Class of 2015 alumni reunite 10 years after graduation.
Class of 2015 alumni returned to the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine for their 10-year reunion, picking up right where they left off. Classmates gathered in the Panther Learning Commons, surrounded by mementos from their student days—including their White Coat Ceremony program and class yearbook.
See photos from the Class of 2015 reunion
“It’s like nothing has changed,” said Dr. Allison Williams, a pediatric hospitalist at UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, who has not seen many of her classmates since graduating. “We’re still the same group.”
Williams described feeling nothing but excitement heading into the reunion—exactly what she expected, all the ‘warm fuzzies’ included.
As classmates trickled into the first stop of the reunion, the room quickly filled with laughter and memories—from side chats on laptops during lectures to heading to Chili’s on FIU’s main campus after every exam.
“So many memories, so much nostalgia,” said Dr. Javier Reyes, an adolescent and adult psychiatrist in Miami and a proud double-Panther, having earned both his undergraduate and medical degrees at FIU.
The Class of 2015 marked the College of Medicine’s third graduating class, growing to 80 students from 42 in the previous cohort. A decade later, the college has now graduated 13 classes—more than 1,300 physicians who are serving patients and communities across the nation.
Dean Juan C. Cendan welcomed the alumni and shared updates on the college’s continued growth, including new partnerships with Baptist Health and Nicklaus Children’s—collaborations that will expand clinical training opportunities and strengthen FIU’s role in advancing health care for South Florida families.
Dean Juan C. Cendan addresses the Class of 2015 during their campus visit.
Alumni toured the college’s transformed learning spaces, including modern, active-learning classrooms that replaced the auditorium-style classrooms. They explored the high-tech simulation center—now expanded with standardized patient suites and virtual reality equipment—and visited the newly renovated anatomy lab, which underwent a $5M renovation last year.
“The facilities are fantastic,” said Williams. “All the simulation equipment is shockingly real. I’m kind of jealous and wish I had had this too.”
“I think what was true when we were in medical school is still true,” said Dr. Michaela Gaffley, a colon and rectal surgeon at the Miami VA Medical Center and one of the newest members of the college’s Alumni Advisory Program. “FIU continues to be on the cutting edge—bringing innovation into how we learn and how we care for our patients. I’m very impressed.”
During their simulation center tour, alumni got a close look at Vivian—a hyper-realistic medical manikin modeled after Vivien Bridson, an 82-year-old London-based actress who appeared in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
For Dr. Andrés Rodriguez, a family medicine physician and assistant dean of Student Affairs at the college, the reunion was both personal and professional.
“I’m a cheerleader for the college,” said Rodriguez. “I was excited to show all the changes, but equally excited for my classmates to reconnect with faculty and visit parts of the college that haven’t changed, places that bring back so many memories.”
Day 1 of the reunion wrapped up in the Faculty Lounge, where alumni were greeted by FIU Medicine leadership, faculty, and staff— some of the same mentors who had guided them during their student days.
Dr. Suzanne Minor (in green suit), a founding faculty member and the college’s first family medicine clerkship director, returned to campus to reconnect with the Class of 2015. Pictured from left with Minor are alumni: Dr. Robert Guido, Dr. Allison Williams, and Dr. Elizabeth Spiwak.
“Tonight, we celebrate not just a milestone but a journey,” said Rodriguez, addressing his classmates. “One that began with shared lectures, sleepless nights, and clinical rotations that have since blossomed into careers transforming lives across the country.”
The celebration continued with a friendly kickball game and a dinner in Coconut Grove—closing out a weekend filled with connection, reflection, and pride for how far the Class of 2015 and FIU Medicine have come in just ten years.