05.22.08



UCSF graduates recited the Oath of Lasagna in 23 different languages. Pictured L to R: Anatoly Urisman (Russian); Cindy Oparah (Ibo); Raymund Dantes (Tagalog); Nina Hansra (Punjabi); Tim Joseph (Malayalam.)

The School of Medicine’s Class of 2008 celebrated its commencement on May 19 with an at-times raucous ceremony during which one of the world’s leading epidemiologists exhorted the 146 new physicians to “go out and change the world.”


Epidemiologist Larry Brilliant, executive director of Google.org, exhorted graduates to "change the world." (watch the video )

Invited speaker Larry Brilliant, who began his career in San Francisco during the 1960s, went on to join the World Health Organization’s successful effort to eradicate smallpox, and now heads Google’s philanthropic arm, Google.org, compared today’s graduates with his counter-culture 1960s peers.

“In theory, my generation had a passion for diversity and social medicine. Your generation will fix the inequities of the system and make this great gift of patient care work for everyone,” said Brilliant. He concluded by quoting a Vietnam-era newsman who concluded each broadcast by telling listeners, “If you don’t like today’s news, go out and make your own.”

Said Brilliant, “Class of 2008, go out and make your own news. Go out and change the world.”

In what has become an annual recognition of the School’s diversity and global influence, 23 students recited the modern Hippocratic oath, the Oath of Lasagna, in 15 native languages other than English. The oath was led by Associate Dean Renee Navarro, who was selected for this honor by the graduating class.

Interim Dean Sam Hawgood, presiding over his first School of Medicine graduation, admitted to the graduates that the career he has had was entirely different from what he envisioned at his medical school graduation, and that the new graduates need to be open to opportunities that may be surprising.

“The one certainty that I have is that your careers, like mine, will be marked with serendipity, opportunity, the unexpected and the impossible to foresee – a succession of ‘looking glasses’ or ‘wombat holes’ to climb through,” said Hawgood, with a reference to an expression from his native Australia.


Class speaker Meredith Dunn spoke of the many ways that classmates inspired each other during medical school.

Meredith Dunn, who was selected by her classmates to represent them at the podium, acknowledged the many people who influenced the students during their medical education, including those who overcame adversity during their time at UCSF.

Professor Kevin Grumbach (right) congratulates Nathaniel Gleason, recipient of 2008 Gold Headed Cane.

The Gold Headed Cane, an award for the graduate who best “symbolizes the ideals of the true physician,” was presented to Nathaniel Gleason by Professor Kevin Grumbach, chair of Family and Community Medicine, who received the award in 1985.

Hawgood concluded the ceremony with a reminder that UCSF graduates have earned a special privilege “to never remain satisfied with the status quo.

“You are entering a lifetime of asking questions, and finding answers.”

All photos by Elisabeth Fall