
Commencement Ceremony
Celebrating RUSM graduates entering the next chapter of their careers as MDs.
2022 Commencement Ceremony
Friday, May 20, 2022 @ 6:00 pm ET
The RUSM Commencement Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 20, 2022, at 6:00 pm ET at the Watsco Center (located on the University of Miami campus), 1245 Dauer Drive, Coral Gables, Florida.
Congratulations Graduates!
We are so proud of our graduates and look forward to celebrating this momentous achievement.
Keynote Commencement Speaker
Selwyn O. Rogers, Jr.
MD, MPH, FACS
A member of the RUSM Board of Trustees, Selwyn O. Rogers Jr., MD, MPH, FACS, is a widely respected surgeon and public health expert.
As founding director of the University of Chicago Medicine Trauma Center, Dr. Rogers is building an interdisciplinary team of specialists to treat patients who suffer injury from life-threatening events, such as car crashes, serious falls and gun violence. His team works with leaders in the city's trauma network to expand trauma care on the South Side.
Dr. Rogers has served in leadership capacities at health centers across the country, including most recently as vice president and chief medical officer for the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Dr. Rogers has also served as the chair of surgery at Temple University School of Medicine and as the division chief of trauma, burns and surgical critical care at Harvard Medical School. While at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), he helped launch the Center for Surgery and Public Health to understand the nature, quality and utilization of surgical care nationally and internationally.
Additionally, as executive vice president for community health engagement, Dr. Rogers works with faculty across the University of Chicago as well as members of the community to develop a multidisciplinary approach to trauma care and health disparities. His work will help enhance the understanding of social factors that affect victims of violence and underserved populations, in addition to identifying approaches necessary to achieving better outcomes for trauma victims.
Dr. Rogers' clinical and research interests focus on understanding the healthcare needs of underserved populations. He has published numerous articles relating to health disparities and the impact of race and ethnicity on surgical outcomes.
Alumni Council Commencement Speaker
Jessica Shepherd
MD, MBA, FACOG
Dr. Jessica Shepherd is a board certified OB/GYN, women’s health expert and minimally invasive surgeon. She is the chief medical officer of Verywell Health and also the founder and CEO of Sanctum Med + Wellness, a wellness concierge practice and is affiliated with Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.
Dr. Shepherd is an engaging and well known media personality that is seen regularly as an expert on Good Morning America, The Today Show, Dr. Oz, CNN, MSNBC and CBS News. She is on the Advisory Board for Women’s Health Magazine, Women’s Health.org, It’s August and has written in other various journals including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, Essence, and Self.
Her passion for women’s health, from minority health disparities to reproductive justice issues, has allowed her to be an advocate for women and she has been a speaker at various health and wellness events such as Blog Her, Well Summit and Chronicon.
Dr. Shepherd strives to educate people on their bodies and how to address their physical, sexual, emotional health in addition to the incorporation of wellness. She currently sits on the advisory board for Ro Medicine, Women’s Health Magazine, Abbvie, Myovant, Responsum, Hologic, Healthy Women.org and Healthline.
As an expert in her field, she has now expanded her reach to keynote talks and her national appeal has allowed her to work on women’s health issues with celebrities including Sheryl Crow, Halle Berry, Ciara, Brooke Burke, Erin Andrews, Dr. Jackie Walters from Married to Medicine, Catt Sadler and Laila Ali.
Her involvement with various foundations as a board member has allowed her to actively make decisions in the women’s health realm. She serves as the president of the Ross University Medical School Alumni Council, and is engaged with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Board, AAGL Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the Texas Women’s Foundation.
She lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband and two sons.
Student Commencement Speaker
Uzoma Dike
While at RUSM, Dr. Dike has demonstrated a passion for learning as well as a commitment to leadership and professional development.
RUSM graduate Uzoma Dike, MD has been elected as student speaker for RUSM's 2022 Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 20, 2022. Dr. Dike, an incoming family medicine resident physician at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, and a member of RUSM's graduating class, is one of several speakers who will give remarks during Commencement. The ceremony will be livestreamed on Facebook beginning at 6:00 pm ET.
As the second oldest of six brothers, Dr. Uzoma Dike was born and raised in Houston, Texas, by two Nigerian immigrants. His interest in becoming a physician was sparked at an early age. Fascinated by the human body and instilled with an appreciation for the patient-physician relationship, it was a natural decision for Dr. Dike to pursue a career in medicine. He earned his bachelor's degree in biology from The University of Texas at Austin before enrolling at Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM).
While at RUSM, Dr. Dike has demonstrated a passion for learning as well as a commitment to leadership and professional development. He served on Student Government Association and was the president of Phi Delta Epsilon, Fraternity Incorporated. Dr. Dike showed his dedication to enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion while sitting on the RUSM Diversity & Inclusion taskforce—a team of students, faculty, colleagues and alumni leading a holistic review of diversity and inclusion at the University.
Dr. Dike will be starting his family medicine residency at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston this June. Following completion of his residency, he is interested in pursuing a sports medicine fellowship, with aspirations of becoming the team physician for a professional sports franchise while also maintaining his own private clinic.
Social Media & Digital Downloads!
Be sure to use the hashtag #RUSMGrad on your social media celebrations, encourage family and friends to watch the ceremony virtually and decorate your social media posts and stories with RUSM Graduation social media stickers. Celebrate with downloadable Instagram Story Slides, Zoom backgrounds, and Yard Signs below.
Social Media Stickers – Use keyword “rusmgrad” in the sticker search bar to view and use stickers on social media posts and stories.
Commencement Social Board
General Commencement FAQs
Yes. RUSM is excited to celebrate our graduates in person on Friday, May 20, 2022, at 6 p.m. ET at the Watsco Center (located on the University of Miami campus), 1245 Dauer Drive, Coral Gables, Florida.
We are working closely with the commencement venue in monitoring COVID-19 updates from the Center of Disease Control (CDC), the Florida Department of Health, and the World Health Organization (WHO) to uphold a successful event. With your health and safety as our top priority, we will adjust plans as needed to comply with local guidelines and restrictions and will keep you informed should we need to modify our graduation plans. *
*With the evolving environment, date, time and location are subject to change. We recommend taking advantage of flexible booking options for flights and hotels. We will contact all graduates directly via their RUSM student email address should the number of guests per graduate become limited.
Yes! There are no headcount restrictions regarding guests. Physical tickets will not be required, however, we kindly ask that you stay as close to your projected guest count as possible since accommodations were made with those RSVP counts and details. We recommend that graduates discourage guests from bringing extraneous personal belongings as there is no coat check available.
Please note that the event will also be livestreamed in real-time on our Facebook and YouTube Channels so family and friends can watch from anywhere across the world.
No, there will not be a standalone virtual event. RUSM is excited that we will be able to celebrate our graduates’ accomplishments together in person – exact details regarding COVID-19 guidelines will be shared closer to the event date. If you are unable to attend the in-person commencement, there will be a livestream link shared so that the ceremony can be watched from anywhere across the world. The livestream link will be provided to graduates via email.
For Class of 2022 graduates who are unable to attend the in-person event, the Commencement Planning Team will include instructions for an option to participate virtually during the in-person ceremony when the commencement registration details are shared via email. You must register by the designated deadline for these arrangements to be made.
Yes! Graduates who participated in 2020 or 2021 virtual celebrations may participate in the 2022 in-person commencement ceremony. An email will be sent to each graduate’s RUSM Student email with additional information for registering for the event and designating your class year.
No. If students choose not to take part in the ceremony and their university academic requirements are met, graduates will receive their diplomas in the mail.
RUSM will provide honor cords, Empower Scholarship cords, and 4.0 medallions to qualified honor graduates at check-in on the day of the ceremony. Honors statuses are determined by the Honors policy in which a student matriculated into RUSM. Eligible Honors designees will be recognized during the ceremony and will be identified with honor cords. Honors recognition is reflected on the graduate’s transcript and diploma. Due to the timing of receipt of clinical evaluations and completing of a final degree audit, you may not be recognized at the ceremony.
If your university academic requirements are met, you will receive your diploma in the mail. Diplomas are mailed to the student's diploma mailing address from their graduation application, which can be viewed and updated in the My Ross Med Student Portal.
Please email hjcollegefl@aol.com and a Herff Jones representative will respond directly.
Day-of Commencement Ceremony FAQs
Graduates should arrive at the Watsco Center by 4:30 pm with your robe, tam, hood and tassel. You should enter through the breezeway to the right of the main entrance (street level) and go to the Multi-Purpose Room (Field House).
- You need to check-in no later than 5:00 pm. Please line up at the appropriate check-in station based on the first letter of your last name. The check-in stations will be as follows: A-D, E-K, L-R, S-Z. There will be an additional table to pick up honors cords after you’ve checked in for those who qualify.
- At check-in, you will be required to show your student ID or driver’s license in order to receive your seating card. You will receive seating cards placing you in one of four groups (as noted above) printed with your name and honors information. Please do not lose this seating card because it will also be used to announce your name during the ceremony.
Your guests will be permitted to enter the Watsco Center beginning at 4:45 pm through the main entrance. Please note that this is 15 minutes LATER than graduates need to arrive, so plan accordingly. Physical tickets will not be required, however, we kindly ask that you stay as close to your projected guest count as possible since accommodations were made with those RSVP counts and details. We recommend that graduates discourage guests from bringing extraneous personal belongings as there is no coat check available.
- Be aware that large bags and backpacks of all guests may be searched upon entrance to the Watsco Center.
- Light refreshments will be available for purchase on the concourse. Outside food and beverage is not permitted.
- The facility will not permit us to have balloons inside the arena.
Upon arrival, we recommend commencement guests park in either the 425 North or South lots. Visitors at the Watsco Center are required to pay for parking. All vehicles must park head-in only and register the vehicle license plate with the University of Miami via a Pay Station kiosk or the PaybyPhone app.
- To pay for parking, visitors may use PayByPhone (download app or call 877-885-8899) or a Pay Station kiosk. Pay Station kiosks are located in the parking lot, not at the main entrance. Parking must be prepaid prior to entering the building.
- Parking costs for PayByPhone are $1.50 an hour plus a 27 cents transaction fee. Parking sessions over 5 hours are converted to $8.00 plus the 27 cents transaction fee. Parking costs for Pay Stations are $1.50 an hour and parking sessions over 5 hours are converted to $8.00. For more information, please visit University of Miami Visitors page.
At this time face coverings/masks are not required for students, staff, and guests.
At this time face coverings/masks are not required for students, staff and guests.
At this time, proof of vaccination will not be required for students and guests to attend the in-person ceremony. The university continues to strongly recommend strongly that people get vaccinated.
For guests requiring wheelchair or similar accessibility access for entering – Please locate the sign with the symbol of accessibility on it and the attending staff will be able to assist.
Physical programs will be available at the ceremony. However, in the spirit of One Health and being environmentally conscious, we ask that programs are limited to 2-3 per family/friends. There will be a QR code available to pull up a digital program the day of the ceremony on a mobile device.
The entire list of eligible graduates for 2022 will be added to the commencement program, and we do our best to ensure that the lists are correct. Should you notice a discrepancy, our team can send a revised digital copy post-ceremony if you email events@rossu.edu. Please note that if there is an error, your name will still be announced in person.
For the Class of 2020 or 2021, your name will be included in this program if you register for the ceremony by the designated deadline. Please note that if there is an error, your name will still be announced in person.
If you have a relative or mentor who is an RUSM alum, they may hood you during the 2022 Commencement Ceremony. If you wish to take advantage of this opportunity, please email events@rossu.edu for instructions.
Relatives and mentors who are not RUSM alumni will not be permitted to hood graduates during the 2022 Commencement Ceremony.
Prior to your Ceremony FAQs
Yes. It is required to register to participate in RUSM’s in-person commencement ceremony. A link will be made available to you via email.
Please note, the deadline to order regalia has passed. RUSM will provide honor cords, Empower Scholarship Cords and 4.0 Medallions to qualified graduates at check-in on the day of the ceremony.
For your convenience please find some hotel recommendations for your stay in South Florida.
Hilton Miami Downtown (Host Hotel)
1601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
(305) 374-0000
Hotel Colonnade Coral Gables, Autograph Collection
180 Aragon Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 441-2600
Miami Marriott Dadeland
9090 S Dadeland Blvd, Miami, FL 33156
(305) 670-1035
Courtyard by Marriott Miami Dadeland
9075 S Dadeland Blvd, Miami, FL 33156
(305) 670-1220
Hyatt Regency Coral Gables
50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 441-1234
Biltmore Hotel Miami Coral Gables
1200 Anastasia Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 445-1926
Hampton Inn by Hilton Coconut Grove Miami / Coral Gables
2800 SW 28th Terrace, Miami, FL 33133
(305) 448-2800
Click here for other options and assistance with booking a hotel.
There is not a specific dress code for graduates. However, all graduates are REQUIRED to wear the designated academic regalia to participate in the ceremony — a doctoral tam, gown, hood and tassel.