Houston Healthcare Class of 2017 makes it official

Houston Healthcare celebrated the Class of 2017 family medicine residency commencement Friday evening. Doctors Tameka Byrd, Scott Cameron, Abraham Jeon, MyTien Nguyen, Alex Stahura and Andrew Wang have completed their medical educational journey. Before the doctors received their certificates, they heard from family medicine Class of 2015 graduate Doctor Laurie Urquhart, who was the keynote speaker.

“Congratulations to you all,” said Urquhart. “I know you all are really excited, but your first year on your own is going to be your most learning time. It’s not until you’re tested when you really know. I believe as a family physician we are the foundation of medicine. First time a patient comes to the office, they usually go to the family practice; they don’t just jump the gun and go to surgery. We make an impact. You are a valuable source in the community. Remember, work is work, but you have to have some fun. Just like Winston Churchill said, ‘You cannot deal with the most serious things in the world unless you also understand the most amusing.’”

Byrd was also selected at the recipient of the Resident of the Year award and was honored by the rising family residency class. Byrd has been hired on to work at the Navicent Health Peach County Hospital in outpatient family in Byron.

“Thank you all so much. It has been an interesting three years,” said Byrd. “I absolutely have to thank God for getting me this far. I decided in fourth grade that I wanted to be a doctor and God has brought me to it. I can’t thank all of my family and friends for their support and love, the faculty and clinic staff for their guidance and my colleagues. To the rising residents, one thing I want to share with you is that I failed my very first medical school exam. I flat out failed it. I was so discouraged, but somewhere along the way, I got the revelation that it was not about me. I think the reason why I am able to be so successful is that I treat my patients like they are my family. Keep that in mind, treat them with the level of respect and your patients and yourself will be better.”

Concluding the ceremony, the class also presented the Preceptor of the Year awards to Doctors Deep Adhikari and Ravi Shekarappa.

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