For the first time, Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium served as the site for the School of Medicine’s diploma-awarding ceremony.
(photo by Paul Levy)
Graduation 2007: Medicine’s future meets music’s past at Ryman
VUSM’s Jessica Rene Sparks Lilley reflects on the ceremony.
(photo by Paul Levy)
VUSM’s Neelanjan Ray with the Ryman’s guardians, Roy Acuff and Minnie Pearl. (photo by Paul Levy)
VUSM students, from left, Tung Nguyen, Ikwo Oboho and Emily Tarvin get in touch with family and friends following the ceremony at the Ryman Auditorium. (photo by Anne Rayner)
David Yung-Ping Chong, right, received his diploma from his mother, Catherine Chong, M.D., and brother, Paul Chong, M.D. (photo by Paul Levy)
The future of medicine crossed paths with the history of country music last Friday as 114 graduating Vanderbilt University School of Medicine students received their Doctor of Medicine degrees and recited the Oath of Hippocrates on the stage of Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium.
It was a first for both the Ryman and Vanderbilt as off-site graduation was necessary due to the ongoing renovation of Vanderbilt's 1,200-seat Langford Auditorium.
Dean Steven Gabbe, M.D., an avid country music fan, delivered his speech, “Country Music: Its Lessons for Life,” from the Ryman stage, which was home to the Grand Ole Opry from 1943-1974 and is synonymous with names including Ernest Tubb, Roy Acuff, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline and Hank Williams.
Gabbe spoke with legendary radio disc jockey Eddie Stubbs of 650 WSM, referred to as the “Dean of Country Music,” in preparing his speech.
“He told me that this may be the first graduation ceremony ever held at the Ryman auditorium,” Gabbe said. “Country music, like the Blues, is truly American music, music of America's working class citizens. Country music has a rich cultural heritage.”
Gabbe asked graduates to consider lessons for life that can be learned from the songs of country music, like the importance of family detailed in Harlan Howard's song “No Charge,” and advice on difficult choices from the “The Gambler,” penned by Don Schlitz and made famous by Kenny Rogers.
He also advised students to “Be careful of stones that you throw,” advice from Hank Williams' alter ego, Luke the Drifter, and to “live life to its fullest,” a lesson from Tim McGraw in the song “Live like you were dying,” which he wrote about his father who had been diagnosed with brain cancer.
Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs Harry Jacobson, M.D., credited faculty members for transforming one of the country's brightest groups of incoming students into “thoughtful and compassionate doctors, scientists with critical and inquisitive minds, and lifelong learners.”
Graduate Dorsey Rickard, who comes from a long line of doctors, was presented her diploma by her mother, Susan Andrews, M.D., and father, Randall Rickard, M.D.
“My mother graduated from medical school here in 1978, and many other family members have gone to Vanderbilt as well,” she said.
“I've heard that I'm the 76th person in my extended family to attend Vanderbilt. It's fun to be a part of a tradition of sorts.”
Rickard credited her parents for playing a big part in her education.
“My dad started teaching me some anatomy during my first year and hasn't stopped supplementing my learning since,” said Rickard, who is staying at Vanderbilt for her residency in Medicine/Pediatrics.
Mona Sharifi, who receivied her M.D./Ph.D, says graduation would not have been possible if not for the sacrifices of her parents.
“When I was 4 years old, my parents chose to leave Iran, where I was born, to escape the religious persecution that followed the revolution there,” Sharifi said.
“Had we not left, my sister and I would never have had the chance to pursue higher education in Iran. We came to Nashville as refugees and after a few years of study, my mother [Parvin Vafai, MD.] was accepted into the Pediatrics residency program at Vanderbilt.”
Chris Barbieri, who received his M.D./Ph.D., said much has changed during his eight years at Vanderbilt.
“When I started, there were two medical research buildings, now there are four,” Barbieri said. “I matriculated under one dean, and will graduate under another. Some of the classmates I started medical school with are now taking their first jobs as faculty members, at Vanderbilt and other institutions.”
Barbieri worked toward his Ph.D. in the laboratory of Jennifer Pientenpol, Ph.D., interim director of Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
“I benefitted from a great mentor relationship and a dynamic, collaborative group of scientists that is really characteristic of Vanderbilt,” he said.
Barbieri will perform his residency in Urology at Weill-Cornell and the New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan.