Class of 2017 Graduates at Newark Ceremony

The graduates. Photo by Steve Hockstein

The Class of 2017 said good bye to the title “student doctor” last month and embarked upon their professional journey.

At a convocation ceremony held at NJPAC in Newark, 117 graduates were reminded of all they had achieved and what made their class unique.

The class was an electic mix that included a fire fighter, a radio disc jockey, a Bollywood dancer and a member who once operated the scoreboard at Yankee Stadium.

Vice-Dean Kim Fenesy shared the class statistics, as she does each year. Sixteen members were their family’s first generation to attend college. Twenty-four were part of RSDM’s college pipeline programs, the largest group of any class since the program began. During their time at dental school, 12 graduates were married and a total of 18 children were born to class members.

Fenesy quoted one graduate captured the bond among classmates. After she was diagnosed with a collapsed lung and needed surgery, the student recalled the outpouring of support from her peers. “What struck me was that it wasn’t just my close friends that reached out, it was everyone. Everyone wanted to help me get back on my feet…If that isn’t family, I don’t know what is.’’

Convocation speakers included RBHS Chancellor Brian Strom and Dean Ceil A. Feldman, who inspired the class with some words from the Dr. Seuss classic, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go.’’

“Congratulations! Today is your day! You’re off to great places! You’re off and away,’’ she began.

Class President Jency Paul reminded the class of their duty, not only to themselves, but to their profession. “It’s our responsibility to go out into the world and change the view of dentistry,’’ she exhorted. “It’s not about fillings, it’s about feelings.’’

Another class member, Artem Krutyansky, was awarded the Stanley S. Bergen Jr. MD Award of Excellence, which is given to the student who best exemplified outstanding academic accomplishments.

At the Senior Awards ceremony, faculty members were also recognized. The Excellence in Research Award was given to Dr. Vijay Parashar, an assistant professor in the Department of Oral Biology. Dr. Mohammed Kamel, assistant professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry, received the Excellence in Teaching award.