Temerty Faculty of Medicine; School of Graduate Studies Spring 2022 Convocation

TL;DR

The Spring 2022 convocation celebrates graduates of the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine and School of Graduate Studies while emphasizing perseverance, gratitude, and responsibility. President Meric Gertler notes that this was the first in-person convocation season since November 2019 and welcomes graduates into an alumni community of over 600,000 people in more than 190 countries. Read on for the ceremony’s key messages about healthcare, trust, leadership, and reconciliation.

Transcript

We wish to acknowledge this land on which the University of Toronto operates. For thousands of years it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥹 The convocation ceremony emphasizes gratitude towards indigenous peoples, graduating scholars, families, and faculty/staff who guided the graduates in their pursuit of knowledge.
• 🧑‍⚕️ Graduates' accomplishments during challenging times, particularly in the health sciences, are celebrated and recognized.
• 🌍 The University of Toronto values its alumni community, acknowledging their contributions in various leadership roles around the world.
• 🔬 Reliable science, trust in healthcare, and effective leadership are vital for improving patient outcomes and addressing systemic issues.
• 💱 Graduates are encouraged to share stories of positive impact to inspire change and promote the importance of individual contributions.
• 😨 The patient's story highlights the significance of respectful collaboration, clear communication, and empathetic care in building trust with patients.
• 🏝️ The ceremony includes acknowledging the indigenous land, introducing an Eagle Feather Bearer, and emphasizing the University's commitment to reconciliation and Indigenous initiatives.

Questions & Answers

Q: What happened at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and School of Graduate Studies Spring 2022 Convocation?

The University of Toronto formally admitted the graduating classes of 2022 to their degrees and celebrated their hard work, accomplishments, and perseverance. The ceremony also recognized the support of graduates’ families, friends, faculty, and staff.

Q: Who spoke at the University of Toronto Spring 2022 convocation?

Meric Gertler, the University of Toronto’s 16th President, assisted Chancellor Rose Patten in conducting the convocation. He also introduced the convocation speaker, Dr. Pier Bryden, an esteemed University of Toronto alumna and associate professor.

Q: Why was the Spring 2022 convocation especially meaningful?

It was part of the University of Toronto’s first in-person convocation season since November 2019. Gertler said the graduates had completed their programs during extraordinary and challenging times, particularly in the health sciences.

Q: What did the Latin convocation declaration mean?

Gertler explained that he presented the scholars as fit and suitable for admission to their degrees under the university’s statutes. The Chancellor’s reply admitted them to their degrees, granted their associated rights, and asked them to fulfill the responsibilities attached to those degrees.

Q: How large is the University of Toronto alumni community?

The ceremony states that University of Toronto alumni number over 600,000 across more than 190 countries. Gertler described them as the university’s living legacy and greatest ambassadors, serving in leadership roles around the world.

Q: Why did the ceremony acknowledge Indigenous land?

The university acknowledged that its land has for thousands of years been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. It also recognized that the meeting place remains home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work there.

Q: How does Dr. Pier Bryden’s patient story explain trust in healthcare?

The patient developed trust in his family physician and hospital team through respectful collaboration and clear communication. That trust helped him make informed decisions about his health and illustrated the importance of empathetic care.

Q: What lessons for healthcare graduates came from Dr. Bryden’s story?

The story emphasizes reliable science, trusting relationships, effective leadership, and supportive work environments. Graduates are encouraged to create positive change through evidence-based research, patient-provider trust, and stories showing the impact of individual contributions.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The University of Toronto acknowledges the indigenous land it operates on and expresses gratitude towards the graduating scholars and their families.

• The President of the university, Meric Gertler, congratulates the graduating class and emphasizes the significance of their accomplishments during challenging times.

• Dr. Pier Bryden, an esteemed alumnus and faculty member, shares a patient's story to underscore the importance of science, trust in healthcare, and the role of graduates in making a positive difference.