Virtual Milestones

Pictured here, newly hooded, is Gabrielle DeAbreu, MD ’20, currently a pediatric resident at Hofstra Northwell Health/Long Island Jewish Medical Center.

Historic “firsts” for school during time of pandemic.

The 174th commencement of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences was held virtually on May 1, 2020—the first such commencement in the school’s history.

All students wore identical UB-blue sweatshirts and “hooded” themselves live, on Zoom.

The first virtual Match Day in the school’s history was held on March 20, 2020.

On August 7, 2020, a new class of 182 students celebrated its entry into the Jacobs School during the school’s first hybrid White Coat Ceremony. The ceremony was conducted in person for students in the M&T Auditorium on the downtown campus. Students who were unable to attend—as well as family and friends—were invited to view the ceremony via a Zoom video live-streamed on YouTube.

Both Match Day 2021—held on March 19—and the 175th commencement for the Jacobs School—held on April 30—were celebrated as socially distanced outdoor events.