Rutgers School of Health Professions Celebrates Class of 2022 at NJPAC

Rutgers School of Health Professions hosted its first in-person convocation ceremony since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony, held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark on May 18, conferred degrees upon 455 students and honored student excellence in academics, service and clinical, as well as Latin Honors.

Dean Gwendolyn Mahon welcomed guests to the ceremony and celebrated the success of their loved ones – SHP graduates, who persevered through an exceptionally demanding environment to create a better tomorrow for themselves, their families, and all whose lives they will touch in the years ahead.

Dr. Brian L. Strom, inaugural chancellor of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, also addressed the graduates.

“You would not have chosen to be, but you are a part of the pandemic generation,” Strom said, adding the crisis has given this generation a renewed appreciation for science and the importance of health.

He called on them to create meaningful policy changes and champion public health interventions “for a healthier and better-prepared future.”

Watch: Rutgers School of Health Professions Convocation Livestream

Student speaker Lauren Boggs, MSPA ’22 spoke of inter-disciplinary teamwork, emphasizing that quality health care is collaborative.

Karen Moran, director of Alumni Engagement for RBHS encouraging graduates to “take advantage of the many alumni benefits that await you after today – benefits like mentoring and career services; world-class continuing education; events that are fun and inspiring; and a wide range of leadership opportunities.”

Students, faculty, volunteers, and alumni were presented with Awards of Excellence for outstanding accomplishments in their field, or service to the school or larger community.  and

Meet: Our 2022 Excellence Award Winners and Our 2022 Student Excellence Award Winners

Student speaker Jennifer Chalhoub, ELMSCN ’22 shared her journey from the civil unrest in her home country of Lebanon to Rutgers, inspiring her colleagues to rise above challenges, saying, “our programs have prepared us for exactly [this].”

Read: Jennifer’s Story as Featured on Rutgers Today

Dean Mahon concluded the ceremony with a rousing call to action for graduates to not just do great, but to do good. This charge was met with high-energy music and streamers reflecting waves of light from wands below and a light show above.

View: Scenes from Our 45^th Convocation