Commencement & Hippocratic Oath Ceremony

Each May, medical students earn their Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degrees and recite the Hippocratic Oath, which binds physicians to lifelong careers treating patients.

2024 Graduation and Hippocratic Oath Ceremony Week 

 

Thursday, May 9th at 12pm

Celebration Luncheon 

TSCHE 4th Floor Living Room

OSA will host this luncheon for seniors to gather and reminiscence with classmates and Advisory Deans. This will also be an opportunity to receive a gift from the Medical Alumni Association and obtain a yearbook. 

 

Friday, May 10th at 7pm

Hippocratic Oath Ceremony

Duke Chapel

This is when seniors will obtain their Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degrees and recite the Hippocratic Oath as they formally enter the medical profession as physicians. Duke's Hippocratic Oath Ceremony includes reciting the Hippocratic Oath and receiving your diploma. This is the main event! 

  • Chapel Doors open at 6:15pm for guests and seating is first come, first serve
  • No guest limit for ceremony (4-person guest limit for reception venue only)
  • GRADUATING STUDENTS must be at the Old Chem Building at 6:00pm for a class photo
  • GRADUATING STUDENTS will line up for processional at 6:30pm outside the Duke Chapel
  • Reception at Penn Pavilion immediately following the ceremony
  • Free Parking in Bryan Center Garage located on Science Drive beginning at 5:30pm
  • Live stream: https://youtube.com/live/OLdjTUnaujg?feature=share

Saturday, May 11th

No formal events

 

Sunday, May 12th

Duke Commencement Ceremony

Wallace Wade Stadium

Duke holds one university-wide commencement ceremony to celebrate the three graduating classes of that academic year. September 2023, December 2023, and May 2024 graduates from all ten Duke schools are invited to attend. Although most graduating medical students historically do not attend this ceremony, it is for you, and you are welcome to participate! 

Commencement Ceremony - Duke


2022 Commencement and Hippocratic Oath Ceremony

Spring 2022 Graduation by the Numbers

 

When should family arrive?
Family can get reservations at area hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts. Book early! The earliest your family has to be here is mid-afternoon Friday.

What name will they put on my diploma?
The Registrar’s Office will be asking you to provide your name to the UNIVERSITY MARSHAL’s office that prints your diploma. The name appears exactly as the student enters it when applying for graduation on-line. Students should make sure that if they have a middle initial and wish for a period to be after the middle initial, they enter that punctuation during the application for graduation process.

Where do I get my cap, gown & hood?
For the Hippocratic Oath Ceremony, Diploma Ceremony, and University graduation--caps, gowns and hoods are rented through the Bryan Center Bookstore.  You will get information mailed to you by the University (there is a fee to rent apparel). The caps, gowns and hoods are to be picked up by you and returned immediately after Sunday’s reception. (You can keep your tassels.) Go to the following link for general information:  https://commencement.duke.edu/commencement-information/apparel/.

Where do I get my Announcements and Invitations?
Graduation announcements and invitations may be purchased at the Bryan Center or Medical Center Bookstore. Hippocratic Oath and School of Medicine Diploma Ceremony invitations are provided by the Student Affairs office and will be available on Match Day.

Where are you going for your residency?
Please let us know where you matched, so that we can include this information in the Hippocratic Oath Program. The Medical Alumni Office will want this information as well, so that they can keep you informed about future events for your class.

Students:  Keep in touch!  READ your emails!  More information will follow soon.  If you have questions, please contact Student Affairs – medOSA@duke.edu or call (919) 668-1670.