The College of Medicine Class of 2018 said goodbye to medical school with the time-honored traditions of burning their short white coats, receiving accolades at Honors Convocation, and formally receiving the M.D. after their names at the UAMS Commencement Ceremony on May 19.
Toby Vancil, M.D., spoke on behalf of the faculty at Honors Convocation, held the night before Commencement. He emphasized that UAMS has prepared the graduating seniors well for residency, the next phase of their journey to becoming licensed practicing physicians.
“As we bring this ship into the dock closing this adventure we call medical school, I would like to tell you how excited we are as a collective faculty to have been a part of your voyage thus far,” said Dr. Vancil, an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and award-winning educator who was also chosen by students to deliver the Faculty Charge two years ago.
“My final charge to all of you is to always keep in mind who that person was who filled out that medical school application years ago,” Dr. Vancil said. “Take time every day to remember who you are, where you came from, and why you have dedicated so much time to this very moment.”
Golden Apple Winner
Selected as the most outstanding teacher of the year by a vote of each class.
Graduating seniors chose Jason Mizell, M.D., an Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery, as the recipient of their class’s Golden Apple Award. Dr. Mizell, who was unable to attend Honors Convocation this year, has received four previous Golden Apples from junior and senior classes.