Dr. Herbert Wertheim, the college’s namesake, addresses the Class of 2025 at the Commencement Ceremony, reciting a poem he wrote to celebrate their graduation.
“The Doctor’s Oath in Verse”
Today we gather, proud and true,
At FIU with skies so blue,
To celebrate with joy and pride
The doctors standing by our side.
This college bears a noble founders name—Dr. Herbert Wertheim,
a legacy of thousands of MD’s who’s diplomas bears his name.—
Of vision, purpose, hope, and heart,
Where science meets the healing art.
And here today, beneath this sun,
We honor what these minds have done.
Four years of grit, of sleepless strife,
Of learning how to guard a life.
Now hear this truth, and let it ring:
You’re not just great—you are astonishing.
Perhaps the finest class we’ve seen—
So sharp, so skilled, so strong, so keen.
Did you know each seat was earned,
Through fierce demand and bridges burned?
Each year the choosing grows more tough—
Because greatness, friends, is not enough.
So to each student, fierce and wise,
You are this nation’s rising prize.
But we must pause—let’s not forget
The ones who cheered without regret:
The mothers, fathers, families dear,
The mentors whispering hope in your ear.
The partners, friends who stayed the course,
Through every late-night study force.
To those who held you through the fear,
Who loaned their strength year after year—
This cap, this gown, this sweet acclaim—
You wear it now, but share the name.
And now, dear doctors, listen tight,
Your oath begins not with a fight—
But with a whisper, soft and sure:
“I’ll help my patients to endure.”
But more than that—you’ll lead them through,
To lives where illness seldom grew.
Yes, your mission, first and best,
Is helping bodies find their rest.
Prevent, prevent—repeat that song.
It’s not just cures that make you strong.
Teach wellness early, teach it loud,
And you will rise above the crowd.
The lives you save you’ll never know—
They’ll simply thrive, and learn, and grow.
No fame or flash, but silent cheer—
Because of you, they persevere.
So step into this world with pride,
With skill, with strength, with truth as guide.
Remember FIU, this sacred place—
That shaped your hands, your mind, your grace to earn your residency and take your place
Now go with honor, bold and bright,
Be scholars, healers, guardians of visions light.
This world awaits your gentle healing art—
With preventative medical science woven within your heart.
Dr. Herbert Wertheim