150 new doctors celebrated the completion of a worthwhile journey
Last Friday, 150 new KI doctors and two honorary doctors were presented with their academic awards at a formal ceremony in Stockholm City Hall. The evening was one of stirring entertainment, academic tradition – and an academic vice president in a Barbra Streisand wig.
Smiling, excited doctoral students try on their tall, black hats as their families wait in line to take selfies with the glitzily grinning conferees in the Blue Hall. Silk shawls are puffed up and dress shirts and bow ties are adjusted. It’s time for the doctoral conferment ceremony in Stockholm City Hall.
The ceremony opens with a trumpet fanfare and the strains of one of northern Europe’s biggest organs. The standard-bearers parade in, followed by the graduands, who slowly descend the stairs to line up in front of the stage. The younger members of their families stand on tip-toe to get a better view.
Never give up
KI president Annika Östman Wernerson opens the occasion with a speech exalting ceremony and celebration.
She talks about KI’s journey to become one of the world’s leading medical universities, and how the new doctors are part of it.
She then quotes her own personal motto – never, ever give up – and ends with poet Karin Boye’s famous line that it is “the journey that is worth the while”.
Academic Vice President for Research Marie Arsenian-Henriksson takes her place on the steps as the evening’s two honorary doctors, Peter Thelin and Ashley Moffett, step out of the sea of orange flowers to receive their black hats from her and applause from the audience, both visibly moved.
Between the speeches, Adolf Fredrik’s children’s choir keeps everyone entertained. Kiralina Salandy sings “What a wonderful world” and Svante Henrysson sends the rich tones of his cello floating up to ceiling of the Blue Hall.
Academic Vice President of Doctoral Education Robert Harris evokes surprise and laughter when he suddenly puts on a wig and sings a few Barbra Streisand lines.
Benefit of others
He likens the singer’s career to that of a researcher, a small part of which is spent in the spotlight along with years of hard work and collaboration for the benefit of others – the very trajectory that Streisand’s career followed after her public acclaim.
“This is my gift to you – be yourself all the time,” says Harris, summing up his message to the new doctors.
The conferment ceremony follows an old academic tradition. The conferrer reads a few lines in Latin and places a black hat on each doctors’ head.
Salute from cannons
Out on the waterfront, the Confederation of Swedish Military Historical Clubs fires a salute from the old muzzle-loading cannons.
Inside the Blue Hall, we watch the gunpowder smoke drift away on a big screen.
After the ceremony, it’s bubbly and chat all round. In a room behind the stairway, KI’s new master of ceremonies Anne Heikkinen Sandberg controls the many students on duty this evening with a firm hand.
When the place cards are temporarily misplaced, she solves the seating arrangement with clear directions and her phone pressed against her ear.
And so the guests slowly ascend the stairs towards the Golden Hall and seat themselves at the tables. On the menu is a variation on a classic skagenröra theme, broiled zander fillet with asparagus and cream cheese mousse with macerated raspberries.
New doctor Marta sparkles enough to rival the glass and gold mosaic on the walls.
“This evening is the cherry on the cake. It sums up the entire journey.”
Text: Anna Grettve.
Photos from the evening
