A Matter of Health

Coming together

By Ruth SoRelle, M.P.H.

Graduations are usually scripted affairs, tightly controlled with a place for everyone and everyone in his or her place. Graduation at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) is no different – or at least it wasn't until this year.

At 5:30 p.m., we had just opened the doors to allow the families of the graduating medical and doctoral students inside when the staff at Jones Hall, where the event takes place each year, abruptly began relocking them. The families were frustrated, and most of us were bemused.

Quickly, it became obvious that this was more than just some whim of the security staff. A bomb threat phoned into the hall had just thrown our carefully orchestrated plans into disarray. The easiest course would have been to cancel the event. It was symbolic, after all. The learning had been done; the tests passed.

However, that symbolism mattered to our students, to their families and to the faculty and staff, many of whom attended to see that special person walk across the stage after many long years of study. BCM President Peter Traber, M.D., gathered his administrative and educational staff around. How do you move a graduation?

Quickly, as it turned out. Through a bullhorn, he told the family members and students waiting outside of the change in plans. Get to Baylor College of Medicine's Cullen Building by 8 p.m., and there would be some kind of ceremony. Members of the faculty and staff spread out through the crowd.

"Do you know the plan? Here's how to get to the Cullen Building. Go now and beat the crowd."

Students, some of whom had dissolved into tears when they realized that this all important day had been derailed temporarily, gathered their family and friends around them. This was going to happen.

And it did. It took three auditoriums and thousands of steps as we divided the families and students among the various venues. Then the College's leaders traversed the halls, going from auditorium to auditorium granting degrees and congratulating new graduates.

It was not ideal. We would have preferred that carefully orchestrated event that included all families and students into one cohesive group that could celebrate together.

As I gathered up the robes from the students after the event, it was obvious that it meant a lot to them that the graduation had gone ahead in some form. And as one told me: "It wasn't so bad. We had a unique graduation."

There are those who say that survival is enhanced by the ability to adapt to change. Baylor College of Medicine has adapted to a variety of changes in its 100-plus year history. And graduation night 2007 proves that it produces young doctors and Ph.D.s who understand, accept and even celebrate change.

Congratulations to the class of 2007.