SBU Medical Students Graduate Early; Many To Fight Coronavirus

STONY BROOK, NY — On Wednesday, 122 students in the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University received their diploma two months early. More than half of them raised their hands to be deployed to the front lines of the fight against the new coronavirus, the university announced.

The students shared their achievement on a Facebook Live ceremony so families, friends and loved ones, physically separated to accommodate social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, were able to see the students receive their medical degrees as well as take the Hippocratic Oath.

Of the 122 graduates, 49 students will join the ranks at Stony Brook University Hospital as assisting physicians starting Monday, while 14 will head to Winthrop University Hospital, where they completed their third and fourth year clerkships and/or matched there for their residency.

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An executive order by Gov. Andrew Cuomo allowed for early graduation among senior medical students who met all academic requirements. The leadership team at RSOM immediately implemented the requirements needed to ensure the students could step into the physician workforce.

The new doctors will be supervised by attending physicians in order to help address the growing number and complexity of patients being admitted to the hospital, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. All graduates have taken a COVID-19 preparedness course that was required for two weeks of academic credit, and the 49 students who will be working at SBU Hospital are hired for six-to-eight weeks within the hospital system.

"We celebrate the accomplishments of 122 outstanding Renaissance School of Medicine students; women and men who will be advancing their careers as inquisitive, compassionate and caring physicians," Dr. Kenneth Kaushansky, dean of the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, said in a news release. "Their humanity and devotion to the principles of medicine have been truly inspiring."

Dr. Kaushansky co-presided over the virtual graduation ceremony with Dr. Latha Chandran, vice dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs. The presentation of candidates was conducted and students were awarded their degrees during the virtual ceremony.

"More than 50 percent of our graduates will immediately be working to help handle the COVID crisis affecting all of us," Dr. Chandran said. "A special thanks to all of you who opted to work right after graduation."

New graduate Dr. Anthony Schramm thanked his family and fellow classmates.

"[They] are some of the brightest young minds in medicine who are eager to join the front lines in the COVID response," he said in a statement. "You inspire me and I’m extremely honored to be part of this group."

The Long Island community at large has rallied around hospitals, including Stony Brook University Hospital, as donations have poured in.

The university has worked to support its hospital in its efforts against the coronavirus through a variety of means. The school's chemistry department has been pumping out hand sanitizer for health care workers, while the iCreate Lab is using 3-D printers to manufacture face shields. The Stony Brook School, a private school, began using laser cutters in its STEM Lab to construct face shields in a quick, efficient manner. The school will be producing at least 5,000 of them for Stony Brook University Hospital.

Courtesy: Stony Brook Medicine

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