Nobel laureate to grads : Find your passion

Finding your passion is key to success, Brian Kobilka, MD, said in a speech June 15 at the School of Medicine commencement. In his usual self-deprecating manner, the Stanford scientist, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry last year, minimized his credentials and credited support from others for much of his success. “I believe my career to date is an example of how a relatively average individual can achieve a measure of success through a combination of factors that include hard work, persistence, an element of luck and a great deal of help from family, friends and colleagues,” said Kobilka, professor and chair of molecular and cellular physiology. Under a white tent on the Alumni Lawn, in front of the Li Ka Shing Center for Learning and Knowledge, a crowd of about 1,500 family members, friends and colleagues gathered for the awarding of diplomas to the class of 2013. The graduates, in caps and gowns, sat on a stage. The graduating class totaled 225: 95 earned MDs, 91 earned PhDs or MD/ PhDs, and 39 earned master’s degrees. Lloyd Minor, MD, dean of the medical school, gave the opening remarks, urging graduates not to be afraid to take chances and reach for new shores as they begin careers as researchers and physicians. Nobel laureate to grads: Find your passion