Azraa Chaudhury, ’24 MD, was inspired to pursue a career in medicine by her experiences connecting with patients while working as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) during her undergraduate studies. On Monday, Chaudhury began the next chapter of her journey to become a physician by graduating alongside the rest of Feinberg’s Class of 2024.

“As a medical student, seeing patients at Northwestern on the wards and in the clinic, patients get to know your name,” said Chaudhury, who will go on to complete her residency in Ophthalmology at NewYork Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City.  “Sometimes they ask, ‘Can you be my doctor?’ and I say ‘I’m a medical student, but maybe down the line.’ I love that about medicine and I’m excited to be taking the next step in my journey to being someone’s doctor one day.”

Feinberg honored the MD Class of 2024 during the medical school’s 165th commencement ceremony held in the Aon Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier on May 13.

This year’s commencement began with remarks from Eric G. Neilson, MD, vice president for Medical Affairs and Lewis Landsberg Dean, who welcomed graduating medical students, faculty, family and friends to the ceremony.

“As I reflect on the extraordinary things you’ve accomplished so far, I’m reminded you’re also embarking on a new stage of life as students of medicine,” Neilson said. “This stage is more personal and reflective, where you quickly become your own teacher and set goals for what you will remember and refresh through your years of continuing medical education.”

Northwestern University Provost Kathleen Hagerty, PhD, MBA, welcomed the new graduates to the Northwestern Alumni community.

“As Northwestern graduates, you join a vibrant and diverse community of alums at the forefront of their fields in the arts, sciences, business, engineering, law, and of course, medicine,” Hagerty said. “I am grateful for your contributions to the Northwestern community.”

Michael Brown, MD, director of the Jonsson Center for Molecular Genetics and Regental Professor at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School, delivered this year’s commencement address, congratulating the graduates for persevering despite starting medical school during a pandemic.

“The Feinberg Medical School class of 2024 entered at the peak of a devastating pandemic,” Brown said. “Medical schools were under immense pressure. Desperate faculty were faced with hundreds of dying patients while trying to figure out the best treatments by trial and error. Medical students were faced with shuttered classrooms, canceled classes and education by Zoom. Somehow, the Class of 2024 survived. You overcame these obstacles. You learned medicine. And now you’re poised to take the next step in your quest to become physicians.”

Lena Volpe, ’24 MD, addressed her classmates and stressed the importance of a physician’s relationship with their patients.

“There’s a fundamental truth that lies at the heart of our profession: To be cared for is to be known,” said Volpe, who will return to Northwestern in the fall for her residency in Obstetrics-Gynecology at McGaw Medical Center. “To truly care for our patients, we must strive to know them. Not just their symptoms, lab values and diagnoses, but the fullness of their reality.”

To end the ceremony, Neilson led the new graduates in reciting the Declaration of Geneva, the modern declaration of the physician’s oath, and the same they took as first-year medical students at Founders’ Day.

Thirty graduating students were inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. Fourteen students received Magna Cum Laude in Scientia Experimentali, and 10 received Cum Laude in Scientia Experimentali. Seven students graduated Summa Cum Laude, six graduated Magna Cum Laude, and seven graduated Cum Laude.

Many also took advantage of Feinberg’s dual-degree programs: 11 graduates received a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, one earned a Master’s Degree in Medical Humanities & Bioethics, 12 received a Master’s Degree in Public Health and 8 completed a PhD through the Medical Scientist Training Program.

“Because of the journey I’ve been on here, from the pre-clinical years to the clinical rotations, I’ve seen such a wide breadth of what medicine can offer,” said Charles Miller, MD ’24, who will head to Washington, D.C. in the fall for his residency in Ophthalmology at Howard University. “I’ll be ready for the next stage.”

For Jonathan Anguilar, ’24 MD, who was drawn to medicine by the positive impact physicians can have on their patients, his time at Feinberg will serve as the foundation for his residency in Urology at McGaw.

“Feinberg prepared me incredibly well for this next step in my career,” Anguilar said.  “I could not have asked for better mentorship, guidance and advice. I’m ready to apply the skills, values and knowledge Feinberg has taught me into my residency.”