Yeah, thank you, thank yo
for that kind introductio
distinguished guests, fam
2020 and I understand to
graduating class of the U
it is a privilege and an
to be your commencement s
to be receiving an honora
distinguished university.
an outsider when I get ca
at the baseball, the bask
games on tv and when I sa
privilege of delivering m
addresses over the many y
I refer to my own graduat
I tend to draw certain an
past and the present and
that does not readily app
student years as you've h
would we be celebrating t
class of 2020 and 2021 In
the overall situation fro
at the National Institute
credit and respect. And I
extraordinary adaptabilit
your dedication to learni
studies and graduating de
my college experience was
yours, I just would like
to me since my graduation
As you leave the Universi
expect the unexpected Pla
one path in life is somet
already done that to some
this extraordinary instit
of Michigan for your educ
impactful events or direc
taken have been completel
unplanned. You are at a v
open mind and do not shy
opportunities. Let me des
such a completely unantic
opportunity that profound
of my career And in fact,
years of residency and fe
at the National Institute
the next nine years I pro
considered by many as a v
my future seemed settled
41 years ago next month,
sitting in my NIH office,
from the CDC about a hand
One month later, 26, addi
men from Los Angeles san
york city with not only t
Were described in a 2nd C
not realize it at the tim
the evolution of one of t
scourges in recent memory
I became totally enthrall
less an ideological agent
to this day what drove me
decided right then and th
my successful research pu
My mentors were horrified
I was making a career end
disease would amount to n
ultimate emergence of the
my decision to pivot and
to this unexpected public
entire life and put me on
to this very day. Now, ob
will influence your caree
be as dramatic as a myste
outbreak. That's for sure
believe me that you will
types of unpredictable ev
regardless of what direct
and stay heads up for an
Should it present itself
to others who care about
rewarding, exciting caree
Next leadership, you were
that you were chosen to b
of responsibility upon at
to assume leadership role
does not necessarily have
of experiences. And it ta
the quiet and subtle lead
which brings me to my nex
nation. I've spent my ent
in Washington, D. C. As a
and a public health offic
career path is fundamenta
allowed me to experience
me is that differences of
having certain circumstan
by egregious distortions
elements of our society h
unfazed by a cacophony of
leading to an insidious a
I call the normalization
this happen daily, propag
of information platforms,
so called news organizati
certain elected officials
trend has mostly been mut
remember nothing else fro
I truly appealed to you,
It is our collective resp
sink to a tacit acceptanc
of untruths. Because if w
This is how a society dev
life where veracity becom
propaganda rather than up
social order. And so, as
to shape. Do not shrug yo
do, lies become dominant,
And then truth means noth
nothing, facts mean nothi
not thrive if we allow. W
listen to the opinions th
own of course, but critic
what you have learned so
the University of michiga
week assertions built on
leaders. We are counting
In closing, I have been s
the past few minutes abou
that we are facing in our
moment, I want to close w
the joyousness of your li
cultivate this joy as muc
of joy and happiness and
think upon your future. A
And I quote, the future i
are going to but one we a
are not to be found but m
of making them changes bo