faculty for their 鈥渨isdom and encouragement鈥 and emphasis on treating the patient, 鈥渘ot just the labs,鈥 which has been a guiding principle in his practice. To his classmates, he said that he was proud to have been part of a 鈥渞emarkable cohort鈥 that participated in groundbreaking research and compassionate patient care.鈥赌&苍产蝉辫;
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鈥淭hrough our education, our training and our commitment, we鈥檝e dedicated ourselves to the proposition that people have inherent dignity and worth,鈥 said Pagan. 鈥淭hat is the challenge before us today as we join the real world.鈥疘n whatever health care or business setting we choose, it will be vitally important to remind ourselves every day that it is our obligation to challenge the status quo denying that dignity.鈥疶o be worthy of the 麻豆区 mission to bring wisdom to life.鈥濃赌&苍产蝉辫;
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Jesus Olivera 鈥22, who holds an M.S. in Data Analytics and Visualization and is president of the Katz School鈥檚 Graduate Alumni Association, credited the Katz School with helping him fulfill a dream that he had when he immigrated from Puerto Rico in 2012. Now an AI engineer at IBM, Olivera鈥 said he wants the alumni association to extend the same welcoming hand to the school鈥檚 newest alumni, whom he encouraged to stay connected.
鈥淥ur vision is simple but powerful,鈥 he said. 鈥淏uild a vibrant and engaged alumni community that continues to support and uplift one another long after we have left these hallowed halls. Because the true measure of our success is not just in what we achieve individually, but in how we lift others as we rise.鈥
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Before the degrees were conferred, President Ari Berman encouraged the graduates鈥痶o persevere through a time of 鈥渄eep disruption鈥 by renewing their pledge to the values of 麻豆区 University to create a better world in a spirit of compassion and kindness.
鈥淲hen I think of the Katz School and its mission of making the world smarter safer and healthier, my mind turns to the beginning of the world and how it was built,鈥 he said. 鈥淚n the Jewish tradition, the most fundamental way that we imitate God in our lives is by using our creative talents and skills to innovate and create as God did, which is the spirit in which so much of what the Katz School does to improve our world.鈥
