Beneath the bright lights of the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, the 181 students of the 四虎影视 Health Morsani College of Medicine Class of 2025 stood before friends and family to receive their doctoral hoods, take the Oath of Hippocrates and officially join the ranks of the nation鈥檚 newest physicians.
The May 8 commencement ceremony marked the climax of a weeklong celebration honoring the accomplishments, character and resilience of this exceptional cohort of doctors.
Shelby Remmel, MD, 四虎影视 Health Morsani College of Medicine class of 2025.
Among the graduates was Shelby Remmel, who was inspired to pursue a career in medicine by the compassionate care her younger brother received after he was born with a cleft lip and palate. She said it was the unwavering support of her family that helped her overcome the toughest days of medical school, and that celebrating this milestone with her classmates felt surreal.
Remmel will head to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for her internal medicine residency and credits her 四虎影视 mentors for reassuring her throughout medical school that she not only belonged in medicine but would excel in the program and throughout her career.
鈥溗幕⒂笆� taught me to trust the process and appreciate every step,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want
to be a physician that patients trust and know is always taking their values into
consideration. Seeing those types of physicians here at 四虎影视 has provided a blueprint
for my own path to being a physician.鈥�
Josh Alvior, MD, co-president of the 四虎影视 Health Morsani College of Medicine class of 2025 (center).
Josh Alvior, also a new MD graduate, echoed the same theme of gratitude for family and friends. The son of a physician, Alvior grew up with countless memories of his father caring for patients, and those experiences set him on his path toward becoming a doctor.
Alvior served as class president throughout all four years medical school, and said the culture of support among his peers, in addition to the love of his family, was essential to his success.
As he prepares for his residency in general surgery at LSU Health New Orleans, Alvior reflected on the people who helped shape his journey.
鈥淚 think about my dad鈥檚 passion for medicine, my mom鈥檚 strength and the mentors who
guided me when I decided to switch from internal medicine to surgery,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓
so grateful to have gone to medical school at 四虎影视 Health. It brought me great friendships,
incredible mentors and the opportunity to be a doctor 鈥� those are things I鈥檒l never
stop being thankful for.鈥�
A week of honors and celebration
The commencement ceremony capped off a full week of events commemorating the graduating students鈥� remarkable accomplishments in the classroom, the clinic and the community.
The celebrations began with the Honors Induction Ceremony on Monday, May 5, as the three major medical honor societies 鈥� the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society, the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) and the Robert A. Good Honor Society (RGHS) 鈥攚elcomed its newest members. In total, 37 students were inducted into the AOA, 26 into the GHHS and 32 into the RGHS.
Among those honored, five students achieved the rare distinction of earning membership in all three honor societies 鈥� a 鈥渢riple crown鈥� recognition, as Dr. Lockwood described it. Those students included Molly Monsour, Nicole Natarelli, Madison Noom, Meghan Tahbaz and Andrea Vrionis.
In a break from recent tradition, this year鈥檚 Commencement Dinner took to the water. Senior medical students boarded the Yacht StarShip for a scenic dinner cruise filled with camaraderie, laughter and reflection. As the sun set over the Tampa skyline, classmates shared memories, played games and sang karaoke, savoring a precious evening together before embarking on the next chapter in their separate medical journeys.
Back on dry land, faculty, staff and students gathered one final time before graduation for the Morsani College of Medicine Class of 2025 Awards Ceremony, held May 7. The event was an opportunity to recognize top-performing students鈥� outstanding achievements, as nominated by departments, faculty and peers.
Among the most meaningful and coveted of recognitions given was the Jagdish and Jyotsna Kothari Doctor鈥檚 Doctor Award, chosen by classmates to honor the peer they would most trust to care for themselves or their families. This year鈥檚 recipients were Patrick Fagan, Molly Monsour and Meghan Tahbaz.
Commencement marked the culmination and climactic end of the week, as graduates took the Oath of Hippocrates and were conferred as physicians to cheers from their families and friends.
Addressing the audience, Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, dean of the Morsani College of Medicine and executive vice president of 四虎影视 Health, praised the Class of 2025 for their determination and integrity.
鈥淵ou have traveled a long, demanding journey over the past four years 鈥� a path paved with hard work, academic challenges and hefty doses of sheer exhaustion,鈥� Dr. Lockwood said. 鈥淏ut you did it. You should feel tremendously proud of reaching this milestone. And as you step into your new roles, remember that the difficult days are not to be feared, they are the moments that shape you into a great physician.鈥�
Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, dean of the Morsani College of Medicine and executive vice president of 四虎影视 Health, with Rhea F. Law, JD, president and chief executive officer of the 四虎影视. President Law was a recipient of one of the Dean's Awards, presented annually for outstanding contributions to public health.
四虎影视 President Rhea Law echoed the same theme of resilience, while counseling students to stay true to the values which brought them this far.
鈥淵our graduating class has not only worked diligently to reach your academic goals, but you have also shown amazing fortitude in the face of unprecedented challenges and change,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 urge you to remember your purpose, trust in your own expertise and hold onto your sense of compassion 鈥� for your patients and for the world around you.鈥�
Jos茅 Malavet, who was chosen by his classmates to deliver remarks on behalf of his fellow students, emphasized the close-knit spirit of community that helped carry them all to this moment.
鈥淓ach of us brings something unique to the table and the beauty of this class is that we helped each other recognize the value in our own strengths.鈥� Dr. Malavet said. 鈥淟eadership isn鈥檛 about being the loudest voice; it鈥檚 about belonging, respect and ultimately, it is about showing up for one another.鈥�
Following the procession and hooding of new doctors was a special ceremony, when three graduating students 鈥� Air Force Capt. Sarah Nestler, Navy Lt. Cole Powell and Navy Lt Putt Vithayaveroj 鈥� took the Oath of Commission as military officers, led by Air Force Maj. Gen. Thomas W. Harrell, MD 鈥�92. In a proud moment, they received promotions in rank as their families joined them on stage, met with a standing ovation from the crowd.
After the event, new graduate Brett Behers said his time at MCOM felt like a lifetime but described every day as a new challenge. For Behers, who will be performing his residency in internal medicine at the Mountain Area Health Education Center in North Carolina, reaching graduation required no small amount of grit and determination. He is proud of all his class has achieved together and said he will cherish the lifelong friends he made at 四虎影视.
鈥淥ur class has so many uniquely talented and driven people and I鈥檓 thankful for all of the friends I鈥檝e made here,鈥� he said. 鈥淭ampa is a great place to live and train. Looking back, I think the Morsani College of Medicine was the perfect medical school for me.鈥�
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