OUM’s Historic First Graduation Ceremony

(l-r) Drs. Kim Hayes and Tapa Fidow; Prime Minister Tuilaepa A.S. Malielegaoi; Taffy Gould, chairman of the OUM Council; Dr. Christopher Inkson; Prof. Dr. Satupaitea Viali, OUM dean; Dr. Dennis Harris; Professor Surindar Cheema, vice chancellor.

The joyous “baahh-oouu” of a symphony of conch shells heralded the commencement of the inaugural graduation ceremony of Oceania University of Medicine in Apia, Samoa, on May 5, 2007.

More than 400 friends, family members, and government officials watched four of the six newly minted doctors receive their degrees on a stage decorated with native palms and flowers under the largest fale in the South Pacific on the campus of the National University of Samoa.

Beneath the largest fale in the South Pacific, the graduation ceremony stage was woven with palms and fresh flowers.

Declaring the occasion an historic event for Samoa, the keynote speaker, Prime Minister Tuilaepa A.S. Malielegaoi advised the graduates, “you have the opportunity to greatly improve the lives of those you touch. That is where medicine is like politics. You will wield a great deal of power. But having the wisdom to use that power effectively is the difference between success and failure.” 

Founded in 2002, OUM actually graduated six physicians in its class of 2007, but four were able to make the trip to Samoa for the festivities:

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  Dr. Christopher Inkson accepts diploma from OUM Council Chairman Taffy Gould with Dean Satu Viali looking on. He also was awarded certificates for achieving Magna Cum Laude and the Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence.

  Christopher Inkson, an information technology specialist and accountant from Sydney, Australia, received two awards at the ceremony — Magna Cum Laude for having the highest grade point average and the Dean’s Award for overall academic excellence. In addition to his academic achievement at OUM, Dr. Inkson has passed three medical licensing tests in Australia and the United States. 
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  OUM’s graduates take the solemn oath to medical practice.

  Tapa Fidow, the first Samoan to graduate from OUM, delivered the graduation speech on behalf of the students and was elected president of the Court of Convocation, OUM’s alumni association.
• Kim Hayes, also from Australia, is a real estate broker. 
• Dennis Harris, a veteran paramedic from Dayton, Tennessee (USA) plans to practice emergency medicine. 

Led by Dr. Tapa Fidow holding the OUM mace, the new doctors lead the procession at the conclusion of the ceremony.

OUM Founder Taffy Gould, who said she had been awaiting the day for more than five years, told the graduates that how perseverance would help them realize their dreams, “Indeed, most of our students have overcome adversity to pursue their medical degrees. Many of them work full-time at other jobs. They have families to support and a multitude of responsibilities.” 

Throughout the ceremony that was delivered in English and Samoan, the Samoa Symphony and Choir serenaded the audience with inspirational hymns and traditional Samoan songs. 

"No matter where your professional life takes you, remember that you always have a home here at OUM in Samoa,” said Professor Surindar Cheema, vice chancellor of OUM. “Never forget the warmth and generosity of the Samoan people. Keep a piece of Samoa in your heart, and you will be the compassionate physician that your patients need.” 

Draped in leis from admiring family members and friends, Dr. Tapa Fidow made Samoan history by becoming the first Samoan to graduate from a Samoan medical school.

After being administered the solemn physician’s oath, the procession of graduates and faculty led to a reception of family, friends, and well wishers waiting with leis of flowers, candy, and nuts.  

The five Australian and American graduates are in various stages of arranging to sit for their board exams and to begin their internships and residencies. Dr. Fidow has begun his internship at the national hospital in Apia, Samoa.