NC State Veterinary Medicine Class of 2021’s Oath and Hooding Ceremony Set for May 10

The world has changed, and the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2021 is ready for it.

 When this year’s class of 96 soon-to-be-official veterinarians graduate at 6 p.m. May 10, it won’t just be a celebration of their extraordinary academic accomplishment. It will be a celebration of their resilience.

The Class of 2021 was working through a challenging four-year DVM curriculum when a global pandemic struck right as they headed into the ever-important fourth and final clinical year. That didn’t stop them, didn’t stop their education and didn’t stop their drive to fulfill their dreams.

Their years at the CVM have been dotted by escalating political division and civil unrest borne by uncivil actions, and the Class of 2021 stood together and supported each other in unprecedented ways. They instead thought about a better future, reaching out across racial and and ideological borders and working even harder to make the CVM and the veterinary community a more inclusive place.

But above all, the Class of 2021 has accomplished what each of them came to NC State to do.

On May 10, they’ll receive a graduation hood and diploma and begin their lives as epidemiologists, as surgeons, as farm animal specialists. They’ll go out to tackle some of the most pressing global health issues. They’ll conduct cancer research and teach and heal. The world will be better for it.

And they’ll all come together one last time, to recite the Veterinarian’s Oath:

Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge.

I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics.

I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.

~Jordan Bartel/NC State Veterinary Medicine

Class of 2021
Oath and Hooding Ceremony Program

May 10’s Oath and Hooding ceremony will stream live on the NC State Veterinary Medicine YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/NCStateVetMed