Sanjay Gupta, M.D., CNN’s chief medical correspondent and a practicing neurosurgeon, delivered the commencement address at Einstein’s graduation ceremony on May 23, held at David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center.
Einstein conferred 156 M.D. and 31 Ph.D. degrees as it celebrated its 61st commencement. In addition, 16 graduates of Einstein’s Medical Scientist Training Program received both an M.D. and a Ph.D. degree.
This year’s ceremony was the first in which graduates received diplomas with the Einstein seal, after the College of Medicine was awarded independent degree-granting authority earlier in 2019.
Dr. Gupta reported on the successful 27-hour surgical separation of conjoined twins Jadon and Anias McDonald at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in 2016. His in-depth account of the boys’ life before, during, and after their operation won the News & Documentary Emmy Award for Outstanding Science, Medical, and Environmental Reporting in 2018. Einstein conferred an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters on him.
Dr. Gupta told the graduates that “there can be tremendous value in embracing fear” and to challenge those who doubt their abilities: “I’m talking about savoring it when someone tells you no, that it can’t be done. Because you know deep down, you now have an opportunity to do the impossible.”
