Saturday’s commencement ceremony for the M.D. Class of 2024 marked a major milestone in the history of Florida State University’s College of Medicine. The college graduated its 20th class of physicians and added 110 medical doctors to its alumni, bringing the total to 1,956 physician alumni.
This year’s graduates started their medical degrees during a global pandemic, dealt with changes in the medical licensing exam and other challenges, said Interim Dean Dr. Alma Littles.
“But none of this kept you from your goal and your class stepped up time and again to the challenges in front of you,” she said. “You persevered and with true grit and resilience. You made it!”
Class President Nick Thomas also mentioned how the pandemic necessitated changes.
“Who would have thought that our first day of medical school would begin in our bedrooms?” he asked. “We had no idea that we likely would be the only class in history to start their medical school career completely virtual. Yet we embraced the unknown.”
He encouraged his classmates to continue to embrace the unknown, “not as a source of fear, but as a canvas upon which we can paint the story of our lives — a story filled with triumphs, setbacks and everything in between.”
“Most importantly, let us remember that the true beauty of our dreams lies not in their attainment but in the journey itself,” Thomas said, “in the lives we will touch, the hearts we will heal, and the difference we will make in the world.”
Graduation ceremonies at the College of Medicine can feel like family reunions in some ways, with the affection and bonds between classmates, as well as between students and faculty, apparent through the hugs and laughter. That was especially true this year.
John Thrasher was a key partner as speaker of the Florida House of Representatives when the Florida Legislature authorized the college, the first new medical school in the U.S. in more than 25 years. He later became president of FSU, now president emeritus, and served as commencement speaker. Littles introduced Thrasher as “a dear friend of this university, the College of Medicine and mine.”
Thrasher shared that although he has spoken at many graduation ceremonies, this was his first time speaking at an FSU College of Medicine commencement. He said he was “deeply honored.”
“This great privilege is even more meaningful to me because my granddaughter Ashley’s husband, Matt Williamson, is one of today’s graduates,” Thrasher said. “Matt, GiGi and I, along with the entire family, are so proud of you.”
He joked that graduates’ lives would change forever after today, in part because their parents would never call them by their first names again.
“It will always be ‘my daughter, the doctor’ or ‘my son, the doctor,’” he said. “In my case, Matt Williamson will now always be known as ‘my grandson-in-law, the doctor.’”
He said he had learned a few lessons throughout his law and legislative careers that were applicable to physicians, offering four bits of advice. First, communication is crucial.
“Effective communication is at the heart of patient-centered care,” he said. “You will interact with patients from all walks of life, each with their own unique background, experiences and perspectives, so it is imperative that you listen attentively, explain medical concepts in plain language so those of us who are not physicians can understand it, and always, always demonstrate empathy, kindness and respect.”
Second, he advised students to get involved in their communities and embrace leadership roles.
“You don’t have to go into politics to make a positive impact,” Thrasher said. “You can use your expertise to advocate for your patients, mentor the next generation of medical professionals and champion causes you believe in and are important to you.”
Third, commit to a lifelong pursuit of knowledge.
“We are living in a world of rapidly changing innovations, and the knowledge and skills you have today might be outdated tomorrow,” he said. “Stay curious, stay humble and never stop seeking opportunities for continued education and self-improvement.”
Fourth, maintain a work-life balance.
“This is a lesson, frankly, that took me a while to learn, and my wife would tell you I’m still learning it, but it is imperative,” he said.
Only by taking care of yourself will you be equipped to care for others, he added.
A double alumnus of FSU with bachelor’s and law degrees, Thrasher closed with this: “Congratulations, Class of 2024, and may you find fulfillment, purpose, and joy in the noble calling of medicine. May God continue to bless you, and I couldn’t walk away from here without saying, ‘Go Noles!’”
Following Thrasher’s comments, Provost and Executive Vice President Jim Clark conferred master’s degrees in biomedical sciences in the Bridge to Clinical Medicine program to eight students. Later this month, they will begin medical school as members of the Class of 2028.