CHI Celebrates Brodes H. Hartley, Jr. Teaching Health Center Class of 2022 and Incoming Residents

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Class of new residents stands together after their white coat ceremony at the Doris Ison Health Center.

June was an eventful month at the Brodes H. Hartley, Jr. Teaching Health Center as the Class of 2022 graduated on June 11, 2022, after years of dedicated service to CHI and its patients.

Three family medicine and five psychiatry residents walked proudly across the auditorium to mark the end of their residency at CHI and the beginning of their remarkable journey as physicians.

The graduation ceremony was live streamed on CHI’s YouTube channel so family and friends could tune in for the special occasion.

Keynote speaker Dr. Cheryl L. Holder is a founding member of the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.

“Medicine is a gift that we fortunate physicians practice with gratitude,” said Dr. Holder. “We need a community—that feeling of fellowship with others in sharing common attitudes and goals.”

Graduating psychiatry resident, Olaoacha Okwuadigbo, MD addressed her fellow graduates with a piece of advice from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Today we graduate and take a big step into the great responsibility of applying our training,” said Dr. Okwuadigbo. “Dr. King said ‘Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.’”

Teaching Health Center graduates for the class of 2022.

On June 19, 2022, CHI welcomed 12 incoming medical residents with an intimate white coat ceremony. It was CHI’s 8th white coat ceremony, live-streamed on YouTube and Facebook and presented by Dr. St. Anthony Amofah, CHI’s Chief Medical Officer.

CHI’s CEO and President Blake Hall addressed the families and new residents.

“You will spend time and learn from our leaders,” said Hall. “I’m excited about being a participant in your journey.”

Dr. Elizabeth Philippe, Chief of Family Medicine, Associate Director of Medical Education, and Program Director for Family Medicine, described the symbolism behind the white coat and how it represents the medical profession.

“You come here to serve people in need,” said Dr. Philippe. “The white coat reminds us of our duty. It’s a powerful symbol of compassion, trust and humanism.”

Dr. Philipe joined Hall to present six family medicine residents with their white coats. Dr. Moises A. Riveron, joined in to present seven psychiatry residents with their white coats.

“This is a program that is designed and intended for people who have a heart for community health,” said Dr. Amofah, as he directly addressed the residents. “You will get comfortable with the types of patients you see, the difference you get to make in their lives and how good you feel about the impact you make.”