Chancellor Collins welcomes SOM Class of 2025 in ‘an exciting time to enter medicine’

The Albert Sherman Center Auditorium was filled with new students on Monday, August 9, as the 162 members of the School of Medicine’s Class of 2025 gathered to hear a welcoming address from Chancellor Michael F. Collins.

In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chancellor Collins spoke about the impact of war, lack of clean water and adequate health insurance on the health of children around the world.

“In the United States, we recognize that if you’re uninsured, a child only has a 70 percent chance of being properly immunized, let alone coronavirus, of any disease,” Collins said. “Think of the opportunity you will have with your commitment to do something about this: what an exciting time to get into medicine.”

Collins said each encounter future physicians have with their patients will be unique and profound.

“In each case, as physicians, we accept the enormous responsibility of ensuring the human dignity of patients. And as such, we enter into an inevitable alliance with the patient. We agree to do what we can to take care of them and them,” Collins said. “Study with intensity, always take care of your patients, and always hold a patient’s hand.”

Terence R. Fleet, MD, the Professor Celia and Isaac Haidak, Executive Vice Chancellor, Provost and Dean of the School of Medicine said 10 students in this class are first-generation students, 17 are from economically and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, and 27 are from underprivileged backgrounds. represented in medicine. Students come from across the country: 108 of the medical and medical/doctoral students are from Massachusetts and 11 live in California.

Many new students have a connection to UMass – 16% earned their undergraduate degrees at schools in the UMass system. Eleven students are training to become physician-researchers under the MD/PhD program and 25 are following the PURCH (Population-based Urban and Rural Community Health) pathway.

The Chancellor’s remarks resonated with Shridhar Singh, SOM ’25, of Sharon. While studying to be a doctor, Singh combines his interests in science, biology and people.

“I can’t wait to live the experience. [The chancellor talked] on how to work with patients. I look forward to making those connections,” Singh said.

Emily Meara, SOM ’25, of Wellesley, said she was looking forward to information about the Global Health Pathway.

“I’m so excited to be here at UMass Medical School,” Meara said. “I really think the community seems so strong, really trying to build itself up in a way that feels so unique. The teachers and people involved in the program seem so amazing and the opportunities with the different tracks and pathways are truly unparalleled.

The new SOM class has 69% women, reflecting a national trend. In his remarks, Dean Flotte cited the increase in the number of women in medicine as one of the reasons for optimism about the field. The main reason for optimism, said Flotte, is the students themselves.

“You are chosen to be here for a reason,” Fleet said. “You’ll match, you’ll find a good place to do your residency, and you’ll get jobs.”

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences students beginning their PhD in Biomedical Sciences will be on campus starting August 16. . 1.

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