University Times

"The great tragedy of life is not in failing to reach all your goals, it's in having no goals for which you're reaching," David Satcher told degree recipients at the University's 2001 commencement ceremony. "It's not a calamity if you die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream," he said, quoting former Morehouse College president Benjamin Elijah Mays.

Satcher, who is U.S. surgeon general, was the featured speaker April 29 at Mellon Arena where the University conferred more than 6,500 undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees, including 416 doctorates.

Following the opening of the ceremony by Nathan Hershey, chief University marshal and president of the University Senate, and the traditional procession of faculty and administrative officers in full academic regalia, Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg welcomed the more than 15,000 faculty, graduates, family and friends of the University in attendance.

The chancellor introduced Satcher as a national leader with "a comprehensive commitment to health, not just health care, through prevention programs and programs that encourage healthy lifestyles and sound health practices to improve the overall health of all citizens."

Nordenberg praised Satcher as a surgeon general who listens to the American people and responds with effective programs. "He has guided the nation in initiatives that tackle major health concerns, such as reducing tobacco use, infant mortality and teen pregnancies; increasing immunization; and working to prevent HIV-AIDS, suicide, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer."

Nordenberg said Satcher's top three priorities as surgeon general are moving the country toward a balanced community health system, maintaining a global approach to public health and eliminating disparities in public health policy and delivery.

"And the University of Pittsburgh, home to nationally recognized schools of medicine, public health and related health and social sciences, is proud of the role it plays in advancing all of these goals across many disciplines," Nordenberg said, noting the recent establishment of the Center for Minority Health in the Graduate School of Public Health.

Satcher became the nation's 16th surgeon general in February 1998, serving simultaneously in that position and as assistant secretary for health from February 1998 through January 2001. He also has held the posts of director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Satcher graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta in 1963 and received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Case Western Reserve University in 1970.

Reminding the class of 2001 that it was truly the first graduating class of the new millennium, Satcher told the graduates to embrace the challenges of the new century.

"The 21st century will be a series of continuing challenges — challenges to change lifestyles, to get people to stop smoking, to get people to engage in regular physical activity, to get people to consume more fruits and vegetables and less fats and sweets, to take care of themselves, to rely upon physicians to screen out diseases and detect them early and get people on treatment if they need it."

The surgeon general added, "Whatever your field — communication, business, politics, law, education, especially education — the challenge of the 21st century is your challenge."

While the last century was an age of unprecedented improvements in public health — life expectancy increases, improved water and environmental safety, new antibiotics and vaccines, reduced infant mortality rates — the job is not complete, Satcher said.

"The challenge of the 21st century is for us to bring the best science and the best technology to bear on health and health care in this country for all people," he said. "It's a challenge to work out a system that provides universal access to health care, a system that puts as much emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention and early detection as the use of the most sophisticated science and technology."

Satcher said the graduates should help make this country "become one nation in health. Disparities in health among different racial and ethnic groups in this country must not continue. We have the science, we have the technology to reduce infant mortality [in all groups]; to reduce cancer and cardiovascular diseases and diabetes; to increase immunizations in all groups. We have the science, and now we must have the will, we must do the research."

Satcher acknowledged the sacrifices that the graduates made to complete their educational programs. "You're here today to receive your degree because you had the courage to take 'the road less traveled,'" he said, borrowing a phrase from poet Robert Frost. "And I want to commend you for that. But it is also my responsibility to tell you that it's not over. Commencement is in fact a tremendous beginning. A lot of you are here because you had dreams, dreams that took you far beyond what anybody thought you would achieve. And this is no time to stop dreaming."

After the surgeon general's speech, which received a standing ovation, Chancellor Norden-berg conferred on him the honorary degree doctor of public health, the 19th honorary degree Satcher has been awarded.

Graduates from the 16 degree-granting schools at the Pittsburgh campus then were recognized and awarded degrees.

Roars of approval and applause followed each school's conferral of degrees, including confetti eruptions from pharmacy, education and nursing graduates.

Provost James V. Maher presided over individual recognition of doctorate recipients, as those present were named by their school's dean and asked to come to the podium.

Graduates who earned bachelor's, master's or first professional degrees then filed to the commencement stage to receive their diploma facsimiles and traditional congratulatory handshakes.

Nordenberg acknowledged and thanked those who contributed to the success of the graduates, asking family members, faculty and staff members to stand and be recognized. Family members were greeted with long and loud applause.

The chancellor also read a congratulatory letter to the graduates from President George W. Bush.

David Woodruff Turner, new graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, delivered remarks on behalf of the students, and Samuel Zacharias, president of the Pitt Alumni Association, welcomed the new graduates into the ranks of Pitt's 200,000 living alumni worldwide.

The University's Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Roger Zahab, provided the ceremony's musical accompaniment.

Soloist Julie L. Eyer, class of 2001, led the congregation in the singing of the National Anthem and the Alma Mater.

This year, Pitt also will award about 1,000 degrees to students at the four regional campuses in Bradford, Greensburg, Johns-town and Titusville, which hold their own ceremonies.

The University expects to hold future commencement exercises on campus at the John M. and Gertrude E. Petersen Events Center, currently under construction on the site where Pitt Stadium stood. The new events center is set to open in early 2002.

— Peter Hart