Dear fellows,
You must be wondering why I'm wearing a tie on my vacation day. The reason is simple. I wear the tie and the white shirt to honor you all. Because, unfortunately, I cannot be with you on your graduation day, which is literally the most important day of the year for us, the peak of our academic activities, a symbol of our success as a section that combines research, clinical care, mentoring, and education—and just being human beings.
I could not be with you because I had to make a choice. I've not seen some family members for more than three years because of the pandemic. This was a unique opportunity, and I chose to go. And in some ways I'm telling this to you because this is what I would like you to take with you as you become experts, professionals, leaders in our fields.
We have an amazing profession. We reduce suffering and fight disease, but we also have a life. We have important others, families, passions, hobbies, and ideologies. Many of us are activists. And we should remember that only the integration of both work and life makes us really good, a complete human being.
Thinking about it, this reminds me also how difficult the last three and a half years have been and how amazing you all have been. You worked relentlessly, selflessly as trainees, as physicians, as colleagues, as researchers, educators, and as activists. And I really, really appreciate it. It was a pleasure to see you grow. I learned a lot from you, and I'm sure many in our section will tell you the same.
And the final word. It is a little bit too early for me to raise a real toast for you, but actually we raise a toast of my favorite drink. So a toast of coffee to all of you, Class of 2023.
Thank you and good luck!
Naftali Kaminski, MD