Fifty-four students received the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree (DPM) from the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± School of Podiatric Medicine (BUSPM) at a commencement ceremony held on Saturday, April 30, 2011. The ceremony which took place at the Broad Center for the Performing Arts on the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± Miami Shores campus was attended by more than 900 family, friends, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and guests of the School of Podiatric Medicine.
The commencement not only recognized the accomplishments of the BUSPM class of 2011, but also marked the honoring of two remarkable medical pioneers Dr. Margaret Elizabeth Brand and Dr. Paul Wilson Brand who for four decades treated countless leprosy patients from Vellore, India to Carville, Louisiana. Dr. Margaret Brand accepted an honorary Doctor of Science degree for herself and she also accepted a posthumous honorary Doctor of Science degree on behalf of her late husband Dr. Paul Brand.
The Brands groundbreaking work with leprosy patients made it possible for insensate patients, including those with leprosy and diabetes, to function normally despite enormous handicaps. Both the Brands traveled the world to teach others about their research and treatment successes and served as advocates for their patients.
David G. Armstrong, Professor of Surgery and Director of the University of Arizona's Southern Arizona Limb Salvage Alliance (SALSA), was the keynote speaker at this year's commencement. The speech capped off a busy weekend which also included the historic dedication of the Dr. Paul & Margaret Brand Research Center at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½±. Dr. Armstrong noted, "To be part of this event with Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± President Sister Linda Bevilacqua and Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± Dean Jeffrey Jensen, to honor not only the students for their efforts, but to highlight the lives of two very special clinicians in Paul and Margaret Brand, is an honor that is impossible to articulate." His lecture, entitled "From Proto- to Pro-fessional" focused on themes of service, humility and compassion. Dr. Armstrong added, "To know that these young doctors are going to go out into the rest of their careers with role models that they've collected here at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± bodes well for the future of medicine in general and for podiatric medicine specifically."
David Auguste, president of the class of 2011 at the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± School of Podiatric Medicine indicated, "beginning with the experience of seeing our first patient to this our commencement day, the many sacrifices we have made will enable us the unique privilege of caring for our fellow man. During our clinical experiences we have developed relationships with our classmates and professors that we will cherish for the rest of our lives."
Many awards were presented to the class of 2011: TheÌýPresident's AwardÌýwent to Jonathan Selbst, sponsored byÌýPodiatric Billing ServicesÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýBako Labs;ÌýDean's AwardÌýwent to Annabelle Santos-Dookie, sponsored byÌýDr. Comfort,ÌýDade County Podiatric Medical Association,ÌýandÌý¹ó´Ç´Ç³Ù³¦²¹°ù±ð³Ý±è°ù±ð²õ²õ;ÌýRaymond D. Ibañez, Jr., DPMÌýMemorial Awardwent to Hana Finn, sponsored by theÌýIbañez FamilyÌýand private donations;ÌýCivic Service AwardÌýwent to Pauline Seymour, sponsored byÌýGordon's Labs;ÌýDr. Debra Kalfas Memorial AwardÌýwent to Kelli Ashe sponsored byÌýFalk, Waas, Hernandez, Cortina, Solomon, and Bonner, PA;ÌýDr. William Delavari Memorial AwardÌýwent to Kristina Barreiro, sponsored byÌýVilex, Incorporated; Excellence in Clinical Sciences AwardÌýwent to Luis Rodriguez, sponsored byÌýAmerx Corporation;ÌýDr. Irving & Muriel Block Memorial AwardÌýwent to Sidharth Reddy, sponsored byÌýFlorida Podiatric Medical Society;ÌýLeadership AwardÌýwent to David Auguste, sponsored byÌýPedinol Pharmacal,ÌýGill Podiatry Supply, andBioPro;Excellence in Biomedical SciencesÌýwent to Annabelle Santos-Dookie, sponsored byÌýBioPro; Scholarly DevelopmentÌýAwardwent to Joshua Britt, sponsored byÌýGill Podiatry Supply and Vilex, Incorporated;Michael L. Stone, DPM, OutstandingÌýProfessional Conduct Award, Memorialwent to Peter Highlander, sponsored by theÌýAmerican Board of Podiatric Surgery;ÌýOutstanding Biomechanics/OrthopedicsÌýwent to Aldo Gonzalez sponsored byÌýNorthwest Podiatric Labs;ÌýDr. Timothy Holbrook Award of ExcellenceÌýwent to Mary Zavada, sponsored by theÌýAmerican College of Foot & AnkleÌýOrthopedics & Medicine. Faculty awards presented by the Class of 2011 were:ÌýBest Basic Science faculty, Dr. Ramjeet Pemsingh;ÌýBest Clinical Science Faculty, Dr. Albert Armstrong;ÌýBest Podiatry Clinic,ÌýHialeah Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± Foot & Ankle Institute;ÌýThe Dr. Marvin Steinberg Award, Dr. Bradley Bakotic;ÌýOutstanding Administrative Staff,ÌýMs. Annick DeBruyne;ÌýAppreciation of Counsel, Dr. Bradley Haves.
Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± President, Sister Linda Bevilacqua, OP, PhD conferred the degrees and Dr. Jeffrey Jensen serving as dean for the first time led the recitation of the Oath of Hippocrates with the new doctors of podiatric medicine.