It was a night to remember on June 21, when Memorial Healthcare System officially welcomed its first Graduate Medical Education (GME) Class at the new $14 million GME Building located on the Memorial West Campus.

Saima Chaudhry, MD., MSHS, Vice President Academic Affairs for GME, opened the Inaugural Celebration with welcoming remarks. She was followed by the Aurelio M. Fernandez, III, President and Chief Executive Officer of Memorial Healthcare System. Mr. Fernandez described Memorial’s journey to make its Graduate Medical Education program a reality and thanked the Memorial Family, including the Doctors, Nurses, Staff and Board of Commissioners. Representing the Board of Commissioners, Vic Narang, Vice Chairman spoke about how the Board was 100 percent behind this project and thanked the Memorial professionals for making GME a reality.

The Keynote Speaker, Richard H. Carmona, MD., M.P.H, FACS, 17^th Surgeon General of the United States, Chief of Health Innovations Canyon Ranch, Distinguished Professor, University of Arizona, spoke about his journey to becoming the Surgeon General. His message to the GME Class and event attendees was that in order to accomplish your future goals, you must develop a Mission and complete all the Tasks in your Mission.

Following the keynote address, Stanley W. Marks, M.D, FACS, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Memorial Healthcare System, led the White Coat Ceremony and administered the Hippocratic Oath to the new Residents. There are 19 Internal Medicine Residences, 8 Pediatrics Residences, 4 Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residences and 6 Podiatry Residences.

From the Staff of South Florida Hospital News & Healthcare Report, congratulations to the entire Memorial Healthcare System family and good luck to the Residents on their new Mission.