Page 6 - Ross Med Commencement 2022 Ceremony Program

Alumni Council Commencement Speaker Letter to Graduates

Jessica Shepherd, MD, Dear Graduates,
MBA, FACOG Congratulations to you all, our graduating class of 2020, and welcome to the Ross University
School of Medicine Alumni Association.
Class of 2005
President of Alumni Council There are few moments in your life such as this one. Today is a day to recognize and acknowledge
the tremendous effort that you have made to achieve this remarkable goal. It is a time to reflect on
the choices that brought you here. To hold space for both the challenging and exciting moments
Dr. Jessica Shepherd is a board certified OB/GYN, throughout your journey. It is also an occasion to thank all the people in your world who supported
women’s health expert and minimally invasive surgeon. you every step of the way. Today is truly a day of celebration. You deserve it.
She is the chief medical officer of Verywell Health and
also the founder and CEO of Sanctum Med + Wellness, This graduating class is unique in many ways. Together you experienced first-hand, the
a wellness concierge practice and is affiliated with Baylor devastating effects of hurricane Maria. You were relocated and thrusted into a new learning
University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. environment, multiple times. And now, you are about to graduate from medical school in the
middle of a global pandemic outbreak, the likes of which have not been seen for over a century.
Dr. Shepherd is an engaging and well known media personality that is seen regularly as Your ability to focus and persevere under extraordinary circumstances will serve you well. The
an expert on Good Morning America, The Today Show, Dr. Oz, CNN, MSNBC and CBS adaptability and resiliency you have demonstrated will be invaluable in your tomorrow.
News. She is on the Advisory Board for Women’s Health Magazine, Women’s Health.org, Tomorrow is a new day. Tomorrow you begin the next part of your journey. There will be new
It’s August and has written in other various journals including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Teen challenges, new exciting moments and a renewed effort to reach your next goal. As you ready
Vogue, Essence, and Self. yourself for residency, your relationship with the Ross University School of Medicine changes. You
are now a member of the Alumni Association and are instantly a part of a global network of highly
Her passion for women’s health, from minority health disparities to reproductive justice issues, skilled, intelligent, and compassionate physicians.
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. The Alumni Association will be an invaluable resource for you as you continue on your journey.
For nearly four decades, the Association has fostered and continues to grow a network of Alumni
Dr. Shepherd strives to educate people on their bodies and how to address their physical, members who take great pride in being Ross University School of Medicine graduates. Through
sexual, emotional health in addition to the incorporation of wellness. She currently sits on the our programs and events, we aim to provide opportunities to forge strong relationships among
advisory board for Ro Medicine, Women’s Health Magazine, Abbvie, Myovant, Responsum, alumni, students, faculty and friends.
Hologic, Healthy Women.org and Healthline.
I encourage you to be active in the Alumni Association through both participation in events and
As an expert in her field, she has now expanded her reach to keynote talks and her national programs, and also through the many ways to volunteer. For more details on what the Alumni
appeal has allowed her to work on women’s health issues with celebrities including Sheryl Crow, Association can provide you and how you can get involved, please contact the Office of Alumni
Halle Berry, Ciara, Brooke Burke, Erin Andrews, Dr. Jackie Walters from Married to Medicine, Relations or visit our website at https://medical.rossu.edu/alumni/.
Catt Sadler and Laila Ali. As Alumni members, we are ambassadors of our alma mater, strengthening its reputation with
Her involvement with various foundations as a board member has allowed her to actively make all of our collective professional achievements and accolades. I invite you to continue the Ross
decisions in the women’s health realm. She serves as the president of the Ross University University School of Medicine legacy as an educational leader through your active participation as
Medical School Alumni Council, and is engaged with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Board, an Alumni Association member. Tomorrow marks the start of the next chapter in your story. But
AAGL Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the Texas Women’s Foundation. for today, let me once more give you enthusiastic congratulations.
Sincerely,
She lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband and two sons.
Panagiotis (Taki) Galanopoulos, MD MSc FAAFP CCFP
President, Ross University School of Medicine Alumni Association

Welcome to our rusmalumni@rossu.edu 754-707-5549
Alumni Family
Class of 2020 @RUSMalumni @RossMedAlumni

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