Zucker School Of Medicine Celebrates Ninth Commencement Ceremony

e Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell celebrated its ninth commencement ceremony on May 8.

e event was held at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex at Hofstra University, where 94 graduates from the Class of 2023 took another step closer to realizing their dreams, becoming the nation’s newest doctors and scientists to enter the eld of medicine.

e ceremony was presided by Susan Poser, president of Hofstra University, David Battinelli, MD, dean of the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, and Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health.

“We are jealous of your opportunity for the journey and the chance to have all of the countless discoveries and advances in medicine that we did not have and couldn’t offer our patients,” said Dr. Battinelli, who also serves as the executive vice president and physician in chief of Northwell Health. “A career in medicine is a lifelong journey—you will have more hard work, but the future of patient care and discovery is in your hands, and the future of your career is bright.”

The commencement keynote was delivered by Kevin Tracey, MD, president and CEO, and the Karches Family Distinguished Chair in Medical Research at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research.

A pioneer in the scientific fields of inflammation and bioelectronic medicine, Dr. Tracey’s contributions include discovery and molecular mapping of neural circuits controlling immunity.

As an accomplished inventor on more than 120 United States patents, author of more than 400 scientific publications, and co-founder of several biotechnology companies, Dr. Tracey encouraged the graduates to continue to dream big and learn from their achievements.

Of the 94 Zucker School of Medicine students conferred, there are 86 MDs, one PhD, two MD/PhDs, two MD/ OMSs, and three MD/MPHs.

The school’s newest physicians and scientists are an ambitious and culturally rich group, including 11 first-generation individuals and 17 graduates who are underrepresented in medicine, ready to bring the highest level of health care to a growing and diverse

Dr. Tanzim Bhuiya is one of 13 graduates to receive the Graduation with Distinction in Research Award this year. He is hooded by Dr. Kevin Tracey, president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. The school’s vice dean, Dr. Samara Ginzburg (left), looks on as Bhuiya is conferred. Photos courtesy of Hofstra University population.

Commencement day was also a full circle moment for dual degree MD/ MPH graduate Dr. Tanzim Bhuiya, who completed Hofstra University’s 4+4 BS-BA/MD program, an eight-year curriculum that combines undergraduate and medical school education. As a Hofstra undergrad majoring in disability studies, he developed a passion for humanities in medicine. A service trip to Panama also sparked his interest in global health and a desire to pursue a master’s in public health.

Dr. Bhuiya is one of 13 graduates to receive the Graduation with Distinction in Research Award. He follows in his father’s footsteps, Dr. Tawfiqul Bhuiya, a beloved and highly regarded Northwell Health physician who sadly passed in 2020.

“My dad was my introduction into medicine and truly modeled the qualities a physician should have and the person I want to become—he was my role model my entire life.”

Classmate Danielle Anesta Lowe Howell, MD, knows all too well what it’s like to experience the challenges of medical school while suffering a personal loss. She credits her perseverance partly to the school community’s compassion and encouragement.

“The medical school was incredibly supportive as I coped with the loss of my father in the midst of my clinical year,” explained Dr. Howell, who will begin a residency program in psychiatry at Mount Sinai Hospital. “I attribute much of my growth and success as a student to the close-knit community that the Zucker School of Medicine cultivates.”

While in medical school, Dr. Howell completed the Klar Leadership Development and Innovation Management Scholarly Concentration. In 2021, she was honored with the Feinstein Institutes’ Advancing Women in Science and Medicine (AWSM) Barbara Hrbek Zucker Emerging Scientist Award for her research projects looking into the role of social determinants of health in hospital settings. It was the first time in AWSM’s history that a medical student received funding.

With newly conferred degrees in hand, Zucker School of Medicine graduates are ready to embark on the next steps in their life-long journey. This ambitious group of physicians matched to residencies in 23 specialty areas at institutions throughout 14 different states.

—Hofstra University