June 7, 2024 • 49 mins
This graduation wrap-up special edition of "The UMB Pulse Podcast" features inspiring commencement speeches from the University of Maryland, Baltimore's recent graduation ceremonies. Notable speakers include U.S. District Judge Brendan Hurson, JD '05 (4:03), United Therapeutics CEO Martine Rothblatt, PhD, JD, MBA (22:12), and U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, JD '67 (37:25). The speeches touch on their personal journeys, professional experiences, and important lessons learned, with themes of resilience, community support, and public service.
Listen to The UMB Pulse on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and wherever you like to listen. The UMB Pulse is also now on YouTube.
Visit our website at umaryland.edu/pulse or email us at umbpulse@umaryland.edu.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Dana Rampolla (00:00):
Okay.
(00:00):
Charles, before we get started,I'm noticing that you have a
really nice outfit on today andour YouTube watchers will be
able to see congratulations toyou.
You just graduated.
I'm so happy for you.
Charles Schelle (00:14):
Thank you.
Thank you.
I, uh, just earned my master'sin strategic communications and
I figure, you know what, let'sdress the part.
I still have the cap and gown.
Might as well put it to gooduse.
Dana Rampolla (00:26):
That's awesome.
Well, I'm going to join you.
I didn't just graduate, butthere's my cap.
You know, we got a lot ofcomputer.
Technology nowadays, butcongratulations.
I know you've been balancing somuch and juggling so much.
You do a great job here at UMBwith lots of work on your plate.
I don't know how in the worldyou squeezed in time to get a
master's degree on top of it,but.
Charles Schelle (00:47):
I don't know either, but,
Dana Rampolla (00:49):
but it's done well.
If anybody else wants to be putin a good mood and feel
inspired, this is a podcastpodcast for you.
It's our graduation wrap upspecial edition of the UMB
pulse.
Charles Schelle (01:00):
Yeah, for this edition, we are replaying three
inspiring speeches from thisyear's graduation ceremonies
here at the University ofMaryland, Baltimore.
We did this last year, and itwas popular, so we thought,
let's bring it back, give yousomething for that long summer
road trip you're taking.
Dana Rampolla (01:16):
Sounds fun.
The first person we're going tohear from is Judge Brendan
Hurson.
He is a 2005 Maryland Cary Lawalum, and he is a newly
appointed U.
S.
District Court judge for theDistrict of Maryland.
His journey from a dedicatedstudent to a federal judge is
very inspiring, and he was aformer student of the school's
(01:37):
dean, Renee Hutchins McDonald,which is also very cool.
I'm I'm going to say Charles, Ipersonally really enjoyed his,
his graduation speech.
Sometimes speeches can be alittle, I'll say a little
boring, a little dry, but hejust brings some levity to it.
So I think our listeners willenjoy.
Yeah.
Checking his speech out.
Charles Schelle (01:57):
Definitely.
That's a good one to startthings off.
Plenty of laughs for sure.
After Judge Hurston, we'llfeature Dr.
Martine Rothblatt.
She's a trailblazingentrepreneur and bioethicist she
spoke at the University ofMaryland School of Medicine
ceremony.
Her work in satellitetechnology, electric aviation,
and biotech showcases the powerof innovation,, and dedication.
(02:20):
She is the chairperson and CEOof United Therapeutics, and is
also the inventor of SiriusXMSatellite Radio, which is
Insane.
Like, I listen to that all thetime.
She tells graduates that they'llfind the toolkits to transform
human health with their medicaldegree.
She also talks about her journeyas a trans woman, healthcare
(02:40):
CEO, and she shared herperspective with the School of
Medicine's Class of 2024, whichas she noted, at least one in
five identify as LGBTQ.
Dana Rampolla (02:52):
Very interesting.
And then lastly, we'll listen toSenator Ben Cardin at the
University of Maryland School ofSocial Work graduation.
He is not only a national leaderin healthcare and social
justice, but probably everyonelistening realizes he is a
Marylander and he is a 1967Maryland Carey Law alum.
His commitment to public serviceand policy reform is a powerful
(03:15):
reminder of the impact that oneperson can have on society, and
in case you don't know, he'sretiring from the Senate
following this session.
Charles Schelle (03:23):
Yeah, best of luck to Senator Cardin and for
the Senator's speech, you willnotice that the audio isn't the
best for the first half of hisspeech.
The live stream signal droppedduring the School of Social
Work's, ceremony and it reestablished a connection on the
back half of his speech.
Live events, things happen,right?
But, um, shout out to BrittanyBrookins from UMB's Media
(03:45):
Relations team for recording thespeech on her iPhone.
Dana Rampolla (03:49):
Oh my gosh, she's awesome.
Charles Schelle (03:51):
Yeah, without it, we wouldn't be able to share
the senator's words.
Dana Rampolla (03:55):
All right, well, let's get ready to turn those
tassels and dive into graduationseason.
I think I'm going to take off myvirtual cap now.
Um, and let's just kick it offwith Judge Brendan Hurson.
Brendan Hurson (04:09):
Couple preliminary things, I lost that
clinic case.
Second, I drove by last night,and I saw the same marquee you
did.
It said, Welcome, Law andDentistry.
So I rewrote my speech, and Arethere any dentists here?
(04:30):
Cause Most of these remarks arefor them.
Lastly, I see some babies andstuff out there.
If your baby starts crying,that's completely fine with me.
Don't, don't shush him oranything like that.
Anyway, I'm kidding, this speechis not about dentistry, it's
(04:52):
about law.
And this institution has beengraduating lawyers for 200
years.
200 years.
Now this speech is going to belike 15 minutes, but if you keep
clapping, you're going to dragit out.
That's okay! I just want you toknow.
(05:16):
You did this to yourself.
Um, anyway, think of how long.
That line of graduates would beif they were all still with us
today.
And in a few moments, you aregoing to get to join the tail
end of that line.
And I, for one, am very, veryhonored to be here to see it.
(05:36):
To Dean Hutchins, to all thefaculty of this fine
institution, I thank you verymuch for inviting me here today.
And to the graduates, and totheir families, Congratulations
to you.
This is a tremendous day foryou.
You can clap, I didn't mean toshut off the clapping, I mean
like, it's okay.
(06:00):
Especially, you can't see,there's like people way in the
back up there.
Anyway, I see you up there, Ido.
Yes, okay.
Today is truly a special day.
I mean for some of you it'sparticularly special because you
were the first in your family togo to college.
And by extension, you're thefirst to go to law school.
(06:22):
Some of you, some of you, someof you took on substantial debt
to be here.
You bet on yourself to succeed.
Some of you are, as the sayinggoes, your ancestors wildest
dream.
And others of you, maybe youknew you'd be here all along.
(06:44):
Maybe you have lawyers in thefamily.
Maybe you always knew this waswhere you would end up.
But whatever path you took toget here today, doesn't matter.
You did it.
You made it.
You earned this degree.
And you deserve every ounce ofall of the praise that's going
(07:09):
to be heaped on you today.
And what a place to get praiseheaped on you.
I mean, this stage, In thisgorgeous temple to
entertainment, apparently namedafter a large mammal.
It has seen so many famousnames.
There's a bug here too, by theway.
(07:30):
If you see me do this, you mightnot see it.
But anyway, so many famous nameshave crossed this stage.
The Wiz, Reboot, was just onthis stage.
Patti LaBelle has been on thisstage.
Bob Dylan has been on thisstage.
Neil Young has been on thisstage.
(07:50):
Idina Menzel has been on thisstage.
Even bigger stars have been onthis stage.
Stars like Don Gifford.
That's a professor for thefolks.
But I want to start byaddressing a topic that may be a
(08:12):
little bit awkward, maybe alittle difficult to talk about.
And that is the way that youfelt when you learned that some
judge you had never heard of wasgoing to be your hooding
ceremony speaker.
Look, it's okay.
I am sure you felt a slighttinge of disappointment.
(08:33):
To be honest, I was disappointedwhen I heard who your speaker
was going to be.
You were probably holding outfor someone cooler.
Maybe someone like LamarJackson.
Maybe Taylor Swift.
Maybe some sort of paneldiscussion between Drake and
(08:53):
Kendrick Lamar.
Something, something exciting.
I get it.
And while I can't regale youwith stories of fighting for an
AFC championship, and I can'tgive you any insight into what
Miss Swift may have meant whenshe wrote, My friends all smell
like weed or little babies.
(09:18):
Which actually is a lot deeperthan I think we're giving it
credit for.
Here's what I can offer you.
The insight of someone who satin the exact seats where you sit
today.
That is right, I too am in thatlong line of graduates.
In fact, I was taught by many ofthe same people you were.
You already heard that I was inDean Hutchins first clinic.
(09:40):
I still owe Doug Colbert anassignment.
I think we all still owe DougColbert an assignment.
And that goes for the parents aswell.
For reference, when I tookcontracts, Professor Van Alstine
was rocking a smoking mustache,which you may have seen.
(10:02):
You may see in the pictures ifyou go down that hallway.
And like you, I wrestled withthat difficult decision of where
I should even attend law school.
In those days, we got brochuresand websites you could look at
too.
And they showed these glowinggreen campuses with beautiful
trees.
And I, like you, decided that atraditional campus just wasn't
(10:25):
for me.
I, too, wanted all of my lunchoptions to be in a hospital food
court.
And I, like you, decided that acampus with trees and grass,
that just wasn't my bag.
I, like you, decided that theperfect campus would have a
(10:47):
graveyard in the middle of it.
Like you, like you when Istruggled.
When I struggled with conceptslike adverse possession or
malice aforethought, it gave mesome comfort to know that less
than 75 feet away there weresubterranean skeletons.
(11:12):
So unlike other speakers, I'mjust like you.
I even went to school in thesame building you did.
I was in the first day class tomake it through all three years
here.
And the building is pretty muchthe same now as it was then.
We even had those telephonebooths on the first and second
floor.
Now, in my day, those booths didnot have phones in them.
(11:33):
They were strictly for crying.
Just crying.
And, in fact, for nostalgia'ssake, I went over there this
morning.
You may have seen me crying as Iprepared to give this speech.
I, too, had class in that bigroom on the first floor when you
(11:53):
come in and take a left.
And I, too.
Listen to some gunner in thefront row wax on about the
nuances of international shoe.
Nuances that I had of coursemissed, but so had everybody
else who'd ever looked at thecase.
My version of treating myself,maybe it's like yours, and that
(12:14):
was to park in the Grand Garagebefore 4 o'clock.
I knew it was, I knew it wasgoing to be a 20 hit, but gosh
it was worth it.
And like you.
I joined that long line ofgraduates, and I marched
straight into a world that was,to be mild, a bit of a mess.
(12:35):
But I'm not going to stand heretoday and act like the world
that I walked into is the sameone that you're marching into
today.
It feels very different today.
You march into a world where somany people seem completely
detached from our system ofgovernment.
Many Americans are hopeless.
They're lost.
(12:56):
Many feel that our institutions,all of our institutions, our
courts included, are completelypartisan and dysfunctional.
Many feel like our democracydoesn't work.
If people vote at all, some feellike their vote doesn't matter,
and some even feel like theirvote isn't even counted.
Even worse, so many in ourcountry feel alone.
(13:21):
Unheard, and I'm often remindedof Dr.
King's words that a riot is thelanguage of the unheard.
So perhaps it is no surprisethat extreme anger and even
violence seem to be inevitableoutcomes of virtually any
disagreement.
Some even feel like ourdemocracy is dying.
(13:41):
Maybe we should put one of thosecry booths right up here with
these uplifting words, but don'tdespair.
Don't be discouraged.
There is so much to be hopefulabout.
If you close your eyes, you caneven feel the hope in this room.
(14:01):
I can see it as I look at eachand every one of you.
I see a group of people whostill believe in the law as a
force for good.
And I don't mean to discount theanger and the sadness that you
may feel.
Quite the opposite.
You should feel it.
(14:22):
I'd almost be disappointed ifyou didn't have some unease with
the way that the world is today.
But something inside of you madeyou seek a law degree.
Something called you to lawschool.
Something led you to firmlybelieve that you can make a
difference in the world as alawyer.
(14:43):
And whether you know it or not,as long as you still hold that
belief in your heart, Ourdemocracy can never die.
Before you leave here today,maybe when you wait to walk
across the stage, maybe you lookup to see if grandma found her
seat, close your eyes, take adeep breath and try to remember
(15:08):
what it was or who it was thatgot you here in the first place.
What was it?
that led you to believe that thelaw was the field where you can
make a difference.
Hold that memory tight, becauseright there, in that feeling,
(15:30):
our democracy survives.
Now some of you, some of you areprobably thinking, this is
pretty cheesy, saying toyourself, Judge! Crap, I forgot
his name.
I'm just trying to get out ofhere.
Whatever motivated me to gethere, it's been squished out of
(15:55):
me by contracts, by admin law,by petitioning, by moot court,
by the closing of the Panera, byjob interviews, by this speech.
I'm just trying to get my degreeand move on.
Well, to you, I would say,first, of course this is cheesy.
(16:15):
It is a commencement speech.
What did you expect?
Second, though, I would say, ifyou've forgotten what drove you
to be here in the first place,or just can't find it to believe
in our democracy, I'd encourageyou to come down to the federal
courthouse and watch anaturalization ceremony where
(16:37):
our newest citizens are minted.
It is one of the absolute bestparts of my job.
Many of these new citizens fledfrom famine, from poverty, from
war.
They've been through years ofstruggle.
Many have even had to leavefamily members far behind.
And yet they are so proud tofinally be called Americans,
(16:58):
despite everything they havebeen through.
They still believe in ourcountry and its institutions.
They believe in our democracy.
And if you have a chance towitness this firsthand, it's,
it's enough, I promise, to jogthat distant memory of whatever
brought you to the law in thefirst place.
Or maybe think about those latenights you spent and early
(17:20):
mornings, digging into yourbooks, drafting your outlines,
or in my case, copying someoneelse's.
Sorry.
Um, anyway.
Learning the law, you know?
Learning how to cite, learninghow to write, learning how to
think like a lawyer.
(17:41):
Yes, you were preparing for yourexams, you were preparing for
today, for sure.
But you were also taking andworking, taking steps, finishing
tasks, that ensured that ourdemocracy endures.
Because you were making certainthat when you marched across
this stage and into the world,You were going to do it with the
(18:02):
skills you needed to effectivelynavigate our system.
I'd also remind you that youaren't the first ones to march
out those doors into a difficultand challenging world.
As you prepare to join that longline of Maryland graduates, know
that many of them, like you,have marched straight out those
(18:23):
doors into chaos.
They marched into wars,segregation, immigration,
internment.
lynchings and more unspeakablehorrors.
And I'm not going to sit hereand pretend that that line of
graduates was always on, as theysay, the right side of history,
(18:43):
because Lord knows many werenot.
But I take inspiration fromthose graduates who came before
us and marched into whatevercrazy world they lived in at the
time, believing in the promiseof America and ready to wield
their law degree like a swordagainst suffering and injustice.
It is their example, theirmemory, that helps me to
(19:04):
maintain my belief that ourdemocracy is worth defending.
And maybe you're asking, I'mwith you, Judge, but how do I
defend democracy?
I get it for folks going intopublic interest law, but I don't
even have a job.
Well, first, I would say, Idon't have a job yet.
(19:26):
Okay, so phrase it that way.
Second, you're going to be fine.
And third, these speeches arenot supposed to provide any
practical advice.
I watched a bunch of them.
I'm supposed to get up here, saysomething funny, inspire, and
then leave, but I will try.
Let me tell you how to startdefending our democracy.
It's going to start very soon.
(19:46):
In that inevitable moment whensomeone you've known for years,
or maybe someone you just met ata bar, calls you aside and
quietly says, Hey, uh, you're alawyer, right?
Alright, now first off, when youhear that, buckle up.
(20:13):
Alright, because what is comingis a question about an area of
the law that you know absolutelynothing about.
And you know what isn't on itsway when someone asks a question
like that?
Any financial compensation foryour answer.
(20:33):
You got that, Uncle Billy,wherever you are?
But buried inside every ask likethat is a hope that the system
works.
A hope that with a little bit ofknowledge, fairness and justice
can prevail.
And in the small act of takingtime to listen, providing a
(20:54):
little help as best you can, youcan reaffirm that our systems
aren't as broken as people thinkthey are.
You work to restore faith.
in our democracy, to restorefaith in America.
And there are other small actsyou can do too.
You can volunteer in anexpungement clinic.
You can answer the court's callto represent a pro se plaintiff.
(21:16):
You can come back to your almamater to provide mentoring or
coaching or give a speech.
I think, I think this counts, Idon't know, but.
And in sharing that little bitof yourself, you're going to be
restoring faith.
So as you join this long line ofproud graduates, hold your head
(21:41):
up high, march forward, marchall over the world, but most
important, just keep marching.
Keep believing in yourself.
Keep believing in America.
Keep defending this democracy.
Because deep down, it's reallywhy you became a lawyer in the
(22:01):
first place.
Thank you very much.
Speaker (22:06):
Well, now that you've earned that law degree, thanks
to Judge Hurson, it's time tohead over to the School of
Medicine.
So here is Martine Rothblattgiving her remarks to the School
of Medicine's Class of 2024.
Martine Rothblatt (22:20):
Thank you, Dean Gladwin.
Thank you, University ofMaryland.
Congratulations to all of thegraduating class.
Congratulations to all of thefamily members because I know
all of you were absolutelyessential to the graduates
reaching this huge milestone andgreat sense of accomplishment.
(22:42):
Um, it takes, it takes everybodywe know to help us accomplish
what we do.
Dean Gladwin was so kind inreciting many parts of my
background, but, um, while herecites it as if it's me, it's
actually always teams.
(23:02):
First of all, there is myteammates soulmate for over 42
years, my partner, Bina Aspen,who's here in the front row.
And then beyond that, there areteams of literally hundreds of
people behind each and every oneof the accomplishments.
(23:24):
Dean Gladwin referred to.
There were probably a fewreasons why I was invited to be
your commencement speaker.
First, I'm the CEO of thelargest biotech and biopharma
company in our great state ofMaryland.
So let's talk about the companyfor a moment.
(23:47):
I co founded United Therapeuticswith my financial co founder.
Our long term CFO, Fred Hadid.
The success of our company is atestament to what happens when a
Palestinian American, such asMr.
Hadid and a Jewish American,such as myself, embrace each
(24:09):
other as brothers and sisters.
After retiring from our company,Mr.
Hadid became treasurer of theUnited Palestinian Appeal.
which he is today, and Iencourage you to make a
(24:32):
charitable contribution to it.
Our company has four medicinesapproved for pulmonary
hypertension, one forinterstitial lung disease, and
one for neuroblastoma.
About half the children who aregiven our neuroblastoma drug,
(24:55):
called Unitoxin, are completelycured of their cancer.
There is no recurrence aftereven five years.
This is something for Marylandto be truly proud of.
Now the story of UnitedTherapeutics is especially
unique because it shows whatmiracles can happen when
(25:18):
doctors, such as the graduatingclass of today, encourage
patients, in this case, ourdaughter and our family.
In our case, the patient was ouryoungest daughter.
Genesis Rothblatt, with a J, whowas diagnosed with fatal
(25:39):
pulmonary hypertension at age 8.
Pulmonary hypertension is adisease that shuts down the
artery between the heart and thelungs.
This leaves the patientbreathless.
In our daughter's case, her lipsturned blue.
(26:00):
When she was diagnosed Therewere only 2, 000 patients in the
United States with thiscondition because everyone who
developed it died within fiveyears.
There were no approved medicinesat all.
Genesis pleaded with me to saveher life.
(26:21):
I approached dozens of medicaldoctors for help, but only one,
Dr.
Robin Barst of ColumbiaPresbyterian, encouraged us.
She urged me to take the bull bythe horns.
She urged me to develop apromising molecule stored in a
freezer at the big pharmacompany GlaxoWelcome and to
(26:44):
develop it into a medicaltreatment for pulmonary
hypertension.
That company wouldn't develop itbecause they did not believe it
would work.
They also thought a small 2000patient population was not worth
the risk and the effort.
(27:06):
But with funding that Fred Hadidhelped me to raise, we
successfully built a biotechcompany that turned that
forgotten frozen molecule into anew medicine approved by the
FDA.
Now, 20 years later, Instead ofthere being 2, 000 patients
dying of pulmonary hypertension,there are 50, 000 people living
(27:30):
with pulmonary hypertension.
The new medicines enable decadesof life, thus growing the
constant small incidents into alarge prevalence.
And one of those 50, 000patients is our young daughter,
(27:52):
Genesis Rothblatt.
She was the young patient whosequest for the impossible was
supported by her medical doctor,just like I'm sure the
graduating class of today willdo for patients in your future
lives.
You guys are powerful, reallybeyond belief.
(28:15):
I mean, to think that Dr.
Barst, her words ofencouragement to me, could
result in growing 2, 000patients dying to 50, 000
patients living.
But that didn't just come fromme or from Genesis, it came from
the encouragement of herdoctors.
You are powerful beyond yourbeliefs.
(28:37):
I think a second reason I mayhave been invited is that I was
able to turn my Ph.
D.
in medical ethics into ahistoric, life saving set of
Xeno heart transplants righthere at the University of
Maryland Baltimore Hospital fortogether with Dr.
Bart Griffith and dozens ofhighly trained specialists right
(28:59):
at this amazing place.
Today each of you will receive asimilar degree.
What will you turn that degreeinto in the next 10 or 20 years?
I implore you to turn it intosaving lives.
Far, far too many people willPeople lose their lives to
(29:22):
mankind's only natural enemy,disease.
Over a quarter of a millionpeople die needlessly every
couple of days.
Each of these deaths is atragedy for the person, for they
lose access to thisextraordinary wonder that we are
(29:43):
able to experience on thisbeautiful planet.
Each of these deaths is also atragedy to their friends and
family.
For our loved ones live insideus, and we live inside them.
And hence, when they die, a partof us dies as well.
(30:05):
But I believe that each of thesedeaths is also a tragedy for
humanity.
As the African proverb says,When a life is lost You have an
unlimited life saving toolkitwith the medical degree that you
have earned today.
(30:27):
You can save lives with yourhands by touching patients, as
Dean Gladwin so beautifullydescribed.
You can save lives with yourlegs by going where others don't
go and treating patients thatothers ignore.
You can save lives with youreyes by seeing.
(30:50):
You can save lives with yourears by listening to the
patients.
You can save lives with yourmouths by organizing, advising,
and advocating for better healthcare.
You can save lives with betteruse of existing medicines by
(31:11):
engaging with pharmacogenomicsTelemedicine and integrative
medicine.
You can save lives by turningyour advanced knowledge of
physiology and bioinformaticsinto new and better medicines by
engaging with in silicobiochemistry, virtual clinical
(31:34):
trials, and AI poweredbiomedical research at United
Therapeutics here in SilverSprings.
We have a computationallaboratory for in silico
molecular biology.
The first letters of each ofthose words spell CLIMB, because
it's allowing us to climb to ahigher level of biomedical
(31:57):
research.
Within our CLIMB lab, we havecreated a virtual lung,
including a digital simulacra ofcellularized vessels and
airways.
Within this cyber model, We testpromising new drugs against a
variety of genetic polymorphismsinduced disease states.
(32:19):
This is a part of our AI future.
Your patients analyze DNA in thecloud, considered in light of
their diagnostic markers andself reported health, available
for genetic correlation with thedifferential safety and efficacy
profiles of dozens of differentdrugs.
(32:43):
You're brand new, literallyinfinite toolkit to save lives
and reduce anguish is truly agift from the heavens.
Yes, all of you worked very,very hard to get this.
But even the fact that you wereable to work very, very hard to
get it is another gift from theheavens.
(33:06):
Be grateful.
Be humble.
Be useful.
From my graduate degree inmedical ethics, I found the
toolkit to help safely modifypig DNA, thus avoiding both
zoonoses and acute organrejection, while validating the
(33:29):
promise of an unlimited supplyof transplantable hearts and
kidneys.
From your graduate degrees inmedicine, You will find the
toolkits to transform humanhealth from one on one patient
care visits to unfairlyneglected communities to our
(33:50):
ongoing battle against literallythousands of diseases, most of
which with no cures.
You have 360 degrees ofapplication.
for your medical degrees thatyou're getting today.
You have dozens of dimensions inwhich to deploy from biology to
sociology and from patient careto population research.
(34:16):
The power of the toolkit youreceive today is without limit.
It is a superpower for yourheart, for your mind, and for
your souls.
I think a third reason that Ireceived this prestigious invite
is because the University ofMaryland Medical School class is
(34:37):
a proudly diverse class with atleast one in five identifying as
LGBTQ.
Now I'm one of the few openlytransgendered leaders in a
healthcare organization.
The healthcare system is oftenharsh.
to those outside of a majoritypower demographic.
(35:00):
Women, black and brown people,immigrants, diverse ethnicities,
lesbians, gays, and queerpeople, all of us have faced
systemic healthcare prejudice.
If the worst treatment didn'tkill us, then the justifiable
(35:20):
reluctance to even enter thehealthcare system could.
Read just one story of that inmy friend, Leslie Feinberg's
book, Stone Butch Blues.
Yet here we are, as one of themost diverse graduating medical
school classes ever.
This makes me so proud of theUniversity of Maryland, and so
(35:44):
proud of each and every one ofyou, for all of the countless
personal battles you had tofight, and much harder than
others, to get to where you aretoday.
I hope that you can see in myexample that it is possible to
reach the peaks of thehealthcare sector in all of our
joyful diversity.
(36:05):
I want to call out the many,many amazing role models we have
to look up to.
Such as Dr.
Ted Love, the Black PhysicianCEO who developed the first FDA
approved treatment for sicklecell disease.
Or Dr.
Alfred Quiones, the undocumentedMexican immigrant who became
(36:27):
head and is now head of Mayo'sNeurosurgery Department.
We are not as prevalent as weshould be, but we are changing
that with each and every diversegraduating medical school class
like the one I see right infront of me.
In summary, I stand for MarylandHealth.
(36:50):
I stand for seeing an infinitetoolkit to save lives in the
graduate degrees that we havereceived today.
And I stand for ensuring thatthose who have long been
disrespected by the health caresystem, being brought inside it
and becoming leaders of it.
Thank you so much for theopportunity to share my thoughts
(37:10):
with you today, and pleaseaccept my hearty congratulations
on your magnificentaccomplishment Being recognized
today.
Dana Rampolla (37:25):
And wrapping up here is Senator Ben Cardin
speaking to the University ofMaryland School of Social Work.
Ben Cardin (37:34):
Thank you so much for that very kind introduction.
Let me also give my thanks andcongratulations to your esteemed
faculty.
Thank the proud families andgraduates of the class of 2024.
I am deeply honored to addressyou on this momentous occasion.
It's made even more special as afellow graduate of the
(37:56):
University of Maryland,Baltimore, and a graduate of the
School of Law.
President Jarrell, we're proudof you.
I want to congratulate you foryour leadership.
This is his fourth convocationtoday.
This is the fourth graduatingspeech he's going to have to
listen to.
This is quite a guy.
very much.
To the graduates, my sincerecongratulations.
(38:17):
As President George---W.
Bush said, to those of you whoare graduating with honors, I
say well done.
Well done.
As I'd like to tell C students,you too can be president.
(38:37):
This graduation is not just acelebration of academic
achievement, but also arecognition of your unwavering
commitment to serving others.
With your newly achieved degree,you are also agents of
transformation.
Your time at the University ofMaryland, coupled with your
training outside the classroom,is Has equipped you with the
(38:59):
tools and knowledge to addresssome of the most pressing issues
facing our communities, andyou'll be changing lives at a
very personal, individual level.
My faith teaches me to love yourneighbor as yourself.
Deeds of loving kindness areequal to all the commandments.
(39:21):
These words have always guidedme in my career, in public
service where I've sought to endcommunity and justice.
the lives of our most vulnerablecitizens.
When I first ran for office, Iwas a law student at University
of Maryland.
Guided by my faith in myupbringing, I ran for the
Maryland House of Delegatesbecause I wanted to make a
(39:43):
positive difference in the livesof others.
Now, after 57 years of publicservice, I can tell you that not
only is public service deeplyrewarding personally.
It's also an act worn out oflove for one's community.
I believe we all have anobligation, as Marion White
(40:04):
Edelman said, service is therent you pay for living.
As social workers, you havechosen a career to help others.
Individuals struggling withmental health and substance
abuse.
Communities challenged bypoverty and homelessness.
Thank you.
(40:25):
Neighborhoods that have beenoverlooked, they need your
advocacy.
Individuals who need you to helporganize to improve social
policies and programs.
In one word, you have chosen acareer to be change makers.
You are embarking on a career ofpublic service.
Who knows, you may even follow afellow social worker, Senator
(40:48):
Bart Murkowski, and become a U.
S.
Senator.
As a social worker, you have theskills to help others, but you
also understand the need forcommunity support.
No one can do it alone.
It takes a village.
Each of us has been supported byfamily, friends, classmates, and
(41:10):
soldiers.
Your skills taught here at theUniversity of Maryland to help
you organize communities toaction.
I saw the need firsthand inMarch.
At four a.
m.
on March 26, I was awakened by acall on board the catastrophic
collision by the dolly into theFrancis Scott Key Bridge in
(41:32):
Baltimore, causing its immediatecollapse.
Lives were lost.
The shipping channel into thePort of Baltimore, the third
busiest in our nation, wasblocked by thousands of tons of
steel and concrete.
And a major East Coast trafficartery was severed.
(41:55):
I saw first hand the importanceof individual leadership.
But it was the communityengagement that provided the
effective response.
Although it was a state bridge,the federal government was there
with their expertise andresources that were beyond the
state's capacity.
Private citizens, non profitsand businesses from the
(42:17):
community We're there for thevictims of the tragedy and their
families.
First responders were fed bylocal restaurants and closed
their businesses to the publicto support the rescue, recovery,
and debris removal.
It took a community.
The six victims were immigrantsdoing dangerous work to keep our
(42:40):
highways safe.
Work that most of us would notdo.
Neighbors joined together in acandlelight vigil for the
victims.
Their families are being caredfor by the community.
The Small BusinessAdministration set up local
centers to help small businessesthat depended on the operation
(43:01):
of the Port of Baltimore.
The channel is now substantiallyopen, months earlier than
thought possible, bringingthousands of workers back to
work, thanks to the community.
And the Francis Scott Key Bridgewill be rebuilt thanks to the
community.
(43:26):
Governments, non profits,businesses, and engaged private
citizens working together ourcommunity.
With this community support, youare ready to meet society's
challenges.
You made it through a globalpandemic and the economic
fallout that ensued.
You overcame challenges ofvirtual learning that upended
(43:49):
the traditional in personcollege experience.
For each of you, your collegejourney has been shaped by
unconventional and unprecedentedexperiences.
But despite these challenges,you made it here today, and you
should be very proud ofyourself.
(44:13):
You understood what Lily Tomlinmeant when she said, The road to
success is always underconstruction.
Thanks to the University ofMaryland, you have been learning
firsthand that public service isless about what you lose and
more about what you give togain.
What you gain and what othersgain because of your public
(44:34):
service may be relatively small,or it may become very profound.
Winston Churchill summarized itbest by saying, we make a living
by what we get, but we make alife by what we give.
So, social work takes dedicationand grit, which is how I know
(44:55):
that all of you are fortunate tohave found your passion to help
others.
It can be a mysterious force, adetermined voice deep inside of
you compelling you to dosomething for the greater good.
Sometimes it quietly guides youdown a path, and sometimes it
screams in your ear.
Either way, the lives you changein your future careers will be
(45:18):
thankful you listened to thatvoice.
As social workers, you aretaught to envision the whole
person, not just parts.
You are all human and notsuperheroes.
Something to remember during thetough times.
But thanks to your training hereat the University of Maryland,
you do have the power to changepeople's lives for the better.
(45:40):
Maybe it's a struggling singlemom trying to make ends meet.
Maybe it's a mental health orsubstance abuse patient trying
to get back on track.
Maybe it's a returning citizenlooking for that second chance.
The possibilities are endless,but the outcomes will be better
because of you and your traininghere at the University of
(46:01):
Maryland.
As President Theodore Rooseveltsaid, this country will not be a
good place for any of us to livein unless we make it a good
place for all of us to live in.
Our nation's history has been ajourney towards a more perfect
(46:24):
union so that all Americans canachieve the American Dream,
whatever their version of thatdream may be.
We ended slavery and healed fromthe Civil War.
Women won the right to vote.
We eliminated separate but equaldoctrine.
We advanced civil rights ineducation, housing, and
employment.
But we are still on that journeytowards real equality.
(46:47):
Women are not receiving equalpay for equal work.
The ERA is still not part of ourConstitution.
Minorities still do not haveequal opportunities in the
workplace, healthcare, orhousing.
Government has a duty to addressthese challenges.
And to improve the lives of allAmericans with this degree, you
have also taken on that dutywith me.
(47:15):
Never underestimate the power ofcommunity and collaboration.
Real change rarely happens inisolation.
It requires the collectiveeffort of dedicated individuals
working together towards acommon goal.
So reach out to your classmates.
Make connections with thecommunity.
(47:35):
and form partnerships andorganizations, and together,
people to people connectionshelp shape a more just and
compassionate world for all.
Please don't ever give up hope.
Don't become resigned orindifferent.
It's easy to be discouraged, butstanding here today gives me
hope.
(47:55):
You made it through COVID.
Many of you juggling a full timejob while attending classes.
Some of you balanced familycommitments with school.
But you made it to graduation.
You are change makers.
Your training and skills givesus all hope.
(48:17):
In 1915, the cleric andtheologian John Wesley gave
advice that is so relevant forthis moment.
He said, do all the good you canby all the means you can, in all
the ways you can, in all theplaces you can, at all the times
(48:37):
you can.
To all the people you can, aslong as ever you can.
As you leave here today,remember that you make a living
by what you get, you make a lifeby what you give.
Use the skills you have learnedhere to be the change makers you
can be.
Never forget your values,passions, and determination.
(48:59):
This is how you will make adifference in the lives of
others.
Congratulations again to theclass of 2024.
You deserve this moment.
Embrace it.
Speaker 2 (49:18):
The UMB Pulse with Charles Schelle and Dana
Rampolla is a UMB Office ofCommunications and Public
Affairs production, edited byCharles Schelle marketing by
Dana Rampolla.
Okay.
(00:00):
Charles, before we get started,I'm noticing that you have a
really nice outfit on today andour YouTube watchers will be
able to see congratulations toyou.
You just graduated.
I'm so happy for you.
Charles Schelle (00:14):
Thank you.
Thank you.
I, uh, just earned my master'sin strategic communications and
I figure, you know what, let'sdress the part.
I still have the cap and gown.
Might as well put it to gooduse.
Dana Rampolla (00:26):
That's awesome.
Well, I'm going to join you.
I didn't just graduate, butthere's my cap.
You know, we got a lot ofcomputer.
Technology nowadays, butcongratulations.
I know you've been balancing somuch and juggling so much.
You do a great job here at UMBwith lots of work on your plate.
I don't know how in the worldyou squeezed in time to get a
master's degree on top of it,but.
Charles Schelle (00:47):
I don't know either, but,
Dana Rampolla (00:49):
but it's done well.
If anybody else wants to be putin a good mood and feel
inspired, this is a podcastpodcast for you.
It's our graduation wrap upspecial edition of the UMB
pulse.
Charles Schelle (01:00):
Yeah, for this edition, we are replaying three
inspiring speeches from thisyear's graduation ceremonies
here at the University ofMaryland, Baltimore.
We did this last year, and itwas popular, so we thought,
let's bring it back, give yousomething for that long summer
road trip you're taking.
Dana Rampolla (01:16):
Sounds fun.
The first person we're going tohear from is Judge Brendan
Hurson.
He is a 2005 Maryland Cary Lawalum, and he is a newly
appointed U.
S.
District Court judge for theDistrict of Maryland.
His journey from a dedicatedstudent to a federal judge is
very inspiring, and he was aformer student of the school's
(01:37):
dean, Renee Hutchins McDonald,which is also very cool.
I'm I'm going to say Charles, Ipersonally really enjoyed his,
his graduation speech.
Sometimes speeches can be alittle, I'll say a little
boring, a little dry, but hejust brings some levity to it.
So I think our listeners willenjoy.
Yeah.
Checking his speech out.
Charles Schelle (01:57):
Definitely.
That's a good one to startthings off.
Plenty of laughs for sure.
After Judge Hurston, we'llfeature Dr.
Martine Rothblatt.
She's a trailblazingentrepreneur and bioethicist she
spoke at the University ofMaryland School of Medicine
ceremony.
Her work in satellitetechnology, electric aviation,
and biotech showcases the powerof innovation,, and dedication.
(02:20):
She is the chairperson and CEOof United Therapeutics, and is
also the inventor of SiriusXMSatellite Radio, which is
Insane.
Like, I listen to that all thetime.
She tells graduates that they'llfind the toolkits to transform
human health with their medicaldegree.
She also talks about her journeyas a trans woman, healthcare
(02:40):
CEO, and she shared herperspective with the School of
Medicine's Class of 2024, whichas she noted, at least one in
five identify as LGBTQ.
Dana Rampolla (02:52):
Very interesting.
And then lastly, we'll listen toSenator Ben Cardin at the
University of Maryland School ofSocial Work graduation.
He is not only a national leaderin healthcare and social
justice, but probably everyonelistening realizes he is a
Marylander and he is a 1967Maryland Carey Law alum.
His commitment to public serviceand policy reform is a powerful
(03:15):
reminder of the impact that oneperson can have on society, and
in case you don't know, he'sretiring from the Senate
following this session.
Charles Schelle (03:23):
Yeah, best of luck to Senator Cardin and for
the Senator's speech, you willnotice that the audio isn't the
best for the first half of hisspeech.
The live stream signal droppedduring the School of Social
Work's, ceremony and it reestablished a connection on the
back half of his speech.
Live events, things happen,right?
But, um, shout out to BrittanyBrookins from UMB's Media
(03:45):
Relations team for recording thespeech on her iPhone.
Dana Rampolla (03:49):
Oh my gosh, she's awesome.
Charles Schelle (03:51):
Yeah, without it, we wouldn't be able to share
the senator's words.
Dana Rampolla (03:55):
All right, well, let's get ready to turn those
tassels and dive into graduationseason.
I think I'm going to take off myvirtual cap now.
Um, and let's just kick it offwith Judge Brendan Hurson.
Brendan Hurson (04:09):
Couple preliminary things, I lost that
clinic case.
Second, I drove by last night,and I saw the same marquee you
did.
It said, Welcome, Law andDentistry.
So I rewrote my speech, and Arethere any dentists here?
(04:30):
Cause Most of these remarks arefor them.
Lastly, I see some babies andstuff out there.
If your baby starts crying,that's completely fine with me.
Don't, don't shush him oranything like that.
Anyway, I'm kidding, this speechis not about dentistry, it's
(04:52):
about law.
And this institution has beengraduating lawyers for 200
years.
200 years.
Now this speech is going to belike 15 minutes, but if you keep
clapping, you're going to dragit out.
That's okay! I just want you toknow.
(05:16):
You did this to yourself.
Um, anyway, think of how long.
That line of graduates would beif they were all still with us
today.
And in a few moments, you aregoing to get to join the tail
end of that line.
And I, for one, am very, veryhonored to be here to see it.
(05:36):
To Dean Hutchins, to all thefaculty of this fine
institution, I thank you verymuch for inviting me here today.
And to the graduates, and totheir families, Congratulations
to you.
This is a tremendous day foryou.
You can clap, I didn't mean toshut off the clapping, I mean
like, it's okay.
(06:00):
Especially, you can't see,there's like people way in the
back up there.
Anyway, I see you up there, Ido.
Yes, okay.
Today is truly a special day.
I mean for some of you it'sparticularly special because you
were the first in your family togo to college.
And by extension, you're thefirst to go to law school.
(06:22):
Some of you, some of you, someof you took on substantial debt
to be here.
You bet on yourself to succeed.
Some of you are, as the sayinggoes, your ancestors wildest
dream.
And others of you, maybe youknew you'd be here all along.
(06:44):
Maybe you have lawyers in thefamily.
Maybe you always knew this waswhere you would end up.
But whatever path you took toget here today, doesn't matter.
You did it.
You made it.
You earned this degree.
And you deserve every ounce ofall of the praise that's going
(07:09):
to be heaped on you today.
And what a place to get praiseheaped on you.
I mean, this stage, In thisgorgeous temple to
entertainment, apparently namedafter a large mammal.
It has seen so many famousnames.
There's a bug here too, by theway.
(07:30):
If you see me do this, you mightnot see it.
But anyway, so many famous nameshave crossed this stage.
The Wiz, Reboot, was just onthis stage.
Patti LaBelle has been on thisstage.
Bob Dylan has been on thisstage.
Neil Young has been on thisstage.
(07:50):
Idina Menzel has been on thisstage.
Even bigger stars have been onthis stage.
Stars like Don Gifford.
That's a professor for thefolks.
But I want to start byaddressing a topic that may be a
(08:12):
little bit awkward, maybe alittle difficult to talk about.
And that is the way that youfelt when you learned that some
judge you had never heard of wasgoing to be your hooding
ceremony speaker.
Look, it's okay.
I am sure you felt a slighttinge of disappointment.
(08:33):
To be honest, I was disappointedwhen I heard who your speaker
was going to be.
You were probably holding outfor someone cooler.
Maybe someone like LamarJackson.
Maybe Taylor Swift.
Maybe some sort of paneldiscussion between Drake and
(08:53):
Kendrick Lamar.
Something, something exciting.
I get it.
And while I can't regale youwith stories of fighting for an
AFC championship, and I can'tgive you any insight into what
Miss Swift may have meant whenshe wrote, My friends all smell
like weed or little babies.
(09:18):
Which actually is a lot deeperthan I think we're giving it
credit for.
Here's what I can offer you.
The insight of someone who satin the exact seats where you sit
today.
That is right, I too am in thatlong line of graduates.
In fact, I was taught by many ofthe same people you were.
You already heard that I was inDean Hutchins first clinic.
(09:40):
I still owe Doug Colbert anassignment.
I think we all still owe DougColbert an assignment.
And that goes for the parents aswell.
For reference, when I tookcontracts, Professor Van Alstine
was rocking a smoking mustache,which you may have seen.
(10:02):
You may see in the pictures ifyou go down that hallway.
And like you, I wrestled withthat difficult decision of where
I should even attend law school.
In those days, we got brochuresand websites you could look at
too.
And they showed these glowinggreen campuses with beautiful
trees.
And I, like you, decided that atraditional campus just wasn't
(10:25):
for me.
I, too, wanted all of my lunchoptions to be in a hospital food
court.
And I, like you, decided that acampus with trees and grass,
that just wasn't my bag.
I, like you, decided that theperfect campus would have a
(10:47):
graveyard in the middle of it.
Like you, like you when Istruggled.
When I struggled with conceptslike adverse possession or
malice aforethought, it gave mesome comfort to know that less
than 75 feet away there weresubterranean skeletons.
(11:12):
So unlike other speakers, I'mjust like you.
I even went to school in thesame building you did.
I was in the first day class tomake it through all three years
here.
And the building is pretty muchthe same now as it was then.
We even had those telephonebooths on the first and second
floor.
Now, in my day, those booths didnot have phones in them.
(11:33):
They were strictly for crying.
Just crying.
And, in fact, for nostalgia'ssake, I went over there this
morning.
You may have seen me crying as Iprepared to give this speech.
I, too, had class in that bigroom on the first floor when you
(11:53):
come in and take a left.
And I, too.
Listen to some gunner in thefront row wax on about the
nuances of international shoe.
Nuances that I had of coursemissed, but so had everybody
else who'd ever looked at thecase.
My version of treating myself,maybe it's like yours, and that
(12:14):
was to park in the Grand Garagebefore 4 o'clock.
I knew it was, I knew it wasgoing to be a 20 hit, but gosh
it was worth it.
And like you.
I joined that long line ofgraduates, and I marched
straight into a world that was,to be mild, a bit of a mess.
(12:35):
But I'm not going to stand heretoday and act like the world
that I walked into is the sameone that you're marching into
today.
It feels very different today.
You march into a world where somany people seem completely
detached from our system ofgovernment.
Many Americans are hopeless.
They're lost.
(12:56):
Many feel that our institutions,all of our institutions, our
courts included, are completelypartisan and dysfunctional.
Many feel like our democracydoesn't work.
If people vote at all, some feellike their vote doesn't matter,
and some even feel like theirvote isn't even counted.
Even worse, so many in ourcountry feel alone.
(13:21):
Unheard, and I'm often remindedof Dr.
King's words that a riot is thelanguage of the unheard.
So perhaps it is no surprisethat extreme anger and even
violence seem to be inevitableoutcomes of virtually any
disagreement.
Some even feel like ourdemocracy is dying.
(13:41):
Maybe we should put one of thosecry booths right up here with
these uplifting words, but don'tdespair.
Don't be discouraged.
There is so much to be hopefulabout.
If you close your eyes, you caneven feel the hope in this room.
(14:01):
I can see it as I look at eachand every one of you.
I see a group of people whostill believe in the law as a
force for good.
And I don't mean to discount theanger and the sadness that you
may feel.
Quite the opposite.
You should feel it.
(14:22):
I'd almost be disappointed ifyou didn't have some unease with
the way that the world is today.
But something inside of you madeyou seek a law degree.
Something called you to lawschool.
Something led you to firmlybelieve that you can make a
difference in the world as alawyer.
(14:43):
And whether you know it or not,as long as you still hold that
belief in your heart, Ourdemocracy can never die.
Before you leave here today,maybe when you wait to walk
across the stage, maybe you lookup to see if grandma found her
seat, close your eyes, take adeep breath and try to remember
(15:08):
what it was or who it was thatgot you here in the first place.
What was it?
that led you to believe that thelaw was the field where you can
make a difference.
Hold that memory tight, becauseright there, in that feeling,
(15:30):
our democracy survives.
Now some of you, some of you areprobably thinking, this is
pretty cheesy, saying toyourself, Judge! Crap, I forgot
his name.
I'm just trying to get out ofhere.
Whatever motivated me to gethere, it's been squished out of
(15:55):
me by contracts, by admin law,by petitioning, by moot court,
by the closing of the Panera, byjob interviews, by this speech.
I'm just trying to get my degreeand move on.
Well, to you, I would say,first, of course this is cheesy.
(16:15):
It is a commencement speech.
What did you expect?
Second, though, I would say, ifyou've forgotten what drove you
to be here in the first place,or just can't find it to believe
in our democracy, I'd encourageyou to come down to the federal
courthouse and watch anaturalization ceremony where
(16:37):
our newest citizens are minted.
It is one of the absolute bestparts of my job.
Many of these new citizens fledfrom famine, from poverty, from
war.
They've been through years ofstruggle.
Many have even had to leavefamily members far behind.
And yet they are so proud tofinally be called Americans,
(16:58):
despite everything they havebeen through.
They still believe in ourcountry and its institutions.
They believe in our democracy.
And if you have a chance towitness this firsthand, it's,
it's enough, I promise, to jogthat distant memory of whatever
brought you to the law in thefirst place.
Or maybe think about those latenights you spent and early
(17:20):
mornings, digging into yourbooks, drafting your outlines,
or in my case, copying someoneelse's.
Sorry.
Um, anyway.
Learning the law, you know?
Learning how to cite, learninghow to write, learning how to
think like a lawyer.
(17:41):
Yes, you were preparing for yourexams, you were preparing for
today, for sure.
But you were also taking andworking, taking steps, finishing
tasks, that ensured that ourdemocracy endures.
Because you were making certainthat when you marched across
this stage and into the world,You were going to do it with the
(18:02):
skills you needed to effectivelynavigate our system.
I'd also remind you that youaren't the first ones to march
out those doors into a difficultand challenging world.
As you prepare to join that longline of Maryland graduates, know
that many of them, like you,have marched straight out those
(18:23):
doors into chaos.
They marched into wars,segregation, immigration,
internment.
lynchings and more unspeakablehorrors.
And I'm not going to sit hereand pretend that that line of
graduates was always on, as theysay, the right side of history,
(18:43):
because Lord knows many werenot.
But I take inspiration fromthose graduates who came before
us and marched into whatevercrazy world they lived in at the
time, believing in the promiseof America and ready to wield
their law degree like a swordagainst suffering and injustice.
It is their example, theirmemory, that helps me to
(19:04):
maintain my belief that ourdemocracy is worth defending.
And maybe you're asking, I'mwith you, Judge, but how do I
defend democracy?
I get it for folks going intopublic interest law, but I don't
even have a job.
Well, first, I would say, Idon't have a job yet.
(19:26):
Okay, so phrase it that way.
Second, you're going to be fine.
And third, these speeches arenot supposed to provide any
practical advice.
I watched a bunch of them.
I'm supposed to get up here, saysomething funny, inspire, and
then leave, but I will try.
Let me tell you how to startdefending our democracy.
It's going to start very soon.
(19:46):
In that inevitable moment whensomeone you've known for years,
or maybe someone you just met ata bar, calls you aside and
quietly says, Hey, uh, you're alawyer, right?
Alright, now first off, when youhear that, buckle up.
(20:13):
Alright, because what is comingis a question about an area of
the law that you know absolutelynothing about.
And you know what isn't on itsway when someone asks a question
like that?
Any financial compensation foryour answer.
(20:33):
You got that, Uncle Billy,wherever you are?
But buried inside every ask likethat is a hope that the system
works.
A hope that with a little bit ofknowledge, fairness and justice
can prevail.
And in the small act of takingtime to listen, providing a
(20:54):
little help as best you can, youcan reaffirm that our systems
aren't as broken as people thinkthey are.
You work to restore faith.
in our democracy, to restorefaith in America.
And there are other small actsyou can do too.
You can volunteer in anexpungement clinic.
You can answer the court's callto represent a pro se plaintiff.
(21:16):
You can come back to your almamater to provide mentoring or
coaching or give a speech.
I think, I think this counts, Idon't know, but.
And in sharing that little bitof yourself, you're going to be
restoring faith.
So as you join this long line ofproud graduates, hold your head
(21:41):
up high, march forward, marchall over the world, but most
important, just keep marching.
Keep believing in yourself.
Keep believing in America.
Keep defending this democracy.
Because deep down, it's reallywhy you became a lawyer in the
(22:01):
first place.
Thank you very much.
Speaker (22:06):
Well, now that you've earned that law degree, thanks
to Judge Hurson, it's time tohead over to the School of
Medicine.
So here is Martine Rothblattgiving her remarks to the School
of Medicine's Class of 2024.
Martine Rothblatt (22:20):
Thank you, Dean Gladwin.
Thank you, University ofMaryland.
Congratulations to all of thegraduating class.
Congratulations to all of thefamily members because I know
all of you were absolutelyessential to the graduates
reaching this huge milestone andgreat sense of accomplishment.
(22:42):
Um, it takes, it takes everybodywe know to help us accomplish
what we do.
Dean Gladwin was so kind inreciting many parts of my
background, but, um, while herecites it as if it's me, it's
actually always teams.
(23:02):
First of all, there is myteammates soulmate for over 42
years, my partner, Bina Aspen,who's here in the front row.
And then beyond that, there areteams of literally hundreds of
people behind each and every oneof the accomplishments.
(23:24):
Dean Gladwin referred to.
There were probably a fewreasons why I was invited to be
your commencement speaker.
First, I'm the CEO of thelargest biotech and biopharma
company in our great state ofMaryland.
So let's talk about the companyfor a moment.
(23:47):
I co founded United Therapeuticswith my financial co founder.
Our long term CFO, Fred Hadid.
The success of our company is atestament to what happens when a
Palestinian American, such asMr.
Hadid and a Jewish American,such as myself, embrace each
(24:09):
other as brothers and sisters.
After retiring from our company,Mr.
Hadid became treasurer of theUnited Palestinian Appeal.
which he is today, and Iencourage you to make a
(24:32):
charitable contribution to it.
Our company has four medicinesapproved for pulmonary
hypertension, one forinterstitial lung disease, and
one for neuroblastoma.
About half the children who aregiven our neuroblastoma drug,
(24:55):
called Unitoxin, are completelycured of their cancer.
There is no recurrence aftereven five years.
This is something for Marylandto be truly proud of.
Now the story of UnitedTherapeutics is especially
unique because it shows whatmiracles can happen when
(25:18):
doctors, such as the graduatingclass of today, encourage
patients, in this case, ourdaughter and our family.
In our case, the patient was ouryoungest daughter.
Genesis Rothblatt, with a J, whowas diagnosed with fatal
(25:39):
pulmonary hypertension at age 8.
Pulmonary hypertension is adisease that shuts down the
artery between the heart and thelungs.
This leaves the patientbreathless.
In our daughter's case, her lipsturned blue.
(26:00):
When she was diagnosed Therewere only 2, 000 patients in the
United States with thiscondition because everyone who
developed it died within fiveyears.
There were no approved medicinesat all.
Genesis pleaded with me to saveher life.
(26:21):
I approached dozens of medicaldoctors for help, but only one,
Dr.
Robin Barst of ColumbiaPresbyterian, encouraged us.
She urged me to take the bull bythe horns.
She urged me to develop apromising molecule stored in a
freezer at the big pharmacompany GlaxoWelcome and to
(26:44):
develop it into a medicaltreatment for pulmonary
hypertension.
That company wouldn't develop itbecause they did not believe it
would work.
They also thought a small 2000patient population was not worth
the risk and the effort.
(27:06):
But with funding that Fred Hadidhelped me to raise, we
successfully built a biotechcompany that turned that
forgotten frozen molecule into anew medicine approved by the
FDA.
Now, 20 years later, Instead ofthere being 2, 000 patients
dying of pulmonary hypertension,there are 50, 000 people living
(27:30):
with pulmonary hypertension.
The new medicines enable decadesof life, thus growing the
constant small incidents into alarge prevalence.
And one of those 50, 000patients is our young daughter,
(27:52):
Genesis Rothblatt.
She was the young patient whosequest for the impossible was
supported by her medical doctor,just like I'm sure the
graduating class of today willdo for patients in your future
lives.
You guys are powerful, reallybeyond belief.
(28:15):
I mean, to think that Dr.
Barst, her words ofencouragement to me, could
result in growing 2, 000patients dying to 50, 000
patients living.
But that didn't just come fromme or from Genesis, it came from
the encouragement of herdoctors.
You are powerful beyond yourbeliefs.
(28:37):
I think a second reason I mayhave been invited is that I was
able to turn my Ph.
D.
in medical ethics into ahistoric, life saving set of
Xeno heart transplants righthere at the University of
Maryland Baltimore Hospital fortogether with Dr.
Bart Griffith and dozens ofhighly trained specialists right
(28:59):
at this amazing place.
Today each of you will receive asimilar degree.
What will you turn that degreeinto in the next 10 or 20 years?
I implore you to turn it intosaving lives.
Far, far too many people willPeople lose their lives to
(29:22):
mankind's only natural enemy,disease.
Over a quarter of a millionpeople die needlessly every
couple of days.
Each of these deaths is atragedy for the person, for they
lose access to thisextraordinary wonder that we are
(29:43):
able to experience on thisbeautiful planet.
Each of these deaths is also atragedy to their friends and
family.
For our loved ones live insideus, and we live inside them.
And hence, when they die, a partof us dies as well.
(30:05):
But I believe that each of thesedeaths is also a tragedy for
humanity.
As the African proverb says,When a life is lost You have an
unlimited life saving toolkitwith the medical degree that you
have earned today.
(30:27):
You can save lives with yourhands by touching patients, as
Dean Gladwin so beautifullydescribed.
You can save lives with yourlegs by going where others don't
go and treating patients thatothers ignore.
You can save lives with youreyes by seeing.
(30:50):
You can save lives with yourears by listening to the
patients.
You can save lives with yourmouths by organizing, advising,
and advocating for better healthcare.
You can save lives with betteruse of existing medicines by
(31:11):
engaging with pharmacogenomicsTelemedicine and integrative
medicine.
You can save lives by turningyour advanced knowledge of
physiology and bioinformaticsinto new and better medicines by
engaging with in silicobiochemistry, virtual clinical
(31:34):
trials, and AI poweredbiomedical research at United
Therapeutics here in SilverSprings.
We have a computationallaboratory for in silico
molecular biology.
The first letters of each ofthose words spell CLIMB, because
it's allowing us to climb to ahigher level of biomedical
(31:57):
research.
Within our CLIMB lab, we havecreated a virtual lung,
including a digital simulacra ofcellularized vessels and
airways.
Within this cyber model, We testpromising new drugs against a
variety of genetic polymorphismsinduced disease states.
(32:19):
This is a part of our AI future.
Your patients analyze DNA in thecloud, considered in light of
their diagnostic markers andself reported health, available
for genetic correlation with thedifferential safety and efficacy
profiles of dozens of differentdrugs.
(32:43):
You're brand new, literallyinfinite toolkit to save lives
and reduce anguish is truly agift from the heavens.
Yes, all of you worked very,very hard to get this.
But even the fact that you wereable to work very, very hard to
get it is another gift from theheavens.
(33:06):
Be grateful.
Be humble.
Be useful.
From my graduate degree inmedical ethics, I found the
toolkit to help safely modifypig DNA, thus avoiding both
zoonoses and acute organrejection, while validating the
(33:29):
promise of an unlimited supplyof transplantable hearts and
kidneys.
From your graduate degrees inmedicine, You will find the
toolkits to transform humanhealth from one on one patient
care visits to unfairlyneglected communities to our
(33:50):
ongoing battle against literallythousands of diseases, most of
which with no cures.
You have 360 degrees ofapplication.
for your medical degrees thatyou're getting today.
You have dozens of dimensions inwhich to deploy from biology to
sociology and from patient careto population research.
(34:16):
The power of the toolkit youreceive today is without limit.
It is a superpower for yourheart, for your mind, and for
your souls.
I think a third reason that Ireceived this prestigious invite
is because the University ofMaryland Medical School class is
(34:37):
a proudly diverse class with atleast one in five identifying as
LGBTQ.
Now I'm one of the few openlytransgendered leaders in a
healthcare organization.
The healthcare system is oftenharsh.
to those outside of a majoritypower demographic.
(35:00):
Women, black and brown people,immigrants, diverse ethnicities,
lesbians, gays, and queerpeople, all of us have faced
systemic healthcare prejudice.
If the worst treatment didn'tkill us, then the justifiable
(35:20):
reluctance to even enter thehealthcare system could.
Read just one story of that inmy friend, Leslie Feinberg's
book, Stone Butch Blues.
Yet here we are, as one of themost diverse graduating medical
school classes ever.
This makes me so proud of theUniversity of Maryland, and so
(35:44):
proud of each and every one ofyou, for all of the countless
personal battles you had tofight, and much harder than
others, to get to where you aretoday.
I hope that you can see in myexample that it is possible to
reach the peaks of thehealthcare sector in all of our
joyful diversity.
(36:05):
I want to call out the many,many amazing role models we have
to look up to.
Such as Dr.
Ted Love, the Black PhysicianCEO who developed the first FDA
approved treatment for sicklecell disease.
Or Dr.
Alfred Quiones, the undocumentedMexican immigrant who became
(36:27):
head and is now head of Mayo'sNeurosurgery Department.
We are not as prevalent as weshould be, but we are changing
that with each and every diversegraduating medical school class
like the one I see right infront of me.
In summary, I stand for MarylandHealth.
(36:50):
I stand for seeing an infinitetoolkit to save lives in the
graduate degrees that we havereceived today.
And I stand for ensuring thatthose who have long been
disrespected by the health caresystem, being brought inside it
and becoming leaders of it.
Thank you so much for theopportunity to share my thoughts
(37:10):
with you today, and pleaseaccept my hearty congratulations
on your magnificentaccomplishment Being recognized
today.
Dana Rampolla (37:25):
And wrapping up here is Senator Ben Cardin
speaking to the University ofMaryland School of Social Work.
Ben Cardin (37:34):
Thank you so much for that very kind introduction.
Let me also give my thanks andcongratulations to your esteemed
faculty.
Thank the proud families andgraduates of the class of 2024.
I am deeply honored to addressyou on this momentous occasion.
It's made even more special as afellow graduate of the
(37:56):
University of Maryland,Baltimore, and a graduate of the
School of Law.
President Jarrell, we're proudof you.
I want to congratulate you foryour leadership.
This is his fourth convocationtoday.
This is the fourth graduatingspeech he's going to have to
listen to.
This is quite a guy.
very much.
To the graduates, my sincerecongratulations.
(38:17):
As President George---W.
Bush said, to those of you whoare graduating with honors, I
say well done.
Well done.
As I'd like to tell C students,you too can be president.
(38:37):
This graduation is not just acelebration of academic
achievement, but also arecognition of your unwavering
commitment to serving others.
With your newly achieved degree,you are also agents of
transformation.
Your time at the University ofMaryland, coupled with your
training outside the classroom,is Has equipped you with the
(38:59):
tools and knowledge to addresssome of the most pressing issues
facing our communities, andyou'll be changing lives at a
very personal, individual level.
My faith teaches me to love yourneighbor as yourself.
Deeds of loving kindness areequal to all the commandments.
(39:21):
These words have always guidedme in my career, in public
service where I've sought to endcommunity and justice.
the lives of our most vulnerablecitizens.
When I first ran for office, Iwas a law student at University
of Maryland.
Guided by my faith in myupbringing, I ran for the
Maryland House of Delegatesbecause I wanted to make a
(39:43):
positive difference in the livesof others.
Now, after 57 years of publicservice, I can tell you that not
only is public service deeplyrewarding personally.
It's also an act worn out oflove for one's community.
I believe we all have anobligation, as Marion White
(40:04):
Edelman said, service is therent you pay for living.
As social workers, you havechosen a career to help others.
Individuals struggling withmental health and substance
abuse.
Communities challenged bypoverty and homelessness.
Thank you.
(40:25):
Neighborhoods that have beenoverlooked, they need your
advocacy.
Individuals who need you to helporganize to improve social
policies and programs.
In one word, you have chosen acareer to be change makers.
You are embarking on a career ofpublic service.
Who knows, you may even follow afellow social worker, Senator
(40:48):
Bart Murkowski, and become a U.
S.
Senator.
As a social worker, you have theskills to help others, but you
also understand the need forcommunity support.
No one can do it alone.
It takes a village.
Each of us has been supported byfamily, friends, classmates, and
(41:10):
soldiers.
Your skills taught here at theUniversity of Maryland to help
you organize communities toaction.
I saw the need firsthand inMarch.
At four a.
m.
on March 26, I was awakened by acall on board the catastrophic
collision by the dolly into theFrancis Scott Key Bridge in
(41:32):
Baltimore, causing its immediatecollapse.
Lives were lost.
The shipping channel into thePort of Baltimore, the third
busiest in our nation, wasblocked by thousands of tons of
steel and concrete.
And a major East Coast trafficartery was severed.
(41:55):
I saw first hand the importanceof individual leadership.
But it was the communityengagement that provided the
effective response.
Although it was a state bridge,the federal government was there
with their expertise andresources that were beyond the
state's capacity.
Private citizens, non profitsand businesses from the
(42:17):
community We're there for thevictims of the tragedy and their
families.
First responders were fed bylocal restaurants and closed
their businesses to the publicto support the rescue, recovery,
and debris removal.
It took a community.
The six victims were immigrantsdoing dangerous work to keep our
(42:40):
highways safe.
Work that most of us would notdo.
Neighbors joined together in acandlelight vigil for the
victims.
Their families are being caredfor by the community.
The Small BusinessAdministration set up local
centers to help small businessesthat depended on the operation
(43:01):
of the Port of Baltimore.
The channel is now substantiallyopen, months earlier than
thought possible, bringingthousands of workers back to
work, thanks to the community.
And the Francis Scott Key Bridgewill be rebuilt thanks to the
community.
(43:26):
Governments, non profits,businesses, and engaged private
citizens working together ourcommunity.
With this community support, youare ready to meet society's
challenges.
You made it through a globalpandemic and the economic
fallout that ensued.
You overcame challenges ofvirtual learning that upended
(43:49):
the traditional in personcollege experience.
For each of you, your collegejourney has been shaped by
unconventional and unprecedentedexperiences.
But despite these challenges,you made it here today, and you
should be very proud ofyourself.
(44:13):
You understood what Lily Tomlinmeant when she said, The road to
success is always underconstruction.
Thanks to the University ofMaryland, you have been learning
firsthand that public service isless about what you lose and
more about what you give togain.
What you gain and what othersgain because of your public
(44:34):
service may be relatively small,or it may become very profound.
Winston Churchill summarized itbest by saying, we make a living
by what we get, but we make alife by what we give.
So, social work takes dedicationand grit, which is how I know
(44:55):
that all of you are fortunate tohave found your passion to help
others.
It can be a mysterious force, adetermined voice deep inside of
you compelling you to dosomething for the greater good.
Sometimes it quietly guides youdown a path, and sometimes it
screams in your ear.
Either way, the lives you changein your future careers will be
(45:18):
thankful you listened to thatvoice.
As social workers, you aretaught to envision the whole
person, not just parts.
You are all human and notsuperheroes.
Something to remember during thetough times.
But thanks to your training hereat the University of Maryland,
you do have the power to changepeople's lives for the better.
(45:40):
Maybe it's a struggling singlemom trying to make ends meet.
Maybe it's a mental health orsubstance abuse patient trying
to get back on track.
Maybe it's a returning citizenlooking for that second chance.
The possibilities are endless,but the outcomes will be better
because of you and your traininghere at the University of
(46:01):
Maryland.
As President Theodore Rooseveltsaid, this country will not be a
good place for any of us to livein unless we make it a good
place for all of us to live in.
Our nation's history has been ajourney towards a more perfect
(46:24):
union so that all Americans canachieve the American Dream,
whatever their version of thatdream may be.
We ended slavery and healed fromthe Civil War.
Women won the right to vote.
We eliminated separate but equaldoctrine.
We advanced civil rights ineducation, housing, and
employment.
But we are still on that journeytowards real equality.
(46:47):
Women are not receiving equalpay for equal work.
The ERA is still not part of ourConstitution.
Minorities still do not haveequal opportunities in the
workplace, healthcare, orhousing.
Government has a duty to addressthese challenges.
And to improve the lives of allAmericans with this degree, you
have also taken on that dutywith me.
(47:15):
Never underestimate the power ofcommunity and collaboration.
Real change rarely happens inisolation.
It requires the collectiveeffort of dedicated individuals
working together towards acommon goal.
So reach out to your classmates.
Make connections with thecommunity.
(47:35):
and form partnerships andorganizations, and together,
people to people connectionshelp shape a more just and
compassionate world for all.
Please don't ever give up hope.
Don't become resigned orindifferent.
It's easy to be discouraged, butstanding here today gives me
hope.
(47:55):
You made it through COVID.
Many of you juggling a full timejob while attending classes.
Some of you balanced familycommitments with school.
But you made it to graduation.
You are change makers.
Your training and skills givesus all hope.
(48:17):
In 1915, the cleric andtheologian John Wesley gave
advice that is so relevant forthis moment.
He said, do all the good you canby all the means you can, in all
the ways you can, in all theplaces you can, at all the times
(48:37):
you can.
To all the people you can, aslong as ever you can.
As you leave here today,remember that you make a living
by what you get, you make a lifeby what you give.
Use the skills you have learnedhere to be the change makers you
can be.
Never forget your values,passions, and determination.
(48:59):
This is how you will make adifference in the lives of
others.
Congratulations again to theclass of 2024.
You deserve this moment.
Embrace it.
Speaker 2 (49:18):
The UMB Pulse with Charles Schelle and Dana
Rampolla is a UMB Office ofCommunications and Public
Affairs production, edited byCharles Schelle marketing by
Dana Rampolla.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!