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A new class of 90 recipients took part in the traditional graduation ceremony organized by the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of the State University of Haiti, this Saturday, June 21, 2025 at the Montana Hotel.
The ceremony, of a rare enough solemnity to be highlighted, unfolded quietly, balancing the remarkable resilience of the graduates with the multifaceted uncertainty hovering over the future of professionals in Haiti.
With the official opening by the Dean after the formal commencement ceremony, the national anthem and the Faculty of Medicine anthem were played with equal vigor. The first part of the ceremony, which began a few minutes late, proceeded smoothly. The ceremony was enhanced by lyrical flights from the master of ceremonies, Dr. Djoudli Noël, who lived up to the occasion.
Through historical context, Richardson Salomon, a graduate, highlighted all the country's difficulties in the education sector. The student period, which should be marked by fond memories and academic difficulties transformed into a source of pride on graduation day, has been seared by the tragedies of the past 10 years.
"First, the death of Anne Sherca Florvil, the eponymous heroine of the class, from a courageously endured illness... then the more tragic death of Osny Zidor, killed by a stray bullet in fifth grade on a bus in Bois-Verna while on her way to class," lamented Richardson Salomon in his speech. He also recalled that between internal strikes, problems at the general hospital, the "peyi lòk" (the "unsafe" situation), and other woes of insecurity in Haiti, "this class had to wait three years to complete an academic year, nine years for a course that was supposed to last seven years (2016-2025)."
Despite everything, during this ceremony, they honored professors who made a lasting impression on this class with their charisma and professionalism. They are Drs. Louis-Franck Télémaque, Jean Hénold Buteau, Evans Vladimir Larsen, Rodolphe Paul, and Ritza Germain.
After the plaques were awarded to the professors, the dean's staff of the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, represented by Drs. Bernard Pierre, Gérald Jonacé, and Eliode Pierre, honored the first 10 laureates. Among them, the first three are women (Sterline Vertilus, 1st, Danaé Ashlynn Noël, 2nd, Ruth Shamma Duclair, 3rd).
In her opening speech, Sterline Vertilus, the class's first laureate, reflected on the difficulties of this academic path:
"Becoming a doctor in our country is not just an academic pursuit; it is a true human commitment, a personal oath to life, to human suffering, and to our society." We chose this mission, or perhaps it chose us, but whatever the case, we embraced it with conviction, even when uncertainty and fatigue tried to distract us.
She is already thinking about the next steps with all the uncertainty that characterizes the future of a professional in Haiti.
"Today, however, is not a finish line. It is not an outcome, but a passage. Because the greatest challenge begins now.
We are entering a society that has been tested, weakened by crises, violence, inequality, and exile. But instead of frightening us, this reality must call us. Our profession is more essential than ever. It is expected, sought after, hoped for. In a context where life sometimes seems to lose its value, we must embody the opposite: the protection of dignity, hope, and humanity." »
For his part, the president of the class, Carl Emmanuel César, placed the ceremony in a broader context, reflecting the chaotic situation facing Haiti and Haitians here and abroad.
"In this room, I know how frustrated, angry, and fearful we are by the total instability in our country. And we are reliving the worst moments in the history of the first Black Republic.
Humiliated throughout the world, we are hunted like demons. Despite everything (...) We are aware that we have a responsibility, that of actively contributing to the development of our nation. We must be agents of change, agents of progress, bearers of hope for future generations. We must put our skills at the service of our community and demonstrate an unwavering commitment to building a better future for Haiti," he continued.
Acting as sponsor of the promotion, the Minister of Public Health and Population, Dr. Bertrand Sinal, could not hide his emotions. “It is a very emotional moment for me to stand before you today, to be the first witness to this great moment of hope for all of us and for the country. I thank you. And I also congratulate you on the choice of the sponsor, Dr. Guirlaine Raymond, a great personality who has served the country at the highest level in the academic world as well as in the world of public health. This day marks an important, solemn and
