Friends and family gathered, albeit virtually, to cheer on their loved ones graduating from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) Biomedical Laboratory Sciences (BLS) Department.
The department streamed the ceremony live via the Blackboard Collaborate platform, and attendees were also able to call into the event, allowing them to cheer on and congratulate the graduates as their names were called.
The ceremony started with Marcia Firmani, PhD, MSPH, MT(ASCP), MB, director of the clinical microbiology and molecular diagnostic sciences MSHS programs and chair of the SMHS Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, remarking on the achievements and talent of the Class of 2020.
“The mission of our department is to prepare high-quality and diverse biomedical science professionals to meet the challenges in today’s global market,” she said, “and I can say from our graduates who are here with us today, and those who could not attend, we have very much succeeded with that mission because all of our graduates are incredibly talented and well-prepared to meet the needs in health care today.”
She also noted the importance of the role of medical laboratory professionals in the health care professions, adding that 70% of decisions made in a clinical setting are based on the results generated by medical lab professionals.
Graduates from the BLS Department earned degrees from programs including the Bachelor of Science in health sciences in medical laboratory sciences; six different Master of Science in health sciences programs, including: clinical microbiology, molecular diagnostic sciences, medical laboratory sciences, immunohematology and biotechnology, translational microbiology, and a military program in immunohematology; as well as in a variety of post-baccalaureate certificate programs.
Following Firmani’s remarks, many faculty and staff members from the department introduced themselves and offered heartfelt congratulations and words of encouragement to all the graduates.
Names of all the graduates were then announced, with family and friends cheering and celebrating each graduate over the phone, filling the virtual ceremony with joyful noise.
Awards also were announced during the ceremony, including Highest Overall GPA, Highest MLS GPA, Community Service Awards, Resilience Awards, and Involvement in Professional Organizations Awards, among many others.
In addition, the 2020 Health Sciences Outstanding Student Award was presented to Lisa Frisch, who graduated with a MSHS in molecular diagnostic sciences.
Award Winners include:
Highest Overall GPA: Bachelors of Science in Health Sciences Programs
BSHS in MLS Blended
Samantha Dean - Summer 2019 Yolymar Salvador – Fall 2019 Dorinda O’Garro – Spring 2020
BSHS in MLS Fully Online
Jospeh King – Summer 2019 David Taranto – Fall 2019 Jessie Kendall – Spring 2020
Highest MLS GPA: Bachelors in Health Sciences Programs
BSHS in MLS Blended
Samantha Dean – Summer 2019 Yolymar Salvador – Fall 2019 Dorinda O’Garro – Spring 2020
BSHS in MLS Fully Online
Jospeh King – Summer 2019 David Taranto – Fall 2019 Ramanvir Sidhu
Highest Overall GPA: Certificate Programs
MLS Certificate
Guojin Li – Summer 2019 Daniel Meyer – Fall 2019 Kendall Pleva – Spring 2020
Categorical Certs Combo
Debra Oliver – Summer 2019 Wiam Makki – Fall 2019 Catherine Gaitlin – Spring 2020
Highest Overall GPA: Master of Science in Health Sciences Programs
Medical Laboratory Sciences
Karla Ortiz – Summer 2019 David Couto – Fall 2019 Shana Maciel – Spring 2020
Translational Microbiology
Effie Faghih – Fall 2019
Clinical Microbiology
Bernard Landry – Summer 2019 Kelly Unekis – Fall 2019 Selma Omer – Spring 2020
Molecular Diagnostic Sciences
Bruno Castillo and Laura Coons – Summer 2019 Shruthi Dhanasiri – Fall 2019 Lisa Frisch – Spring 2020
Immunohematology and Biotechnology
Hind Kurbaj – Summer 2019 Gina Folk – Fall 2019
COVID-19 Service Awards
Seerat Mavi Catherine Gatlin Yolymar Salvador
Community Service Awards
Duyania Cephas Rebecca Jennings Betselot Zelalem Joshua Martinez
Resilience Awards
BSHS
Philip Dugan Kyle Hudson
Certificates
Wiam Makki Ashni Patel
MSHS
Gina Folk Zulekha Sayyed
Health Sciences Outstanding Student Award
2020 Outstanding Undergraduate and Graduate Nominees
Samantha Dean Gina Folk Lisa Frisch
2020 Health Sciences Outstanding Graduate Student Award Winner
Lisa Frisch
