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[AUDIO LOGO] [RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS, "SINE NOMINE"]
[APPLAUSE]
[CHEERING]
LORIN WARNICK: Please be seated. Good afternoon. It's my pleasure to welcome you to the class of 2024 White Coat Ceremony for the College of Veterinary Medicine here at Cornell University.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
My name is Lorin Warnick. I have the honor of serving as dean of the college. I want to welcome the class members, soon-to-be fourth-year veterinary students. I want to recognize all the family and friends, the college faculty and staff who are here attending. We really appreciate you being here.
I also want to welcome our special guest, Dr. A'ndrea Van Schoick, member of the Cornell Board of Trustees, who will be speaking to us later in the program. Thanks for being here, A'ndrea. And welcome also to the members of the Alumni Association Executive Board who are joining us today. And last of all, but not least, thanks to my wife Jill for being here, steadfast Cornell volunteer, and I appreciate you attending.
[APPLAUSE]
So each year, the White Coat Ceremony makes me reflect on my own veterinary education at Colorado State University, the transition to clinical rotations, and my experience as a clinical faculty member for many years. And this is an exciting time for students as you enter an additional-- or a year of additional opportunities and experiences. As a student, we had a large class size at Colorado State University, even larger than this.
And in the first two to three years, you naturally tended to stick with a certain group of friends. For me, that was the members of my dissection group that I met that first fall semester. And we've stayed friends to this day. But in rotations, you would naturally be put with different people that you didn't know as well. And I found that to be really rewarding.
So one example was my friend and classmate Ed. In dress and manner, Ed was a cowboy through and through. And veterinary students, for those who don't know, they're very territorial in their seating arrangements in the classroom.
And Ed and his friends staked out the back row. These were all the-- they dressed Western, looked Western. And people who were part of the club could sit there.
Heaven forbid someone would take one of those seats, which I did one day in pathology class. And, boy, did that set up a problem. Every looks-- looked confused when they came in. And you could see the ripple effects as people found new seats.
I grew up in Montana. But I was from a dairy farm, rather than a beef ranch. And of course, I had a hat, this very hat. But I didn't wear it to class every day. So I wasn't-- didn't exactly feel welcome there in the back row.
During our senior year, Ed and I spent a memorable week together on a beef calving management rotation in Wyoming, staying in the bunkhouse with the buckaroos, riding, cutting horses, helping deliver calves, and perform cesarean surgeries on an 18,000-cow beef herd. And it wasn't until this rotation and its shared experiences that we became friends. And I learned, contrary to my assumptions, Ed had actually grown up in the city in New Jersey and attended a Jesuit high school and then headed West to make his living as a cowhand on ranches.
On another rotation, Sue, Bonnie, and I were together for two weeks of night duty in our small-animal emergency and critical-care service. It was another era. At that time, we had no technicians, no faculty, no house officers in the hospital overnight. Rest assured, you'll have a better situation.
But it was challenging but also a learning and growth experience. I didn't know them well. But thankfully, during our rotation, things went well. We were spared the telephone calls from one of our classmates, who was well known for calling in to the emergency service in the middle of the night and asking something like, my gerbil ate my stamp collection, can you help me, and those kind of things. So we were-- missed those prank calls.
But I found my classmates new friends. They were wonderful, always pitching in, taking their share of the work and giving me a nudge to wake me up if I dozed off during morning rounds. And I also learned how deeply they could sleep curled up on a fleece in one of the cages in ICU.
[CHUCKLING]
On small-animal surgery rotation, I found myself on receiving as one of my professors from earlier in the curriculum brought in his cat to be examined. And of course, you really want to put your best foot forward in that situation. Dr. McDaniel would certainly not trust me with a cat now. But I had that experience as a student. And both the cat and I came through unscathed.
And I found that even though I was-- I knew I was aiming for large-animal practice, I got something out of every rotation. There was always something to learn. And it was a chance to really test that hard-won knowledge from your preclinical years, test that against actual clinical cases.
As a fourth-year student, I soon realized that after three years of mastering a new vocabulary, everything from epiploic foramen to trichophyton verrucosum, and all those technical terms in between, you have to unlearn that because in talking to clients, you have to use language that's understandable and not leave people confused with medical terminology and jargon. As you start this next phase of your education, I'd just like to share a few thoughts on communication. People in human health care often comment to me about how challenging it must be to work with patients who don't speak. And that is true.
But those of us in veterinary medicine know that while the animals we work with don't talk, they still communicate. And during clinical rotations, you'll hone your skills in recognizing clues in gait and stance and reaction to your movements and so on. And these will tell you volumes about the animal's condition, whether the animals experience pain, a sense of fear, and very importantly, signs of impending aggression. I'm sure that's why many of your clinical mentors have already, or will emphasize the importance of observing an animal from a distance before starting a physical exam. And in my large-animal experience, the importance of the over-the-fence observation just can't be overstated.
So communication to and from the animals in veterinary medicine is paramount. The other side of the communication coin is that almost every situation, the animal brings along a person. And this may be the pet owner, livestock producer, a wildlife advocate.
And I think of the dog in the exam room with the thought blooming above its head that says, you people work out the bill. Let me know when we're ready to go. So communication with other people is, of course, very important.
And among the interpersonal communication skills, I feel that listening ranks the highest. When I served as hospital director, I emphasized to our incoming students the importance of respectful listening to clients. They've typically been in the environment with the animal and will have observed things that would be very hard for you to see otherwise.
And if they say-- they come in and say, I think it is X, the pains in the elbow, this is-- they have a diagnosis in mind, your ears should perk up. They may not be right, but there will be important clues in their observation. And you don't want to too easily dismiss their judgment and experience.
So on a few occasions, listening alone is enough. As a member of our ambulatory and production medicine service here at Cornell, each morning we would leave the day for calls with a stack of notes. It would have a farm name and the animal's and a chief complaint.
And on one occasion, the note said, weight loss in a draft horse. And as we drove north to Romulus, as was my habit, I quizzed the students riding with me about all the differentials for weight loss. And they did well, coming up with teeth problems, nutrition issues, parasites, and a few other things.
Arriving at the farm, the owner showed us into the barn and took us to see-- there were two large Belgian draft horses standing in a pen together. And he explained the one on the right, he said, oh, he's been healthy, great horse. Last few months had lost a lot of weight, and we could see that evidence of that.
And then he turned to the other one and said, and this one's getting fatter. And just as he said it, I could see the light bulb going off in his head as he reached the diagnosis as the same time we did. And of course, the treatment needed was to simply separate the horses.
[CHUCKLING]
So my advice to you as you start your rotation is first of all, as I mentioned, there's an opportunity to learn on every rotation and clinical experience, even if it's not exactly the thing you plan to do in your career. Second thing, listen well. Third, support each other. Fourth, ask for help when you need it.
I hope each of you in the class has a very rewarding time in the year ahead. I look forward to hearing some of your experiences. You'll be fortunate to work with a very dedicated team of faculty, licensed veterinary technicians, and hospital staff.
You'll get better acquainted with some of your classmates that you may not know as well now. And you'll get acquainted with people in the Veterinary College and I'm sure will have many valuable experiences elsewhere around the world. We're proud of your accomplishments thus far and confident in your ability to succeed. Thank you.
[APPLAUSE]
So I mentioned the camaraderie that I fondly remember among my veterinary classmates. And I hope that years from now, you'll look back on your experience with similar memories. Before we begin the White Coat Ceremony, I want to recognize that as a class and college and community, we still feel sharply the loss of your classmate, Yiannis Stathopoulos.
While this is a celebratory day, we wanted to also take a few minutes to honor Yianni's memory and the impact that he had in our lives. And I've shared with many of you before, this has been personally very challenging for me because of the relationship Yianni and I developed while working during his college leadership roles. Yianni's mom, Kathleen, and his Aunt Gina are here with us today. And I want to invite Kathleen to come forward to receive a white coat in Yianni's memory.
[APPLAUSE]
Kathleen, thank you very much for attending with us today, and to you and your family for being so open in sharing with us as we've all struggled with grief and loss. Thanks also for your support and encouragement as we have joined efforts to raise funds and awareness for suicide prevention and other wellness programs. So we're so appreciative of you being with us today. Thank you.
[APPLAUSE]
OK, next up, we will move to the Coating Ceremony. And the way this will work is Dr. Jai Sweet will call up each of the class members in turn. And we have many faculty mentors, clinicians who will serve as the coaters. And I'll greet each of you. And we'll get a picture together, and look forward to celebrating your transition from your preclinical education to clinical rotations. So thank you very much. And I'll turn the time to Dr. Jai Sweet.
[APPLAUSE]
JAI SWEET: Thank you. OK, we are officially starting the Coating Ceremony. And we will begin with Ali Muhammad Aly, being coated by Dr. Galina Hayes.
[APPLAUSE]
Ali would like to thank his mother Dorothy, his father Muhammad, his brother Tariq, as well as his friends, family, and mentors for their constant support and guidance.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Peyton Atkins, being coated by Dr. Linda Atkins.
[APPLAUSE]
Peyton would like to thank her mother Linda, brothers Conner and Ryan, family, and Ithaca friends. She is accepting the coat in memory of her father.
[APPLAUSE]
[CHEERING]
Carolina Isabela Baquerizo, Dr. Steven Osofsky, coater.
[APPLAUSE]
Carolina would like to thank her two sets of parents, Marla and Dave and David and Jen, her sister Fiona, her boyfriend Hannis, her Cornell and FSU friends, and her mentors in zoological medicine.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Charlie Belknap. Dr. Paula Ospina is the coater.
[APPLAUSE]
Charlie would like to thank his partner Melissa, his parents, his brothers, and his mentor and friend Paula.
[APPLAUSE]
Sean Bellefeuille, being coated by Dr. Rory Todhunter.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Sean would like to thank his friends, family, and his fiancee Christina.
[APPLAUSE]
Elena Bettale, being coated by Dr. Jorge Colón.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Elena would like to thank her friends and family. Without their love and support, she would not be here today. She would also like to give a special Thanks to her parents, who stood by her side throughout the way and helped turn her dreams into reality.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Abigail Ladd Bierman, being coated by Dr. Patrick Carney.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Abigail would like to thank her fiancee, her family, her friends, and The Pack.
[CHUCKLING]
[APPLAUSE]
Erica Blair, being coated by Dr. Paul Maza.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Erica would like to thank her parents and grandparents for their endless support, her sister for never leaving her side, Dr. Charles Miller for being the first veterinarian to encourage her in the field and for being the best mentor, Zechariah for brightening every day, David Singler for being himself, and all her friends.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Ariel Bohner, being coated by Dr. Ricardo de Matos.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Ariel would like to thank her family, friends, and mentors, professional, spiritual, and personal, for their support, encouragement, and wisdom.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Emily Elizabeth Bono, being coated by Dr. Joel English.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Emily would like to thank her family, friends, and mentors, and the Vermont Small Animal Hospital that inspired her not to hang out with horse owners for the rest of her life.
[CHUCKLING]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Monika Joy Bromschwig, Dr. Luis Campoy.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Monika would like to thank her parents, Kurt and Lisa, for giving her a solid foundation, and her grandmother Claire for giving her the ability to pursue her dream.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Lena Michelle Bullock, being coated by Dr. Michelle Moyal.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Lena would like to thank Madeline Bullock and Carmen Mercado.
[APPLAUSE]
Maria Francesca Burgess, being coated by Dr. Paul Maza.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Maria would like to thank her family, especially her parents Rick and Trish and her siblings, friends, including Ally and Nathan, and pets Jack, Precious, Ginny, and Wilma.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Ally Butler, being coated by Dr. J. Thomas Ross.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Ally would like to thank her parents Mike and Kathy Butler for always supporting her and doing everything they can to help her succeed, even when she was thousands of miles away. She would also like to thank her boyfriend Elliott for the love, support, and for putting up with all those late nights and bad moods. Lastly, she would like to thank Dr. Ross and the rest of the staff at VCA Colonial for everything he has taught her and for being a huge inspiration for her future career. Because of her time with you, she will be a better veterinarian.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Caroline Calabro, being coated by Dr. Cece Zhu.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Caroline would like to thank her family and friends, especially her mother, sister, grandmother and [INAUDIBLE] for their never-ending love and support. She would also like to thank Cornell's ER team and Dr. Casey Cazer for their mentorship.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Eleni Casseri, being coated by Dr. Sarah Lowry.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Eleni would like to thank her parents Michael and Jodi Casseri, her sister Danila Casseri, her grandparents Chuck and Charlene Casseri, and Claudia Fries, her partner Matthew Stevens, and her friends, the Ithaca Mafia.
[LAUGHTER]
[APPLAUSE]
Kristina Ceres, being coated by Dr. Casey Cazer.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Kristina would like to thank her family, her pets Timby and Olive, and her student and faculty mentors, who have helped her through the DVM and PhD programs.
[APPLAUSE]
Christina Chamberlin, being coated by Dr. Jorge Colón.
[APPLAUSE]
Christina would like to thank her fiance Austin, her parents Tim and Helena, her family and friends for all their love and support during her journey. She would also like to thank the faculty, her classmates, and her Frenchton Lewis.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Doreen Chan is being coated by Dr. Michelle Moyal.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Doreen would like to thank her family and friends, Kathy, Nancy, and Wangui.
[APPLAUSE]
Ava Chrisler, being coated by Dr. Brenna Pugliese.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Ava would like to thank her family and friends for their support and all the technicians, doctors, and the Barn Crew at NFAH for being such wonderful teachers and friends for these past three years.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Leia Chung, being coated by Dr. Paul Maza.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Leia would like to thank her parents, [INAUDIBLE] and Dr. Jacqueline Kim.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Alan Coberg, being coated by Dr. Keila Dhondt.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Alan would like to thank his family and friends for their continued support. He couldn't have gotten here without them.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Lauren Connolly, being coated by Dr. Daniel Lopez.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Lauren would like to thank her parents Tom and Lisa and her friends and family for their incredible love and support in getting to this milestone. She's proud to be here today and is excited for what the future holds.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Alyssa Cote, being coated by Dr. Lena DeTar.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Alyssa would like to thank her family and friends for all their support.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Claire DiLeo, being coated by Dr. Amy Tuominen.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Claire would like to thank her friends and family for supporting her and her mentors, particularly Dr. Tuominen and Dr. Lopez.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Megan Dudek, being coated by Dr. Franca DiFilippo.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Megan would like to thank her mom Maureen Siska, her husband Josh for their endless support, and her late father Bill Siska. She wishes he could be here with her.
[APPLAUSE]
Mathew James Edwards, being coated by Dr. Daniel Lopez.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Mathew would like to thank his parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends for always supporting and encouraging him as well as all the veterinarians who fostered his love for the profession.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Leta Elias, being coated by Dr. Wendy Williams.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Leta would like to thank her parents, her good friends, and her mentors for the support they have provided throughout this journey.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Monali Faldu, being coated by Dr. Jessica Bachman.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Monali would like to thank her sister Monica for being her biggest supporter.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Danielle Ferriola, being coated by Dr. David Migliaccio.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Danielle would like to thank her family, friends, boyfriend, and the veterinary professionals who have helped her along the way.
[APPLAUSE]
Hannah Kay Flamme, being coated by Dr. Eric Christensen.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Hannah would like to thank her parents, family, and Drew for the unwavering support and for always believing in her. She would also like to thank Lizzie. She couldn't imagine making it through vet school without her. And last but not the least, she would like to thank her dog Amber for keeping her grounded and for reminding her of her "why" for the last three years.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Amanda Jeanette Flanagan, being coated by Dr. Kathryn Bach.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Amanda would like to thank her parents Josephine and Frank, her sister Angela, her nana Gloria, her friends, and her pets Toby, Scamp, Pebbles, and Magnus for their love and support.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Mitchell Gage, being coated by Dr. Leia Lindley.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Mitchell would like to thank his parents and sister and his partner Crystal Clark.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Ashley Gao, being coated by Dr. Marcus Smolka.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
Collin Gier, being coated by Dr. Machiel Ysebaert.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Collin would like to thank his family, his significant other, and his cats for all their support.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Dimitria Gomes, being coated by Dr. Wendy Williams.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Dimitria would like to thank her mother Esther, sister Tori, and family friend Jeff for their support.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Younjin Han, being coated by Dr. Molly Bechtold.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Younjin would like to thank her family for their love and support, her friends, the CUHA Medicine Department, and all the wonderful people she has met on the journey leading up to today.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Lauren Healy, being coated by Dr. Susan Morrison.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Lauren would like to thank her family, Susan, Michael, and Sean, and her friends for all their support and inspiration.
[APPLAUSE]
Katrina Heckman, being coated by Dr. Paul Maza.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Katrina would like to thank her family, friends, mentors, and classmates for their support during this journey.
[APPLAUSE]
Martha Hoffman, being coated by Dr. Tracy Stokol.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Martha would like to thank her parents, family, and friends, and especially her partner Gary Long for his support, love, and magic potatoes.
[CHUCKLING]
[APPLAUSE]
Daniela Hojda, being coated by Dr. Noha Abou-Madi.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Daniela would like to thank her parents Deborah and Flavio for always unquestionably supporting her throughout this journey and her sisters Camila and Rafaela.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Alanna Horton, being coated by Dr. Karianna Crowder.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Alanna wants to recognize her incredible parents, siblings, and boyfriend for their unending love and belief in her. She thanks all her amazing family and friends for their countless words of encouragement, especially on tough days. Gratitude also to her incredible professors and the ICU team for supporting her learning every step of the way. Three years down, one to go.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Sadie Hubler, being coated by Dr. Kathryn Bach.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Sadie would like to thank her family and friends for supporting her not only through vet school but through all of life's victories and challenges. She would also like to recognize her dog, who inspired her to pursue veterinary medicine and has been with her every step of the way.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Morgan Hulbert, being coated by Dr. Kurt Lutgens.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Morgan is so grateful for the many amazing mentors, friends, family who have been there for her. She would like to give a special shout-out to her parents, her partner's family, Dr. Kurt, and a special thank you to her fiance Mike. She can't forget to mention her two cats, Bubs and Ruby, who were always there for stress-relieving cuddles.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Jennifer Ida, being coated by Dr. Herman Barkema.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Jennifer would like to thank her parents Deborah and Joseph, her sisters and uncles, Dr. Daryl Nydam, Dr. Kathryn Bach, and the class of 2024.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Mio Ito is being coated by Dr. Keila Dhondt.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Mio would like to thank her family, her supportive friends, and the staff of CUHA Exotics.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Ivanka Juran, being coated by Dr. Christopher Frye.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Ivanka would like to thank her family, friends, and partner.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[CHUCKLING]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Stacy Kaneko, being coated by Dr. Robin Radcliffe.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Stacy would like to thank her family, friends, and mentors for all the love and support throughout the years. It was truly a group effort, and she couldn't have done it without any of you. Thank you.
[APPLAUSE]
Lily J. Kim, being coated by Dr. Wendy Williams.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Lily would like to thank her block one tutor group, roomies past and present, her friends and family, including Ama, Apa, Arie, and her dearest home-slice, Rain.
[APPLAUSE]
Mihira Konda, being coated by Dr. Soon Hon Cheong.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Mihira would like to thank her family for always being her sounding board for ideas and her friends for making her time here are so full of fun and laughter. She would like to make a special mention to her aunt, who cannot be here but has always been her biggest supporter in all things.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Christel-Remy Kuck, being coated by Dr. Robin Radcliffe.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Christel-Remy would like to thank her parents Ro and Ray for their unconditional love and support. She would also like to thank her family and friends, all of the zoo and wildlife faculty, her mentor Malcolm Kram, and her earth-science teacher Nigel Pratt, who helped her get into college.
[CHUCKLING]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Samantha Marie Lee, being coated by Dr. Jacquelyn Evans.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Samantha would like to thank her parents, grandpa, and Freddie for their love and unwavering support, and Dr. Elizabeth Brooks for first introducing her to veterinary medicine.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Vivian Marie Lee, being coated by Rodman Getchell.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Vivian would like to thank her parents Mary and Danny, who helped her accomplish her wildest dreams every step of the way, her extended family for their continuous encouragement, mentors who have provided so much time and energy, especially Dr. Rodman Getchell, Dr. Whitney Greene, Dr. Jeanine Peters-Kennedy, Joey, who brightens her every day, her dogs Coffey and Siggy, who have provided her unconditional love, and her dear friends of the vet school, especially Chris Dunham and Yianni Stathopoulos, who gave her all the strength to just keep swimming.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Alexander Levitskiy, being coated by Dr. Marc Valitutto.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Alex would like to thank his parents and grandmother for their support and sacrifices associated with immigrating from Ukraine, pushing him to unlock his true potential. He also wants to thank his brother for their constant motivation. And lastly, he thanks his mentors and friends who have invested in him and helped him propel forward in the field.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Seth Lieberman, being coated by Dr. Ashley Newman Lieberman.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Seth would like to thank his incredible wife Dr. Ashley Newman for being his rock and always supporting him, his parents Alan and Judy Lieberman for going well beyond the bounds of parents to help achieve his dreams, his sister Jessica Lewis and her family for being some of the biggest supporter, the Newman and Gallo family--
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Wait. There's more-- for giving him a second family. He feels so lucky and honored to be here today, cheering him on in the class of 2020, his first veterinary class, who truly took him in and made him feel at home while at the college. He'd like to especially mention Dr. Jenni Bridges, Dr. Trevor Chan, and Dr. Max Randolph, without whom he would not have survived this preclinical curriculum.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Yimei Lin, being coated by Dr. John Loftus.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Yimei would like to thank her mom, dad, and Charlie for their continuous love and support, mentors and friends during the special journey, and Cornell CVM for its privileged education, even during COVID.
[APPLAUSE]
Xinci Ling, being coated by Dr. Paul Maza.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Xinci would like to thank her parents David Ong and [INAUDIBLE] Wu, her sister Jasmine Ling for supporting her at her very best, her very worst, and everything in between. She is here because of you guys and everyone else in her life. And she will continue to do her best to make you proud.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Patrick Legion Liu, being coated by Dr. Noha Abou-Madi.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Patrick would like to thank Deidre McKerney Liu, Ping Liu, Alexander Liu, Maeve McKerney Liu, Sally McKerney Liu-- McKerney, sorry, and Kaitlin McGowan.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Emmy Luo, being coated by Dr. Frances Chen.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Emmy would like to thank her mom, dad, grandpa, grandma, Rishi, and all her friends, families, and teachers.
[LAUGHTER]
[APPLAUSE]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Ambrielle Machuca, being coated by Dr. Nicole Buote.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Ambrielle would like to thank her family for their constant love and support every step of the way, to her friends who have made each moment of this experience more meaningful and memorable, and to her cat Aspen, for always putting a smile on her face.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Alexandra Markmann, being coated by Dr. Christopher Frye.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Alexandra would like to thank her family and friends for their unconditional love and support, her dogs for all the stress relief they provide, and the local coffee shops for keeping her awake during classes.
[APPLAUSE]
Casey Stephen McCabe, being coated by Dr. Jethro Forbes.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Casey would like to thank his loving partner Lauren Jones. Without her, none of this would have been possible. And it would have been a lot less fun.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Hannah Adelle McCray, being coated by Dr. Jessica McArt.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Hannah would like to thank her parents for giving her love and passion for animals, Taryn Romanchek and Dr. Kristina Wilson for being her first mentors, and her friends and the Bovine faculty at Cornell for supporting her every step of the way.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Sonja Lynn Meberg, being coated by Dr. Jarra Jagne.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Sonja would like to thank her family and friends for their unconditional love and support.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Natalie Cynthia Mee, being coated by Dr. Carolyn McDaniel.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Natalie would like to thank her family for supporting her dreams since she was 5 years old, sacrificing for her education, and for being her biggest cheerleaders. Natalie would also like to thank her husband for loving and encouraging her every step of the way through vet school.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Anna Marie Merante, being coated by Dr. Molly Bechtold.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Anna would like to thank her parents Rose and Vinny for their unwavering strength, support, and selflessness, her sister Julia and her boyfriend Danny, for always being her biggest cheerleaders, and her family and friends for all their love and encouragement along the way.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Gabrielle Merry, being coated by Dr. Michael Capel.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Gabrielle would like to thank her parents John and Julie, her sisters Allison and Kate, and her boyfriend Gabe.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Kaylee Lynn Montney, being coated by Dr. Brenna Pugliese.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Kaylee would like to thank all of her family and friends, especially her parents Roy, Jay, and Stacy for their endless support, Dr. Tanya for inspiring her and starting her on this journey, and her NFAH family for motivating her daily.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Nardine Nasr, being coated by Dr. Mary Nasr.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Nardine would like to thank Nagy Nasr, Mary Nasr, and her mom Manal Nasr and all her classmates and friends.
[CHUCKLING]
AUDIENCE: [INAUDIBLE]
[CHUCKLING]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
JAI SWEET: Laura Ashley Olszanski, being coated by Dr. Isabella Knecht.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Laura would like to thank her family, especially her parents Christine and Tony and her sister Rachel for their incredible support and ongoing encouragement as she pursues this lifelong dream. She would also like to thank the mentors, professors, and classmates who have further inspired her love of animals and passions for caring for them.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Teresa Pan, being coated by Dr. Jordyn Boesch.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Teresa would like to thank her parents, her boyfriend, and all her friends near and far, as well as her mentors for always supporting her since day one.
[APPLAUSE]
Elizabeth Pavlova, being coated by Dr. John Hermanson.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Liz would like to thank her late father for all his support and love, without which these last three years would not have been possible.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Kendall M. Peterkin, being coated by Dr. Noha Abou-Madi.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Kendall would like to thank her parents Chris and Joanna, stepdad Frank, grandma Diana, sister Devon, boyfriend Cameron, and friends and faculty who have helped her get to where she is today.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Chloe Pham, being coated by Dr. Sydney Warshaw.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Chloe would like to thank her parents for encouraging her to dream big and for paving the way to allow her to do so, Audrey Kwon, Amanda and her friends for their unconditional support, and Richard, for believing in her and making sure there was always a warm meal waiting for her at home.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Colleen Powers, being coated by Dr. Carolyn McDaniel.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Colleen would like to thank her endlessly supportive parents Cathy and Dan and her grandfather, brother, and aunts for inspiring her interest in the medical field.
[APPLAUSE]
Julia Railo, being coated by Dr. Jethro Forbes.
AUDIENCE: No, not quite.
JAI SWEET: Sorry, Alexandra-- I'm so sorry. I missed one. You're just as important.
[LAUGHTER]
Alexandra Presher Brown, being coated by Dr. John Hermanson.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Now we have Julia Railo, being coated by Dr. Jethro Forbes.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Julia would like to thank her parents and grandmother Cathy for a lifetime of love and support.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Brandon Rathwell, being coated by Dr. Carla Hernas.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Brandon would like to thank his parents, grandparents, and siblings.
[CHUCKLING]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Matthew Reilly, being coated by Dr. Michael Reilly.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Matthew would like to thank his wife Sarah, his parents, grandparents, and siblings and the Ithaca Mafia.
[CHUCKLING]
I want to know who this Ithaca Mafia is.
[CHUCKLING]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Hery Ríos-Guzmán, being coated by Dr. Rodman Getchell.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Hery would like to thank his parents Saul Guzmán-Perez Edwin Rios-Vega for being present when the sun shone a little less brightly.
[CHUCKLING]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Cionna Alexandra Rosenthal, being coated by Dr. Casey Cazer.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Cionna would like to thank her parents Cionna and Jerry and her sister Annaliese, her brother-in-law Eric for their constant support.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Shiv Salwan, being coated by Dr. Raj Salwan.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Shiv would like to thank his family and friends for the inspiration to do his best work and for the perspective to appreciate the moments that make life rich, especially his mother and father, for without them he would be nothing. They have taught him to be kinder, wiser, and truer to himself. He would also like to thank Dr. Bowman for his compassionate grading policy.
[LAUGHING]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
You're not done. He, too-- Dr. Bowman, too, had an equally, and arguably more important role in helping make Shiv get here today.
[LAUGHTER]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Samantha Sandwick, being coated by Dr. Joe Wakshlag.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Samantha would like to thank her mom and dad, Dr. Hewson, and everyone on the Vaika project, Dr. Mercurio and everyone at City Kitty, Tim, Anson, and all her friends, as well as her cat Zoe.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Nicole Santacruz, being coated by Dr. Daniel Lopez.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Nicole would like to thank her parents, family, and friends.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Michael Ezra Schaff, being coated by Dr. Jorge Colón.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Michael would like to thank Glenn Schaff and Sarah Stock.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[LAUGHTER]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Sara Alexandra Schatz, being coated by Dr. Howard Schatz.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Sara would like to thank her family, especially her parents, siblings, and Aunt Sherry, for the endless support and love. She would also like to thank Sir Eddie, the handsomest, the technicians and doctors who have gone out of their way to teach her and all her friends.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Madison Seaver-Rodriguez--
[CHEERING]
--being coated-- Madison is being coated by Dr. Rodman Getchell.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Madison would like to thank her husband Isaiah, family, and friends for being an incredible support system.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Seth Shirky, being coated by Dr. Blake Nguyen.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Seth would like to thank his production-animal veterinarian mentors and role models, Dr. Blake Nguyen, Dr. Mary Smith, Dr. Matthias Wieland, Dr. Daryl Nydam, Dr. Jessica McArt, Dr. Kathryn Bach, Dr. Soon Hon Cheong, and all the pathologists, residents, and technicians at the Animal Health Diagnostic Center's Clinical Pathology Lab, and last but not the least, Shiv Salwan and all the wonderful classmates who have supported him over the past three years.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Samantha Siess, being coated by Dr. Paul Maza.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Samantha would like to thank her parents, friends, and everyone in the CUHA Cardiology Department for their never-ending support.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
David Fiscus Singler, being coated by Dr. Soon Hon Cheong.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
David would like to thank his mom, whose love and support made this journey possible, as well as Olly, Max, Zach, and the rest of his family. He'd also like to thank all his mentors over the years, especially the late Jerrie Gavalchin, whose guidance and kindness continue to inspire him. Lastly, David would like to thank the wonderful friends who rode the highs and lows with him-- Jackson, Erica, Jen, Madeline, Mihira, Claire, Elena, Leta, Elle, Shiv, and the block-one tutor group and many others. The memories and friendships have been amazing.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Sydney Slottje, being coated by Dr. Daniel Lopez.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Sydney would like to thank her parents for being unconditionally supportive throughout the last three years and for always being there to listen to her stress-induced rants. She would also like to thank her cat Macy for being the best snuggler and emotional support fluff girl a girl could ever ask for.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Faith Slubowski, being coated by Dr. Jethro Forbes.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Faith would like to thank her family and the entire ECC service here at Cornell for being such wonderful friends and teachers over these past three years.
[LAUGHTER]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Elizabeth Smith, being coated by Dr. Kathryn Bach.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Elizabeth would like to thank her husband Michael and her son Aiden for their continued support.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Niall Anthony Smith, being coated by Dr. Michael Cormier.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Niall would like to thank Colin, Karen, Brenden, and Christina for all of their support.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Colleen Sorge, being coated by Dr. Gary Dattner.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Colleen would like to thank her parents for their unconditional love and support, her brother Robert, and her twin sister Joanna for being her lifelong teammates. She would also like to thank her friends for making this journey fun, her mentors for their encouragement along the way, and the many members of the Sorge zoo, especially Winnie, her most trusting patient.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Elizabeth St. Clair, being coated by Dr. Bruce Keck.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Lizzie would like to thank her family, friends, and mentors for all the support over the years. She would also like to thank her dog Josie, who may know more doctors in the CUHA than Lizzie does at this point.
[CHUCKLING]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Lauren Steffan, being coated by Dr. Daniel Lopez.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Lauren would like to thank her whole family, especially her father Robert and sister Jennifer, for their never-ending love and support.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Madeline Stolow, being coated by Dr. Blythe Philips.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Madeline is beyond thrilled that she's made it to this academic milestone and would like to thank the following people for helping her get here-- Dr. Antonia Jameson Jordan, Dr. Jai Sweet-- thank you, Madeline--
[LAUGHTER]
--Beth Parrott, Elizabeth Kane, and of course her parents Carol Crossen and her-- and Jeff Stolow. Finally, she would like to thank her grandmother, who is here today, and remind her that of her five grandchildren, Madeline is the only one who is going to be a doctor.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Zanna Sullivan, being coated by Dr. Edmund Sullivan.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Zanna would like to thank her parents Ed and Theresa, her sisters Emmie and Maddie, her boyfriend Nathan, and her friends and coworkers.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Lilla Tilton-Flood, being coated by Dr. Erin Flood.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Lilla would like to thank her parents and family, her brother, her friends, and her rescue dog Chuka, who rescued her 14 years ago but has gone on to his new next life.
[AWWS]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Kaela Toback, being coated by Dr. Carolyn McDaniel.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Kaela would like to thank her parents, sisters, and friends for their love, encouragement, and support.
Brittany Torchia, being coated by Dr. Rodman Getchell.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Brittany would like to thank her parents, family, aquatic vet mentors and peers, and the Ithaca Mafia-- there we go again.
[LAUGHTER]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Eileen Lucia Troconis Gonzalez, being coated by Dr. Frances Chen.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Eileen would like to thank her family, Justin, Moises, Iris, Irina, Dorian, Apollo, and Eclipse.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Victoria Tseng Paepcke, being coated by Dr. Kathryn Bach.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Victoria like to thank her mother, father, grandmother, and aunt for their incredible support and encouragement, which has helped her achieve her dream of becoming a veterinarian. She would also like to thank Dr. Bach and the other amazing faculty for sharing their knowledge of and enthusiasm for veterinary medicine.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Alayzha Tiana Turner-Rodgers, being coated by Dr. Michelle Moyal.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
AUDIENCE: You go, girlfriend.
AUDIENCE: Alayzha!
[LAUGHTER]
JAI SWEET: Alayzha would like to thank her family, friends, and mentors for their love and support, which you all clearly heard, especially her mother and grandparents, who have always believed in her. She wouldn't have made it this far without her support system. And she hopes to make them proud in the future.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Christian Urbina, being coated by Dr. Cynthia Leifer.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Christian would like to thank his family, friends, and teachers, who have all helped him get to where he is today.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Hannah Jane van Bergen, being coated by Dr. Michelle Porter.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Hannah would like to thank her parents, sister, Ben, and Oma for their support and unconditional love, and Dr. Julie Andino for her mentorship and guidance. She could not have done this without them.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Olivia Vigiletti, being coated by Dr. Daniel Lopez.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Olivia would like to thank her loving parents Judy and Ken and her brother Julian for being the best support system one could ever ask for. She would also like to thank her wonderful mentor Dr. Dan Lopez for helping her navigate through her career and being a strong advocate for the student body as a whole.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Kelsey Warner, being coated by Dr. Kelly Lyboldt.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Kelsey would like to thank all of her friends and family who have supported her throughout vet school. Specifically, she'd like to thank Evan and her mom, her biggest supporters, for always believing in her, caring for her, and encouraging her to be her best self.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Jacob Weber, being coated by Dr. Barbara Mix.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Jacob would like to thank his family, friends, mentors, and classmates for this never-ending support throughout this journey. None of this would have been possible without your guidance and encouragement.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Samantha Wilcox, being coated by Dr. Leni Kaplan.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Samantha would like to thank her family, especially her parents Bob and Sue and her boyfriend Cameron.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Bristol Woods, being coated by Dr. Joseph Nebzydoski.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Bristol would like to thank her family and friends, especially her parents Joan and Doug and her brother Canaan, and the Canton Crew for their infinite support, encouragement, and solace. She would also like to thank her mentors and peers who continue to inspire, teach, and guide her.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Tanner Yuhas, being coated by Dr. Cheyenne Cannarozzo.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Tanner would like to thank his parents, sister, and grandmother and all of the friends who have supported him throughout his education.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Yufei Zhang, being coated by Dr. Daniel Lopez.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Yufei would like to thank her family and friends across the world, and her dogs Pudding and Gracie.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Kimberly Zullo, being coated by Dr. Brenna Pugliese.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
That concludes the coating for the class of 2024. Please join me--
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
--in congratulating the class of 2024.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERING]
LORIN WARNICK: Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Sweet. Well done, everyone. I think it processed without any injuries, as far as I could see.
[CHUCKLING]
And you all look great. And thanks to all your family and friends, who are-- and mentors who are here supporting you. So our next part of the program is the Veterinarian Oath will be administered by Dr. Mara DiGrazia, DVM, class of 1996 and president of the Alumni Association Executive Board. Mara.
[APPLAUSE]
MARA DIGRAZIA: Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Mara DiGrazia, from the class of '96. And I'm-- and I welcome you on behalf of the Alumni Association Executive Board.
I had the great honor of being the keynote speaker at last year's White Coat Ceremony. I'm thrilled to be back to lead you through the oath today. You're about to take the next step towards becoming a doctor of veterinary medicine at Cornell University. When you're finished with your rotations, you'll be a competent, hardworking, intelligent, compassionate veterinarian in any field you dive into.
Our extensive network of Cornell alumni will always be here for you. And we're so excited for you today. Now, let's get to it.
Can the class of 2024 please stand? Raise your right hand, and repeat after me.
Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine--
CLASS OF 2024: Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine--
MARA DIGRAZIA: --I solemnly swear--
CLASS OF 2024: --I solemnly swear--
MARA DIGRAZIA: --to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society--
CLASS OF 2024: --to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society--
MARA DIGRAZIA: --through the protection of animal health and welfare--
CLASS OF 2024: --through the protection of animal health and welfare--
MARA DIGRAZIA: --the prevention and relief of animal suffering--
CLASS OF 2024: --the prevention and relief of animal suffering--
MARA DIGRAZIA: --the conservation of animal resources--
CLASS OF 2024: --the conservation of animal resources--
MARA DIGRAZIA: --the promotion of public health--
CLASS OF 2024: --the promotion of public health--
MARA DIGRAZIA: --and the advancement of medical knowledge.
CLASS OF 2024: --and the advancement of medical knowledge.
MARA DIGRAZIA: I will practice my profession conscientiously--
CLASS OF 2024: I will practice my profession conscientiously--
MARA DIGRAZIA: --with dignity--
CLASS OF 2024: --with dignity--
MARA DIGRAZIA: --and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics.
CLASS OF 2024: --and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics.
MARA DIGRAZIA: I accept as a lifelong obligation--
CLASS OF 2024: I accept as a lifelong obligation--
MARA DIGRAZIA: --the continual improvement--
CLASS OF 2024: --the continual improvement--
MARA DIGRAZIA: --of my professional knowledge and competence.
CLASS OF 2024: --of my professional knowledge and competence.
MARA DIGRAZIA: You may lower your hands. Great job, class of 2024. Good luck to you all.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
LORIN WARNICK: OK, thank you. And to the class, if you haven't found them already, in one of the pockets of your white coat there should be a card from one of our alumni with a message of encouragement. So thanks to all our alumni for-- Alumni Association for supporting this event.
[APPLAUSE]
OK, next up, it's my great pleasure to introduce our keynote speaker. Dr. A'ndrea Van Schoick earned her BS with Honors in Animal Science from Cornell University and a BS and DVM degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After veterinary school, she spent eight years in private practice in companion-animal practice and established a five-state locum primary care and emergency practice. She became a veterinary medical officer at FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine, where she's held roles as new animal drug reviewer, director of scientific curriculum, and currently within the Office of Minor Use and Minor Species, Animal Drug Development.
For Cornell, she's a longtime volunteer leader and currently serves as immediate past-president of the Cornell Association of Class Officers and a member of the Cornell Board of Trustees. And A'ndrea is a great friend of the college. We're really pleased to have her here with us today, and look forward to your remarks. Thank you.
[APPLAUSE]
A'NDREA VAN SCHOICK: Thank you, Dean Warnick, for that kind introduction. Future veterinarians, administrators, faculty, colleagues, family, and friends, it is truly an honor to be able to celebrate this special milestone with all of you today. I must admit, when the dean first asked me to speak, I was a bit nervous, wondering if I would have something wise or profound to share with you on this occasion. The other reason is that I was not actually admitted to the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine.
[LAUGHTER]
Let's just keep that among us, though. I'm still working through it. I'm joking. I'm over it, mostly.
[LAUGHTER]
And perhaps, Dean Warnick, we could have a word about that after today's. In all seriousness, everything works out as it should. I loved my time in Illinois. And my clinical rotations were my favorite time in veterinary school.
Truth be told, after reflecting on that time in preparation for today's remarks, in a way, I'm a little envious of the place you all are at in your careers. After 23 years as a veterinarian in various types of clinical and regulatory practice and many years of coaching students, recent graduates, and peers, I have realized that no matter where we complete our training, there exist universal truths in veterinary medicine. I'm going to spend the next few minutes sharing some of these, with the hope that you find them helpful as you enter this next phase of your training, and maybe even beyond.
For me, the clinical year was where I put it all together, seven years and more of watching, reading, memorizing, and regurgitating information on tests. Am I right? Fourth-year veterinary school was where it was at. Talking to clients, seeing patients, taking each case and solving it as a puzzle, getting to do things-- this was what I had been looking for.
Fourth year was hands-on training for my future career in food-animal and small-animal practice. I grew up in New Jersey with family roots in farming. I began working in small-animal clinics when I was 15.
And I was a Dairy Fellow in Cornell's Animal Science Department. I pursued extra dairy and small-animal rotations and externships in vet school. I knew what I planned to do.
Then, after graduation, life circumstances landed me in-- ta-da-- the Metro Washington, DC, area-- very few cows there. So small-animal-exclusive practice it was. However, the totality of my clinical background would be helpful later in my roles with the FDA, teaching, and mentorship.
This leads me to the first truth-- remain open. Veterinary medicine is such a broad and diverse career. There are opportunities everywhere-- industry, academia, traditional practice, shelter medicine, regulatory work, and more. It's hard to know what your interests, goals, or physical abilities may be 5, 10, 20 years down the road.
If you had asked me at any time before I turned 30 if I would work for the government, my answer would not have been yes. And had I not landed in the Greater DC area, I would bet good money that it would never have been yes. In 2008, I was at a crossroads-- stay in general practice, go back to school and take on more debt, or try something entirely different. And here's what happened.
I was at a local continuing-education meeting and saw an advertisement for a new animal drug reviewer position at the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine. I was intrigued but unsure, and I went for it. Guess what? I got the job.
I figured I would give it a year or two. And if I didn't like it, I would go back to practice. Now, 15 years later, I realize that it has been a great fit for many reasons. It has given me the freedom to practice in a way that makes me happy and to develop other skills, interests, and hobbies that I personally found difficult to pursue in full-time private practice.
What you enjoy now may not always be the case. And your life circumstances may not always be the same. So exposing yourself to all the areas you can will enrich you and may open some doors for you down the road.
And remember that throughout your career it's good to check in with yourself once in a while and get really clear about the things that make you happy, what you value, and what your goals are. Is what you're doing consistent with that? Be real and be honest. You owe it to yourself.
You don't have to stay on the path that you had always planned because it was expected of you or what you expected of yourself. It is not a failure to change course. And the unexpected can be equally fulfilling.
The next universal truth-- remain curious. What's the difference between remaining open and curious? It's not just about refreshing our technical skills through continuing education. It's about being curious about the differing perspectives and experiences of those around us.
Curiosity cultivates empathy in ourselves. Instead of making assumptions when we don't have the whole story-- and we should be humble enough to recognize that we sometimes don't-- asking from a place of curiosity shows that you genuinely care about understanding the other person. Try to accept positive intent. Asking clients open, curious questions about their pet-care practices, rather than closed, targeted questions can build trust and let owners know that you're on their team as a partner in their pet's health and not sitting in judgment.
Instead of asking, oy, do you only clean the litter box once per week, I've had better luck with, tell me a little bit about litter-box management in the household. And let the client expound. Then ask follow-up questions to get more details. Coach clients from there on how you would recommend that they modify their practices.
And while you are being curious, be kind. My dad always says, it costs nothing to be kind. For some people, that small act of kindness or compassion that you show by staying in the exam room an extra minute or asking-- or answering a quick question can mean a lot.
I don't mean doing it to the point of putting yourselves last and not setting boundaries. But try to put other people-- excuse me. But try to put yourselves in the other person's shoes as well.
We don't know what challenges they are facing. We can't know. Clear communication, patience, and kindness can be your best defenses against conflict. And with that, know that some people will never listen or just won't be able to understand. We can only do the best we can, and can only control our own behavior, not the other person's.
The next truth involves social media, which ironically is seldom truthful. Social media makes it all too easy to compare ourselves to others. And it can be very depressing when we may only be viewing their greatest hits. So please try not to compare your learning or career trajectory to that of another.
Thankfully, social media did not exist when I was in school. But I think the following is a fair comparison. I had a couple of classmates in school that we called "case magnets." They saw all the cool and complicated cases-- diabetic ketoacidosis, blocked cats, multiple endocrinopathies, attacked by beaver, hit by grain truck-- ah, Illinois.
They would talk about all the interesting cases they were seeing and everything they were learning on their respective rotations while the rest of us panicked. Wait, I've never seen one of those. I'm not going to know what to do with a beaver attack or hit by grain truck if I see one in practice, not that we were wishing for these horrible things to happen to animals, of course. But we wanted to be prepared.
Meanwhile, I was an emergency-case repellent. On my rotations, I rarely saw them. All the animals must have been healthy on those nights, and nothing was wrong.
So my relative lack of think-on-my-feet experience with emergencies is what led me to set up my relief practice in 2001. I was one year out of school, working mostly with another class of 2000 grad in a relatively slow practice, again, with very few emergencies-- probably my fault. And I wanted to see more of those cases. And the extra pay really helped with student loans.
And believe it or not, I saw a black lab who was attacked by a beaver at an emergency clinic in 2003. I kid you not. And I figured it out. And the dog survived. It went on to a full recovery. Slow but steady wins the race. Thank you, Aesop.
Later on, my relief practice was well established and ready to support me financially between the conclusion of my full-time clinical career and the paperwork filings for the FDA position. Relief practice helps me stay clinically relevant when I review products and development plans in my regulatory work, while keeping me anchored in an area of veterinary medicine that I still love. It all worked out.
We all get to be where we need to be in our own way and our own time. Be grateful for where you are in the moment. And don't let others' experiences, perceived experiences, or highlight reels on social media pull you down.
In the beginning of my career, I was afraid to ask questions. I thought it was a sign of weakness. What would the other vets in the practice think? What would my boss think? Would they be sorry they'd hired me?
I thought I was supposed to just know how to do it all or be able to figure out how to do it all, all on my own. I was afraid to bounce a case off a specialist until I had worked through every angle. I forgot to remember that we had all seen different cases in school and in practice.
What I have learned over time is that veterinary medicine is collaborative. It's a team sport. And that collaboration provides better outcomes for our patients. And I tell clients that.
We do not need to have all the answers. Let me say that again. We do not need to have all the answers.
But we do need to know how to find them. So we need to know who and what our resources are and how to access them. Therefore, start thinking about your resources.
For your veterinary medical life, this could be mentors, clinicians and faculty members, study groups and classmates, Plumb on your smartphone, the Veterinary Information Network, and more. It could be any of the members of your veterinary practice team-- technicians, receptionists, kennel attendants. Everyone has something to contribute.
Surround yourself with a network of trusted colleagues. For all you Ted Lasso fans out there, we will call these people your Diamond Dogs, a group of people who care. You can bounce cases off them, ask them how they would have handled a situation, just have them there to listen to you, and you for them.
We all tell ourselves stories about those cases or client interactions that we think could have gone differently. And your Diamond Dogs can help provide the reality check to ground you and to help you learn and grow from the situation. You need a group like this for all aspects of your life.
Part of the continuous learning mindset that is critical to our long-term success as veterinarians, as partners, and as people is learning about ourselves and continued personal development. Asking for feedback is a part of that. Your Diamond Dogs are your go-to group for this.
So ask for help. There is no shame in that. But remember, you know more than you think. Do you have faith in that.
I want to spend a few minutes on some thoughts about your future as a veterinarian and your personal well-being. I know that you as a class have already been tested and have endured some tough circumstances. It would be irresponsible of me to stand up here and say that the future is rosy and that everything in veterinary medicine is easy.
You all read the papers and, yes, social media. You know what's going on. It's tough out there.
You, we all, need to take care of ourselves. It is never too early to develop healthy habits. And I think that these are also some universal truths of veterinary medicine.
If you have ever flown on an airplane, you've heard your flight attendants say it. In the event of a loss of cabin pressure, first place your own oxygen mask. Then help your neighbor.
If you don't take care of yourself, you can't take care of others. Take some time out for you. Start now. Even if you think you should spend every spare minute studying for the board exam, I can promise you from personal experience, taking a few minutes out of every day to do something that you enjoy will only help you when you sit for those exams.
I facilitate a course at the FDA called the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People based on a book by Stephen Covey. Habit Seven is called "Sharpen the Saw-- the Habit of Daily Self-renewal." A big part of that habit is taking care of ourselves. Turn off your phones, unless you are on call, and unplug for a bit.
You are fortunate to be on one of the most beautiful campuses in the world. Spend some time outdoors and with your friends, family, and pets. Cultivate a hobby. Identify things that nourish your soul. And commit to do one or more of those activities every day, even for just a few minutes.
Schedule it the way you would a medical appointment or family obligation. Self-care is critical. And compassion fatigue is real. You need that time to recharge.
For me, singing, volunteering for Cornell, and being involved in organized veterinary medicine has brought balance and tremendous growth. My two beagles, Dr. Watson and Linus, bring me so much joy and comfort and have made me a better and more empathetic veterinarian, as I realize just how easy it is to overfeed them and just how difficult it is to trim nails and administer medications solo.
And please remember to give yourself grace. Colleagues, we call this "practice" for a reason. Yes, we are expected to be on all the time and to be accurate. And mistakes in our profession, well, they carry big consequences.
However, I can 100% guarantee that every single veterinarian out there has made one. And because I want you to actually get to your reception at some point, I am not going to tell you about mine. But it will be OK.
If you can ask yourself two questions at the end of each shift, did I do the best I could with the information available, and if I fell short somewhere in there, can I identify where and how to avoid it in the future, then that is all you can do. Try to learn to let the rest go. As my mother would say, put it in its proper drawer and move on. You cannot change it.
There will also be some outcomes that will not make sense or that you will not like. Can't do anything about those, but grieve them in the manner they deserve and move on. Instead of asking, why is this happening to me, try, what can I learn from this situation? The lessons are there if we have the courage and self-discipline to look for them.
And speaking of giving yourself grace, raise your hand if you're a type A personality. Oh, look at me. I've got both hands raised. I am a perfectionist to a fault. I dwell on my mistakes. I ruminate on them. I might have been a cow in a previous life.
But after years of internalizing my mistakes and allowing them to eat me alive, I have finally figured out a system that has worked pretty well for me. And here it is. Step one, try to leave it at work or on the commute home.
I typically have a lengthy commute between the clinics that I work at and my home. So I give myself the time and space of my commute, or if I'm working from home a very long walk outdoors, to process my day, to think about whatever may be bothering me-- a bad outcome on a case, a nasty client or review, a perceived slight by a colleague. Whatever it is, I think it over and allow myself to steam, hopefully figuring out if it was real or just in my head.
If by the end of my commute or my walk I'm still thinking about the situation and it isn't sitting well, I'll move on to step two and consult one or two of my Diamond Dogs, and either be buoyed by their reassurance or have plenty to consider for how to approach things differently. After that, if I'm still thinking about it, I will move on to step three and write it down on a scrap of paper, and either shred it, toss it in the trash, or some other ceremonial destruction of the offending idea. It may sound odd, but it usually works for me. Find a system that works for you to process your days, learn from them, and then let them go.
Finally, please remember to cherish this year, your time on this beautiful campus, and this experience as a Cornell veterinary student embarking on your clinical year. It will pass more quickly than you think. And before you know it, you will be celebrating your 20th-plus reunion with your classmates and possibly watching your own children sit on this very stage.
In the meantime, congratulations on this major milestone in your career. And welcome to the next chapter. And if you look around today, you have an entire Bailey Hall of Diamond Dogs ready to assist you.
As we do on this occasion today, we will always be rooting for you. I look forward to hearing about where your lives take you, all that you will accomplish, and to celebrating you next May at Schoellkopf Field as you wave your palpation gloves and turn your tassels. Thank you.
[APPLAUSE]
[LAUGHTER]
CLASS OF 2024: Wouldn't fit. I'm not a cowboy. Good afternoon, everybody.
Class of 2024, congratulations. This is a big deal. This equine-- Kentucky equine veterinarian is here with you this afternoon and not at home on the first Saturday in May watching the Kentucky Derby. So understand, this is a big deal.
[LAUGHTER]
Welcome, everybody. If you're-- my name is Jorge Colón. I'm a associate professor of practice here at the college in finance and organizational management. If your coatee has ever shown up at home here recently and randomly come up with some random line of thought regarding interest rates or debt repayment or saving for retirement, that's probably my fault. Sorry, not sorry.
I'm really here today as a member of the Faculty Committee on Student Awards, with the goal of presenting a very prestigious award that, in my opinion, being that it's a peer-based award, this is another very big deal. So I'm here to present the John F. Cummings Memorial Award. And please bear with me as I read a slightly lengthy description of Dr. Cummings.
"John Cummings, Bachelor of Science '58, DVM '62, Master of Science '63, PhD '66, and James Law Professor of Anatomy, had a long, distinguished career at Cornell as a teacher, researcher, and mentor to both veterinary and graduate students. He was an exciting and inspiring teacher known for his interest in, patience with, and compassion for students. Dr. Cummings was also a researcher in comparative neuropathology, internationally renowned for his work with animal models of human neurologic diseases. His untimely death on November 3, 1996, filled everyone who knew him with great sadness.
Dr. Cummings was the kind of person that many of us aspired to be. He was a modest person of the highest integrity, who knew the importance of family, community, and social responsibility, and who had a broad-- and who had broad interests, knowledge, and expertise outside as well as within veterinary medicine. He approached every aspect of life with enthusiasm, honesty, integrity, and a legendary sense of humor and wit." He did.
"He respected and cared for others and earned their respect and admiration in return. The College of Veterinary Medicine, classes of '97, '98, '99, and 2000 established a fund to provide an annual award to be given to a member of the third-year class who best exemplifies these qualities of Dr. Cummings. Students in any of the four veterinary classes can nominate a member of the third-year class for this award. The recipient of the award is then chosen by the Faculty Awards Committee from among those students nominated."
As a member of the Cornell class of 1995, I had the privilege of being trained by Dr. Cummings. And I can personally attest that this was a truly remarkable man. The student who has been nominated for this award carries these same qualities. And it is a complete honor that the John F. Cummings Memorial Award goes to Shiv Salwan.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
LORIN WARNICK: Congratulations. That's wonderful to see. So next, it's my pleasure to introduce Dr. Meg Thompson, Associate Dean for Hospital Operations and Clinical Professor. And she will give the Welcome to the Hospital. Dr. Thompson.
MARGRET THOMPSON: Thank you, Dean Warnick. So now this is the real part. Now, you get to be touching animals very, very soon.
So I bet you didn't know that the hospital had a baby emu last week and a reindeer the week before. We have a regular reindeer client. So you're going to probably see reindeer.
Lots of fun things to wonder about, see, do, and to worry about because you're going to worry about it. I'll let you know that in all likelihood, whatever you're worrying about is-- the worry is far worse than the outcome is going to be. And remember, none of us had lectures on emu medicine or reindeer medicine, right? So we-- it's all working as a team to figure out what to do, to jump in, rely on our training, even if we're scared and uncertain.
And as a team, you'll soon find we'll figure it out. We'll figure out what's wrong with the emu. We'll figure out what's wrong with the reindeer.
Most days, all of us learn something new and even if it's just an abbreviation. Last week, I had-- there were all these abbreviations. I had no idea what they were.
You have to ask. Be sure to ask. It's OK to ask.
And get to know everybody you work with. Get to know the techs. Get to know the animal-care staff. Get to know our front office. Get to know all the faculty you're working with, the pharmacists, your clients because most of the time who we learn from is each other.
And you're going to have a great time doing it, I promise. The hospital is super excited to have you guys join us. The faculty and staff have confidence in each of you. And remember, you have lots and lots and lots of support. Just ask if you need anything.
And be sure to pause and celebrate along the way. Touch the baby emu feathers that were super soft. I don't think I had ever touched an emu before, but it was pretty fun to touch it.
And be very proud when a long-time client tells you that your professionalism, compassion, and skill was exemplary. Make sure to share that with each other. Make sure to, when you get that, stop and really celebrate in that.
So congratulations on everything that you've done to get to this point. CUHA's patients and clients are super lucky to have all of you as committed, caring, and talented students from the class of 2024 as new doctors because you're almost there. So super excited to have you join us. If you need anything, ask. And congratulations, and welcome.
[APPLAUSE]
LORIN WARNICK: Thank you. So that brings us to the close of this wonderful program. One of the pleasures of being up here is each of our students was-- received your white coat-- was seeing the greetings between you and your mentors and faculty. And I really wish I could bottle up that excitement and caring that I witnessed firsthand here and share it with you throughout your life. Please cherish the memory.
So I congratulate all of you. What we'll do next as we close our program is we'd like the class to remain for a class photo. And then after that's done, we'll all gather for a reception, which will be up at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the end of Tower Road.
And we look forward to seeing you there, visiting, and meeting your family and friends. So congratulations, all. Really wonderful to have you move to this next step of your career.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
The first white coat ceremony, sponsored by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, was held at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1993. Since that time, white coat ceremonies have become a tradition at many schools of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, osteopathy, and at veterinary medical colleges across the country. At these ceremonies, students receive a white coat – the symbol of professionalism and empathy in the practice of medicine. The purpose of white coat ceremonies is to alert medical students to the need to balance excellence in science with humanistic patient care.
This event is also an acknowledgment and acceptance of professional values, growth, and commitment as students assume the responsibilities of the practice of veterinary medicine and its obligations before supportive witnesses.
Our college takes the celebration of this “rite of passage” one step further by honoring the mentors who have provided considerable support and special encouragement to our students along the way. These individuals will enrobe their students with the time-honored mantle of the medical profession: the white coat.
