Published: September 17, 2025
HARPER — Dr. Shadrack K. Gono, keynote speaker at the Department of Nursing and Midwifery of the College of Health Sciences at William V. S. Tubman University, has urged student nurses and midwives to provide dignified and compassionate healthcare services as they embark on their professional journey.
Speaking over the weekend at the university’s capping, candle lighting, and badging ceremony, Dr. Gono congratulated the class of 35 nurses and nine registered midwives, describing the occasion as more than a celebration of hard work. “This is not just a common ceremony,” he said. “It is a celebration of commitment, a new chapter filled with promise, dedication, responsibility and courage in your professional sojourn.”
Dr. Gono said the year’s theme, “A Journey of Purpose: The Courage to Care,” reflects the essence of healthcare delivery worldwide. He explained that healthcare requires purpose and commitment, qualities that are globally recognized as compassionate care. “This is a commitment that encompasses service,” he told the graduates, urging them to provide care with “unwavering compassion.”
He stressed that the purpose of the health profession is to serve as healers and improve the lives of others. “Being a healthcare provider means you are servants, not masters; healers, not herbalists for the sick,” Gono said. “Be a beacon of hope for your patients. Healthcare workers are advocates for those who cannot advocate for themselves.”
The ceremony featured the traditional candle lighting and badging of nursing students as well as the bridging of certified midwives, symbolizing their transition into the profession.
Also speaking at the event, held at the Tubman Pavilion, Dr. Joseph Augustus Verdier, dean of the College of Health Sciences, praised the faculty for their dedication to human capacity development. He noted that the faculty’s commitment through both theoretical and practical training had made the program a success. Dr. Verdier also thanked parents for entrusting their children’s education to Tubman University.
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