School of Medicine celebrates graduates with in-person ceremony at Convention Center

Students of the Class of 2021 at the Tulane University School of Medicine received their Doctor of Medicine and PhD degrees among family and friends at an in-person Commencement ceremony hosted at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on Saturday, May 22. Dr. Rachel Levine, assistant secretary for health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, was the keynote speaker at the ceremony and delivered her remarks virtually to the graduates and audience. 

The School of Medicine ceremony was the last of Tulanes in-person individual school Commencement ceremonies. Nine ceremonies for the other schools within Tulane were held from May 19-21 in Yulman Stadium. A virtual Unified University Commencement, which featured civil rights icon Ruby Bridges as the keynote speaker, was also held on Saturday, May 22. 

(All photos are by Rusty Constanza) 

Candidates for Doctor of Medicine help each other with their regalia before the start of the 2021 School of Medicine Commencement ceremony.
Candidates for Doctor of Medicine help each other with their regalia before the start of the 2021 School of Medicine Commencement ceremony.
Friends pose for a selfie as the start of the ceremony approaches.
Friends pose for a selfie as the start of the ceremony approaches.
Holding their hoods, graduates walk past family and friends towards their seats.
Holding their hoods, graduates walk past family and friends towards their seats.
Commencement speaker Rachel Levine, M.D. assistant health secretary with the United States Department of Health and Human Services and a Tulane alumna, addresses graduates virtually.
Commencement speaker Dr. Rachel Levine, assistant secretary for health for the United States Department of Health and Human Services and a Tulane School of Medicine alumna, addresses graduates virtually.
Candidates process to the stage to be bestowed their Doctor of Medicine degrees.
Candidates process to the stage to be bestowed their Doctor of Medicine degrees.
The newly conferred doctors recite the Hippocratic Oath.
The newly conferred doctors recite the Hippocratic Oath.
Family and friends applaud the graduates at the conclusion of the ceremony.
Family and friends applaud the graduates at the conclusion of the ceremony.
Graduates exit the convention center with family and friends.
Graduates exit the convention center with family and friends.