50 Years of WVU SOM Alumni Association

Delivered by Alumni President, Renee S. Moore MD, Class of 1985
Alumni Brunch for Graduating Seniors
Lakeview Resort, May 17, 2002

I am so glad to have this opportunity to address the class today. I have known and have worked with so many of you even during admission preparations. It has also been such a treat to serve as president of the alumni association during it’s 50th anniversary celebration.

Med school graduation weekend is one of those wonderful things you don’t ever forget. Even after “17” years since I sat where you are now, it still evokes so many feelings of happiness, excitement and anticipation. The fact that it is so much more inclusive with family participation is also great - since, you must realize, by now, you did not do this in isolation. The details of my graduation weekend have become a little fuzzy though over the years - did we have a luncheon? and who was the speaker?

But, it is still so nice to vicariously experience this event year after year.

So now you will be off to internships - new places (some near others a little farther) and lots of new adventures. Some days you may wonder just why am I here? This could be one of those days.

I would like to give you a brief example: 2:26 minutes (video clip)

Now we could have a big discussion and education session on doctoring skills, professionalism, medical knowledge, but like parents we hopefully are sending you off with all the tools you need to determine what’s right/wrong; good/bad; caring or otherwise.

As I thought about what I would like to say to you today - well let’s just say divine thoughts can turn up in the most unlikely places: being busy with not only work, but family (a husband and 3 wonderful busy children) we tend to eat out a little often sometimes. So I find I get some of my best inspirations from what else? fortune cookies!

(hopefully most of these will be self explanatory)

1. This is a double one. You will soon be spending more time with your co-workers and getting to know them better. AND A visit to a strange place will bring you fresh work. (During residency you will learn a lot about life and establish some very strong friendships).
2. God has given you special blessings. (The next line according to my mother would be “ and you should never waste them”.)
3. Your ability to juggle many tasks will take you far. (As MS3s you feel like your very busy, but just wait. You will see how well trained you really are.)
4. Everyone agrees you are the best. (Look around, you are surrounded by friends, family and mentors - people who love and care about you.)
5. If a true sense of value is to be yours, it must come through service. (Medicine is not a job, not a shift it is a vocation. Your service will extend beyond the areas of the clinic and hospital also and be very much needed in the community at large.)
6. Don’t forget, you are always on our minds. (As faculty, we always think back about former medical students; as alumni we want to know how you are doing and where you are - so please let us know. It’s like the Sunday phone calls home.)

So when you are off doing your residencies and you think back to graduation and your looking for that warm fuzzy feeling and can’t remember if you had a luncheon or if anyone tried to give you sage advice -- just think of Harry Potter. When he is miserable, in his little room under the stairs he recalls what great memories he has of his friends and school family at Hogwarts and hopefully you will think fondly of your time at WVU.

Congratulations and enjoy the weekend!