Photo: Faith Ninivaggi
On Sunday, May 31, in front of a capacity crowd on the campus green of UMass Chan Medical School, 270 degrees were conferred to graduates of the T.H. Chan School of Medicine, Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing and Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
Chancellor Michael F. Collins, presiding over Commencement exercises for the twentieth and final time, celebrated the Class of 2026 and the institution he has served since 2007. Chancellor Collins is the longest serving chancellor in the history of the University of Massachusetts system. He will conclude this role at the end of this academic year.
Collins opened his remarks by informing the graduates and their families that he had originally intended to focus his Commencement address on artificial intelligence, or AI. Instead, he pivoted, flipping the AI abbreviation around and encouraging the future physicians, scientists and nurses to live their lives inspired by IA, or “inspired altruism.”
“AI will have an enormous impact on the future of nursing, science and medicine,” Collins said. “But there is nothing artificial about IA and IA embraces the embodiment of actual human intelligence. Inspired altruism defines humanity and promotes and enhances the human condition.”
“May yours be a life of inspired altruism and may your example be of commitment, encouragement and support to those entrusted to your care.”
Collins presented 158 Doctor of Medicine degrees; seven MD/PhD degrees, 39 Doctor of Philosophy degrees; 54 Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees, four PhD in Nursing degrees and five Master of Science, Nursing and Interprofessional Leadership degrees.
Collins also recognized David D. McManus, MD’02, ScM’12, MBA, the Richard M. Haidack Professor in Medicine, chair and professor of medicine, who, in April, was named incoming chancellor of UMass Chan.
Gerald Chan, venture capitalist, scientist and philanthropist responsible for the 2021 $175 million transformational gift to UMass Chan, was presented with an honorary degree and delivered the Commencement address.
Photo: Rob Carlin
In 2021, the charitable foundation of Chan’s family, The Morningside Foundation, made the largest donation in UMass history. In recognition of the gift, the Medical School was renamed UMass Chan Medical School, and its three graduate schools were renamed in honor of Chan’s family.
In his address, Chan emphasized education and service, urging graduates to adapt to a rapidly changing world, particularly in health care, and advocated for a balance of technological advancement and human connection in medicine.
“In medicine, as in any human endeavor, what anchors us in perilous times is our humanity,” Chan said. “Never forget that medicine is fundamentally about humanity and should never be practiced at the expense of humanity.”
Photo: Rob Carlin
Honorary degrees were awarded to Monica M. Bertagnolli, MD, president-elect of the National Academy of Medicine; and Robert A. Harrington, MD, dean of Weill Cornell Medicine.
Suhas Suddala, MD; William “Bill” Mar, PhD, RN, MSN; and Humberto Ochoa, PhD, served as class speakers.
Highlights from the week’s events can be found on the UMass Chan news website, with additional photos and videos on Facebook and Instagram. The full Commencement ceremony can be viewed on the UMass Chan YouTube page.
