From left, Stuart Markowitz, M.D., associate dean for student affairs at the Miller School at FAU, pins freshman Christine Djapri; Hilit Mechaber, M.D., assistant dean for student services, pins freshman Quinton Sparrow.
Annual Pinning Ceremony Officially Welcomes Class of 2012
Via the annual pinning ceremony, the Miller School officially welcomed 198 first-year students to the study of medicine. The event brought together the members of the Class of 2012 from UM’s two medical campuses—the Miller School at FAU and the Miami main campus—for the ceremony where they were “pinned” and congratulated by Dean Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., families, friends, alumni, and other invited guests.

The event, known since 2006 as the John G. Clarkson Freshman Pinning Ceremony, was held on the grounds of the Schoninger Research Quadrangle and included a keynote address from James B. Peake, M.D., an accomplished cardiac surgeon and former U.S. secretary of veterans affairs, and words of inspiration in a speech by Dean Goldschmidt.

“The contract between society and the profession of medicine is unique,” he said. “What we are really telling society is that this individual—your son, your daughter, your spouse—is responsible and will be able to take care of you when you are most in need, when you are ill and in need of a doctor.”

The pinning ceremony is a unique tradition at the Miller School in which students receive a symbolic pin that depicts four aspects of the medical school’s mission: excellence in medical education, expanding medical knowledge through research, providing high-quality care, and commitment to the community.

Nationally, most medical schools hold a “white coat” ceremony as the official event that welcomes students to the profession. The University decided in 2000 to conduct a pinning ceremony, and to do so in the spring, after students have completed more than a full semester of medical education and are more aware of the demands and privileges of medicine.

From left, ESRF co-director Seth Miller, a third-year Miller School student; Alving; and co-directors Shalu Patel, a third-year student, and Michael Gorin, a second-year student.

Miller School Students Win Awards at annual research Forum
The Eastern-Atlantic Student Research Forum (ESRF) celebrated 35 years of bringing together the brightest young minds in medicine and biomedical research for discussions and poster presentations. The forum took place at the Miller School and the Marriott Biscayne Bay February 25-28 and featured several brilliant scientists who addressed the participants, students from UM and other medical schools throughout the world. Barbara M. Alving, M.D., director of the National Center for Research Resources at the National Institutes of Health, delivered the keynote address.

Miller School students took home six of the 2009 ESRF Awards. The students are: Dominic Maggio, Drs. Carl and Barbara Alving Endowed Biomedical Research Award; Adena Rosenblatt, best overall University of Miami presentation; Gia Hoosien, best overall basic science presentation; Suzanne Hower, first-place outstanding basic science oral presentation; Christopher Bennett, first-place outstanding basic science poster presentation; and Ann Plum, second place outstanding basic science poster presentation.