Mari’s son officially became DR. Juan Pablo Hernandez Hernandez on September 6. Many of you who have been down here know him, or at least his mom and dad, Leo, and I thought you might like to see some of the pictures from his graduation.
Medical school graduation is very different here. Students graduate individually, or in his case, with a co-author to his thesis. The whole graduation takes about 30 minutes and is intensely personal. Though I was fighting a bad cold, I managed to make it to the ceremony itself and was very glad I did.
Each new doctor enters with his/her madrina/padrino. This is an individual who has greatly helped and encouraged the student through their education.
They are seated on the platform with a panel of professors who will publically review and approve their research. Here, in Guatemala, even medical doctorates have to write and publish a dissertation. Each student presents his findings, and answers questions from the board, which then accepts their research.
Each student then has a few minutes speech in which to thank God, his family and friends, his professors, and anyone else who has played an important role in helping him reach his goal.
After swearing the oath taken by all medical doctors in Guatemala, he new doctor then signs the official registry of the doctors of Guatemala. This is still a paper ledger, and there is something poignant about signing a document signed by every doctor who has graduated in your country.
The madrina/patrino then invests the doctor in the robes officially worn by medical doctors in this country. The professors “cap” each person, and they are then presented to the audience for the first time as “Doctor.”
Quick, to the point, but very touching. Pablo actually changed the date of his graduation so that I could be there with him (it was originally set for Sept. 21, two days after I will be in the US!). I’m so glad he did.
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