2021 Spring hooding ceremony celebrates Ohio State’s medical students

On Thursday, May 6, graduating medical students gathered at The Ohio State University Mershon Auditorium for The Ohio State University College of Medicine's 2021 Doctoral Convocation, also known as the Hooding Ceremony. A recognition event for students completing their medical degrees, the ceremony touts the many achievements of its graduating class.



Preceding the Hooding Ceremony, the Ohio State College of Medicine held its Honors Convocation to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of its medical students. Awards included:

• Wendelyn Oslock for the Daniel Howland Prize
• Corey Thompson for Excellence in Public Health, awarded by the U.S. Public Health Service Physicians Professional Advisory Committee
• Robert Merritt for the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation
• Rana Elgazzar, Shan Lansing, Abigail Madden, Jared Squires and Audrey White for the Linda C. Stone, MD Program for Humanism and the Arts in Medicine Senior Recognition Awards

In addition to these accolades, the Ohio State College of Medicine's clinical departments granted a total of 52 awards to the Class of 2021. Daniel Clinchot, MD, vice dean for Education, closed the event by expressing his deep pride in the Class of 2021 and wishing them all the best in their residency programs and careers.

The Doctoral Convocation followed later, with collective speakers sharing their admiration for Ohio State's medical students. Carol R. Bradford, MD, MS, FACS, dean of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, shared her reverence with the 2021 graduates.

"This is the day that marks the beginning of the next step in your journey to becoming the most diverse and sought-after physicians in the world," said Dr. Bradford. "You will drive breakthrough health care solutions to meet the most complex needs of our communities. You are, and will continue to be, the heroes that the public relies upon. I wish each and every one of you a rewarding and successful career."

Awards were then presented for students and faculty. Christopher Pierson, MD, PhD, associate professor of Pathology, was awarded the highly coveted 2021 Professor of the Year. Dr. Pierson then gave the keynote speech.



"Today is more of a beginning than an end," said Dr. Pierson. "You're going to be challenged in ways that you cannot possibly anticipate. Medicine is a tough game, but if you love the game, it will help you persevere through the tough days...and it will allow you to help others."

Following recitation of the class oath, graduating students lined up to be adorned in hoods. Graduates then listened intently to a recording of Ohio State's alma mater, "Carmen Ohio." The auditorium was filled with many gleaming eyes.

In addition to the 201 medical students who were honored May 6, the Ohio State College of Medicine's Class of 2021 includes approximately 150 graduate students from Anatomy, Bioethics, Biomedical Sciences, Genetic Counseling and Health Sciences, as well as more than 450 undergraduate students majoring in biomedical science and health and rehabilitation sciences. This spring, more than 800 students graduated from the Ohio State College of Medicine.

Congratulations to the Class of 2021!