Dean Noma Anderson spoke to the Class of 2023 during the College's commencement celebration on May 21. During her remarks, she invited several students to share their experiences. Following is Dean Anderson's address to the graduating class.

Graduates, your family and friends are so proud of you and excited for you. By being a student at UVM, you have been educated by top scholars in healthcare. These scholars, the faculty and staff in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, are also proud of you and excited for you. Today 239 new healthcare professionals are graduating from UVM’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences! Within weeks of departing from this commencement ceremony, you will be a graduate student, an exercise scientist, a speech-language pathologist, a medical laboratory scientist, a nurse, a physical therapist, a medical radiation therapist, a public health scientist, or a health and wellness coach.

To the Class of 2023, I say begin this new chapter of your life with confidence, compassion, caring, cultural humility, and a commitment to ethical practice and life-long learning. Be committed to reaching across the divide of health inequity, whether that divide is economic; gender; disability; or education. Reach across that divide which can be geographic, ethnic, racial, gender expression, sexual orientation, or age. I ask you to engage with your patients, their families, your colleagues, and your neighbor with a lens that allows for social justice and a sense of humanity for all.

Many of us grew up hearing the Golden Rule – do unto others as you want them to do unto you. As healthcare providers, follow the Platinum Rule – treat others as they want to be treated.

Class of 2023, congratulations, good luck and Godspeed.