Message from Dean Barbara Bass

To the SMHS Graduates,

As we celebrate your graduation this year, I want you to know how proud we all are of you for your achievements and for the commitments you have made to the future of medicine and health sciences. This has certainly been a unique and memorable year, and I commend you for your resilience, your ability to be nimble, and your motivation to be a part of the solution to the largest global health crisis of our time. It has been a remarkable year, but also one that will prepare you to be ready for the unexpected – which is important for a career in the health care field.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has created a multitude of disruptions in all of our lives, including the disruption of our traditions of Commencement on the National Mall and our programmatic graduation celebrations in Lisner Auditorium, it also has created new opportunities for creativity and has invited us to find new ways to accomplish our goals. While, once again, we are not gathered together with our full classes, I do hope that you are celebrating this day with those who have supported you as you’ve accomplished your goals.

On behalf of the entire GW faculty and staff, I congratulate you on your graduation and I encourage you to continue to learn and grow in the days ahead. I personally wish you the very best and welcome you to the GW SMHS Alumni Community.

Raise High!

Barbara Lee Bass, MD

Vice President for Health Affairs

Dean, GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Professor of Surgery

The George Washington University

CEO, The GW Medical Faculty Associates