Keynote Remarks from NEOMED’s Virtuous Healer Honor Society Induction Ceremony

Altruism, compassion, curiosity, generosity, humility, justice and moral imagination: These are the qualities recognized and honored in students and faculty selected annually for the Northeast Ohio Medical University Virtuous Healer Honor Society.

Five students from the Class of 2021, as well as faculty member Marcus Julius, M.D. (’94), were inducted in this year’s ceremony, held virtually. Robert DeVito, Krish Nair, Cynthia Pathmathasan, Geetika Srivastava and Eesha Zaheer are this year’s student inductees.

Dr. Julius serves as clinical curriculum director for the College of Medicine and medical imaging experiential director for the College of Graduate Studies.  In these positions, he provides numerous radiology lectures for both medical students and graduate students. Along with Janice McDaniel, M.D., he is co-advisor of the Radiology Interest Group (a student organization). Finally, Dr. Julius advises junior and senior medical students in their preparation for residency matching.

The 1994 alumnus was honored not only as the faculty inductee but also as the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Faculty Award Recipient.

In his remarks as keynote speaker for the online event Tuesday, Aug. 25 (remarks that are edited and condensed here), Dr. Julius stated, “The ‘Usual Suspects’ is the term I use to describe those individuals who have been so instrumental in establishing and fostering student support and guidance at NEOMED. They are the men and women who are so vital in service to our students, academically and emotionally – with kindness and empathy. ”

He posed the following to his virtual audience: “What if I were to ask each of you to compile a list of those individuals, throughout the history of our school, who best foster student growth (emotionally as well as academically)?

“Of those who display kindness and empathy toward our students? Who best represent enthusiasm for learning? And who best model compassion for patients –and their families? Well, fortunately, you’d each come up with quite long lists of great people.

And our lists…well, they’d all be quite similar. Hence, the ‘Usual Suspects’.”

Dr. Julius concluded, “So, I came to realize: The students who’ve honored me with this award see me as one of the ‘Usual Suspects.’ And I’m honored to be a part of this greater whole.

“My association with so many great people – selfless teachers and compassionate physicians – makes me a better person. We rely on one another. We make each other better for the good of our students – and for the good of our patients.”