Commencing . . .

(Mon 12 Jun 2006)

Commencement has come and gone, and so has another academic year. It was a great privilege for me to officiate at YSN's 80th commencement and my first as Dean. Thankfully, after a very wet spring, Commencement Day dawned bright and beautiful. It was a memorable day for many reasons, not the least being the joy on the faces of our graduates and the pride in their families' eyes.

Our commencement speaker, Dr. Patricia Butterfield of the University of Washington, stressed the need to go beyond excellence in clinical practice and research to activism for a better world. She emphasized how much health care and the world need the voices of Yale nurses to change the world for the better, within our communities, region, nation, and the world.

The privilege of being a Yale Nurse should not be taken lightly. To us, much has been given, but this comes with responsibility. As the President says in conferring degrees, he ''admits to you all their rights and responsibilities.'' You have the responsibility to change health care for the better, so that we may truly realize our mission, ''better health care for all.'' Congratulations, graduates! Let us know what you accomplish along your path.

Yale University Home

Copyright © 2003 - 2008, Yale University School of Nursing, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
All rights reserved. Comments or suggestions to our site editor.