By Kat Procyk
Photography by Rayni Shiring/University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine welcomed its newest cohort of future scientists at the Fifth Annual Welcome Ceremony for Incoming PhD Students on Sept. 18, 2025, in Alumni Hall.
All 97 students received School of Medicine jackets from graduate program directors to commemorate the beginning of their career in research. The ceremony comes during a year of changes to federal research funding, demonstrating students’ resilience and commitment to science.
In addition to those qualities, Abbas Hyderi, vice dean for education and professor of family medicine, School of Medicine, reminded students of other values that could help them navigate graduate school: integrity, curiosity and community—and to lean on their peers for support along the way.
“Experiments don’t always work. Data doesn’t always fit neatly,” Hyderi said. “Progress sometimes comes in unexpected and slow ways. There will be bumps in the journey. Those are hard to navigate and hard to embrace because you want success. But that’s the lay of the land. Know that you’re not alone and that you have the resources to thrive.”
Saleem Khan, associate dean for graduate studies and academics affairs, School of Medicine, was the ceremony’s emcee and proud that all students, including international, were able to make it to Pittsburgh to continue their education.
“You have made the right choice by coming to Pitt,” Khan said. “It’s a great place to carry out cutting-edge research in a supportive and collaborative environment. I hope that you will make exciting discoveries during your gradate research here.” Of the entering students, 19 completed their undergraduate studies at Pitt and 26 came from Pennsylvania, making it the state with the highest number of incoming students.
During the ceremony, Tullia Bruno, assistant professor of immunology, School of Medicine, spoke about finding the right mentor, and Chenits Pettigrew, associate dean, Office of Student Engagement and Enrichment, School of Medicine, explained how to build an inclusive community. Matthew Brown, oncology regional medical scientific director at Merck and a Pitt School of Medicine alumnus, also shared his personal guide to graduate school.
"When I first came to graduate school, I found out that I was good at memorizing, but I wasn’t very good at thinking critically,” Brown said. “I think that’s a big lesson most of you will have to learn, and it’s one of the most important skills that a good scientist has to have.”
At the event’s conclusion, students, led by the current Biomedical Graduate Student Association President Emmy Brown, recited “A Scientist's Oath,” a guide for a career rooted in ethics and for the benefit of humanity.
