Embracing Both/And Thinking: A Journey of Growth and Humility
As we gather to celebrate the commencement of our graduating students across the medical school campus, we stand at the threshold of a new beginning. Our graduating students have dedicated countless hours to studying and practicing their craft and have navigated unprecedented challenges – from impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic to significant geopolitical shifts – to earn their master and doctoral degrees in the sciences and health professions. As we celebrate this important achievement, I hope you will indulge me in a brief discussion of the importance of both/and thinking: the ability to hold multiple truths simultaneously – something I think is relevant both to this time of year and to life in general.
Sophia Bush stated, “you can be both a work in progress and a masterpiece at the same time.” This quote, frequently echoed by Jess Simms, a Peloton coach, beautifully captures the essence of embracing both/and thinking. It reminds us that while today marks a significant milestone, the path of learning and personal growth stretches infinitely ahead. Graduation in any of our programs is undoubtedly a monumental achievement. We should feel a profound sense of pride and achievement as our students, adorned in their caps, gowns, and hoods, walk across the stage. Pride in our learners for all they have achieved, and pride in our collective contributions to supporting, training, and otherwise helping them get to this point is critical to the work we do. And, amidst this celebration lies an important truth; each of these professions demand continuous growth and an insatiable thirst for knowledge and skill. By embracing both/and thinking, we recognize that graduation is a beginning rather than an end. That is actually why it is called a commencement – it signifies the beginning, or start, of something new.
Both/and thinking is also an essential attribute for any successful healthcare professional or scientist. It is the willingness to listen, respect, and learn from diverse perspectives that fosters growth and transforms good physicians, health professionals, and scientists into exceptional ones. By recognizing the value of differing viewpoints, we cultivate a rich and inclusive environment where collaboration and innovation thrive. So, I would like to close by naming a few things I hope for our learners and our broader School of Medicine Community that I think are relevant to both/and thinking:
I hope we have instilled in our students not only the knowledge of how to, but also the passion to dedicate themselves to working to make the world a better place, no matter what they choose to do with their training or what role they take on next. And I hope the same for all of us. Because we all have a place in improving the world we live in – in small and large ways.
I hope we have taught our students to be lifelong learners – people who strive to grow, change, and learn from new discoveries as well as from new experiences and people with differing opinions and backgrounds. And I hope the same for all of us. Because when we stop learning, we stop growing and what is possible, becomes impossible.
I hope we have taught our students to ask more questions and speak less – giving them the opportunity to truly understand someone or something new, even if they don’t agree. And I hope the same for all of us. Because there is so much to be gained and so little to be lost from truly understanding different perspectives.
I hope we have taught our students the value of collaboration and teamwork, and that they will role model it for others. And I hope the same for all of us. Because no one can accomplish great things alone.
And, finally, I hope we have in some small way helped our students to better understand themselves so that they use this training to choose a vocation – in academics, healthcare, industry or elsewhere – that they feel passionate about, that fills their cup more days than not, and that aligns with their values and dreams. And I hope the same for all of us. Because we all benefit when smart and capable people can do more of what makes them happy.
Congratulations to the graduating class and their families and friends. May you navigate your careers with unwavering dedication, open-mindedness, and an enduring commitment to learning and growth. Your patients, the medical and scientific communities, and the world will surely benefit from your talents. Thank you, graduates, for inspiring us with your dedication. And thank you to the faculty, fellows, residents, students, and staff who supported your achievement of this important milestone. I am forever grateful to all of you and awed by what you have and continue to contribute to education and the School of Medicine.