Three Thoughts for The Graduating Dental and Medical Class of 2020

To everyone graduating this year from dental and medical schools around the world, a special congratulations to you and your families. You’ve entered the health care profession exactly when the world needs you most.

Of course, this may not be the graduation experience you envisioned when you started your educational journey, but please don’t let that dampen your enthusiasm and excitement.

The class of 2020 will forever be distinguished as having entered the profession at one of those rare times in history when the importance of health care could not be more evident. This class will move directly from the classroom to the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the immediate opportunity to improve the lives of patients and family members. 

Dr. Suneel Dhand, an internal medicine physician and author, once wrote, “In our job, you will never go home at the end of the day thinking that you haven’t done something valuable and important.” That timeless truth about the health care profession is more obvious now than ever before.

The trust that society will place in your hands is an enormous responsibility that you will rise to embrace each day. The pressure of your decisions and actions will be a heavy weight to bear, but the improvement in the lives of the patients you treat and their family members will help ease that burden. And as the past four months have clearly demonstrated, the path that you and your health care colleagues will walk is frequently uncharted. You will benefit by embracing the ambiguity.

As the class of 2020 graduates makes it contribution to society’s progress, I want to encourage everyone to remember these three pieces of advice. 

First, think big and always ask “Why not?” This is the most important question to ask throughout your career. “Why not?” will take you to places where big dreams come true.

Second, as Benjamin Franklin said 200 years ago, doing well by doing good really works. The opportunities to give back are limitless. Look for ways to give back that are right for you and use your virtual commencement ceremonies as the time to commit to driving positive change in our world while advancing your professional aspirations. 

And finally, enjoy the journey of life, make time for your family and friends, and have fun along the way. Finding balance in life is the real secret of a long and fulfilling career.

As graduates in the health care professions, the class of 2020 has already achieved so much, and your virtual commencement ceremonies are just the beginning. To quote another internist and author, Dr. Danielle Ofri, “The awe of discovering the human body. The honor of being trusted to give advice. The gratitude of helping someone through a difficult illness. These things never grow old.” You are entering a perennially fulfilling profession.

On behalf of everyone at Henry Schein, congratulations again on your remarkable achievement, thank you for your commitment to making our world a better place, and welcome to the global health care community.