Commencement was held Friday for Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine’s Class of 2026, as 123 new doctors were celebrated for their accomplishments during the past four years.
Roughly 1,000 people attended the event held at Oakland University’s O’rena. Of the 123 graduates, 119 participated in the ceremony.
The graduates represented the 12th class to complete their medical education at OUWB in 2015.
Christopher Carpenter, M.D., Stephan Sharf Dean, OUWB, acknowledged the class’s academic accomplishments while putting extra emphasis on their collective commitment to compassion and service – characteristics that he said define why they “belonged at our school.”
“You had amazing grades, but there was one factor that outweighed your (Medical College Admission Test) score and your (grade point average) … it was your compassion,” he said. “We recognized that it was already integral to your character.”
“Collectively over four years, you balanced coursework and clinicals with service to the community and as a class you earned an incredible 14,000 hours,” he said. “That’s the equivalent of seven of you working full time for a year providing service. Wow!”
Oakland University President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, M.D., offered “heartfelt congratulations to our amazing graduates.”
“Today marks the culmination of years of hard work and vigorous study. Your disciplines, perseverance and yes, many early mornings and late nights, have brought you to this moment,” she said. “I hope you are as proud as we are of all that you have accomplished.”
Berkley Browne-Holtz, Ph.D., associate dean, Student Affairs, called special attention to how the class members “have chosen to show up for one another along the way.”
“Over the past few years, I have had a front-row seat to watch you grow into physicians who lead with kindness, recognize the value of collaboration, and understand that none of us does this work alone,” she said. “You built a culture where supporting each other is the norm, not the exception.”
“Sharing knowledge, lifting one another up, and stepping in when someone needed help became part of who you are,” she added.
Alumni speaker this year was Alison Thomas, M.D., OUWB ’20. She urged the graduates to remember the unique education they’ve received at OUWB.
“OUWB doesn’t just teach you how to diagnose or treat … It teaches you how to care. It teaches you to see the person behind the chart,” she said. “In a world where medicine can feel rushed, transactional, and at times disconnected, OUWB has trained you to slow down, to listen, to connect, and to lead with empathy.”
“And that is something you must protect,” she added.
Nathan Huang, M.D., was class speaker, chosen by the Class of 2026. Before he spoke, Huang said he was grateful for the opportunity and called it an honor to be picked as the class speaker.
During his speech, he brought out plenty of laughs while recounting the journey he and his classmates have been on for the last four years. He framed it all with an eye on the future.
“Class of 2026, the days were long, but the years were short,” he said during his speech. “Now let’s keep showing up.”
Lifelong friendships
Claire Wang, M.D., who aspired to be a doctor all of her life, credited the people and the experiences that made her journey meaningful.
“I made so many of my best friends and also learned from so many amazing mentors,” said Wang. “The best moments are the small moments that you have with your friends … in the anatomy lab or while studying and getting through the challenging times together.”
When asked about her favorite OUWB memory, Elena Ghezzi, M.D., reflected back on her M1 and M2 years.
“I have so many fond memories of being with all my friends in O'Dowd Hall and in the study rooms our first two years, preparing for exams, and we spent a lot of time together, working hard, but bonded us overall.”
Neelesh Sai Peddireddy, M.D., expressed gratitude for a reliable support system.
“I am most grateful for the friends that I made,” said Peddireddy. “ I don't think I could have made it through without everyone that I met, for this great school, great friends, and great family.”
Mark Whitton, M.D., feels ready for what’s next.
“(Today) feels fantastic and now it’s just keep working towards the next goal.”
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More from OUWB Class of 2026 celebrates 'inspiring' Match Day at OUWB OUWB receives record number of applications for 2026 Four-year research projects by OUWB Class of 2026 published online
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