Special EditionWelcome…Two events mark the spring season inPediatrics – Prom and Convocation. Prom isan occasion to celebrate the warmer weatherand the end of the school year with ourpatients and families. And ourConvocation acknowledges theacademic achievements ofour graduating high schoolseniors. Because theseevents celebrate andhonor our awesomepatients, we cherishthem deeply and lookforward to them allyear long.

NEWS9Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

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Nurse practitioners Rosemarie and Ashley cozy up toa partygoer for a group photo at Prom.

Amalia R. shows off her awards after Convocation.

The graduates became fast friends at Convocation.

Cracking each otherup at Prom, this couple

had lots of fun!

Dr. Gilheeney gives a congratulatory hug to one

of our Prom Kings.

Chris C. shares his graduation day with one of his former doctors,

Dr. Meyers.

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Prom…

Getting Ready…One of the most important parts of Prom isthe dress. Short or long, black or white, tulleor lace – whatever the specifications –“Promingdales” had it. A big thanks to themany individual and group donations of gowns,as well as to The Children’s and AssociatesCommittees of The Society of MSKCC, andThe Society of MSKCC’s Kids Kick InCommittee for their generosity.

Getting ready for Prom was a party in itself.Makeup was generously provided by PollyBlitzer. We had a rainbow of lip glosses, eyeshadows, and nail polish from which to choose— and the face-painters andcosmetolo-gists to helpus apply it.Counters ofjewelry, col-orful wraps, and matchinghandbagsadded to thebeautifulchaos and fosteredmuch excite-ment leadingus to the bigevent.

A last-minute check in the mirror before going to prom.

The Chariot…What you wear to Prom is almost as important ashow you get there. Pediatrics has its own versionof a stretch limo: it seats four, possibly five, can goin elevators, and is the perfect place for an after-noon nap. And did we mention it’s for kids only?The highly anticipated Prom Limo is a definitemust for all kids looking to ride to Prom in style.

Friends check out this year’s dresses at“Promingdales.” Looks like shades

of red are in for 2008!

Molly is one of a select few who knows how to tie bow ties.

“We’re taking a limo,…

We’re goingin style.” Chris Kirk

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Glamour abounded at the 2008 Pediatric Prom.

In between dance moves, guests enjoyed an ice cream sundae buffet.

Doctors LaQuagliaand Khakoo werecrowned staff PromKing and Queen.

A mother-daughterteam pose on ourroyal Prom thrones.

Party…The excitement of pre-Prom activities carried over to thebig dance, which was held in the West Dining Room of theMSKCC cafeteria. Guests entered prom through arches ofballoons and scoped out their favorite staff members andfriends movin’ and groovin’ on the dance floor. Thanks toMC Dana and his crew of DJs and dancers from Party KingEntertainment for once again spinning the music and energiz-ing the crowd.

MSKCC’s Food and Nutrition Services provided delectablekid-friendly treats like dinosaur chicken nuggets, finger sand-wiches, and a special sherbet punch. Thanks also to KellyJohnston from the Society for providing the much-anticipatedcakes for the event.

With all the joy, dancing, glitter of dresses, music, and special friends, Prom was a special occasion that will be remembered for years to come.Particular thanks to MSKCC’sDepartments of Food and NutritionServices, Volunteers, Media Services,Public Affairs, Medical Graphics andPhotography, Environmental Services,Facilities Management, and Security foreverything they did to make Prom 2008a total success.

For Prom highlights and ABC WorldNews coverage of the big event, go towww.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/77081.cfm.

This dapper couplemakes a grandentrance into Prom.

There is such a thing as toomuch party.

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Convocation…

Our second annual Convocation recognized55 former or current patients graduatingfrom high school or earning their GED in2008. This outstanding group of studentsrepresented eight states and 51 high schools,and had a variety of interests ranging fromgolf, singing, and drama, to tennis, basketball,and foreign languages. They were involved inmany organizations and community servicesincluding Amnesty International, FutureFarmers of America, Student Council,Happiness Is Camping, Poetry Group,Computer Club, Model UN, and 4H.

The 16 students from the class of 2008 ableto join us were greeted warmly by staffmembers and old friends. Fitted for their capsand gowns, they were helped with their corsages byMSKCC’s teaching staff. A professional photographer was

on hand to take photos of the gradsand their families.

The ceremonybegan with a pro-cessional, as thegraduates enteredthe RecreationCenter toPachelbel’sCanon in DMajor — and astanding ovationfrom their fami-

lies and the MSKCC community.Once the graduates were assembledon stage, Dr. Paul A. Meyers, ViceChair of the Department ofPediatrics, welcomed everyone to theevent and acted as officiator of the ceremony.

Dr. Richard J. O’Reilly, Chair of Pediatrics, gave thekeynote address, while special graduate addresses weregiven by Marie M., Julie R., and Shaquana R.

Closing the ceremony was Dr. Robert E. Wittes,MSKCC’s Physician-in-Chief. He congratulated thisamazing class on their accomplishments, calling them, ina word, “spectacular!”

Waiting for the ceremony to begin, grads and family membersgot a sneak peak at the Convocation program.

Dr. O’Reilly

Matthew A. got ahigh five from hisdoctor, Kim Kramer,as he stepped ontothe stage.

Dr. Meyers

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The Awards…The graduates at convocationwere honored with a series ofawards from MSKCC and TheNew York City Department ofEducation. Pediatrics handed outcertificates of achievement toeach graduate in recognition oftheir hard work and dedicationto their studies. Mary Maher, theprincipal of hospital schools for the New York City Department of Educationpresented awards in science, physical education, outstanding leadership, and academic excellence on behalf of theDepartment of Education.

The Department of Pediatrics also paidhomage to two former physicians whomade significant contributions to thetreatment of pediatric cancers. Honoring their memoriesand achievements, we created special awards in theirnames. Dr. M. Lois Murphy was a pioneer in the treat-ment of childhood cancer,inspiring generations ofphysicians who followedher lead in improving the success in treatingcancer in the young. Dr. Charlotte T.C. Tanwas an innovator in thedevelopment of effectivetherapies for childrenand young adults withHodgkin’s Disease. Shepioneered several newchemotherapies, takingthem from thelaboratory tothe bedside,helping toadvance carefor pediatricpatients.

Special Thanks…Pediatrics would like to specially thank our excellent teachingstaff – Mary Ellen Fitzsimons, Ross Cohen, Rosemarie Vasti,and Anne Marie Cicciu – as well as Mary Maher and all theteachers, home instructors, tutors, school counselors, socialworkers and principals who helped our students pursue theiracademic goals. Because of them, and because of the dedicat-ed families and staff members who are committed to thehighest standards of education, this very special Convocationwas made possible.

The Convocation cake was designed to look like the graduates’ certificates of achievement.

Dr. Meyers presentsthe Dr. Charlotte Tanaward to Min Soo.

During the luncheon followingConvocation, gradsshowed off their grade-A smiles!

Principal Mary Maherhanded out special awardsgranted by the New YorkCity Department ofEducation.

Staff members check out this year’s graduates on a poster in the waiting area.

“What lies behind usand what lies before us

are tiny matterscompared to what lies

within us.”Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Shaquanna…

“When I first started [treatment], I thought, ‘I just want togive up.’ I would ask myself ‘why me?’ – not wishing thison anyone, but still, ‘why me?’ But after waking up frommy first and only surgery, I knew that I could beat this.I turned to the side and saw my brother’s smiling face. He said, ‘I’m proud of you.’ I was relieved, and from thatmoment on there was no doubt in my mind that I couldget through this.”

The Writers Workshop…

Julie…

“I was trying to keep upwith my AP English classwhile undergoing chemoduring my junior year.Dr. Paul Meyers, one ofthe most renownedpediatric oncologists inthe world, came into myroom one day, followedby a long trail of resi-dents and interns.Instead of talking aboutmy white blood cellcount, or lack thereof, he saw that I was read-ing The Grapes of Wrathand asked me what Ithought the turtle inchapter three symbolized. Although I didn’t know at that pointwhat the turtle symbolized, I knew that I was going to be okay.Otherwise, how could Dr. Meyers have been so casual? It wasonly later, when I read about the turtle overcoming great obsta-cles in a resilient and persistent manner, that I understood therelevance of the reference and realized Dr. Meyers had not beencasual at all…

“We are here today. At most graduations, that phrase intro-duces the cause for celebration. For example, ‘we are heretoday to mark an important milestone in our lives.’ But here atMemorial Sloan-Kettering, that phrase is a cause for celebration.We are here today.”

For highlights of our 2008 Convocation and interviews with the graduates, visit

www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/2954.cfm

Marie…

“We graduates allhave something incommon – wespent many weeks,months, or evenyears here at Sloan-Kettering receivingthe best possiblecare in the world.As each of us facedour own individualdiagnoses, we werenever alone. Wehad the experience,the compassion, thelove of every single person here at the hospital. Although wemay have initially been frightened, our fear was quicklyreplaced with the hope and encouragement of everyonehere…

“And so, as I look out in the audience at my fellow graduates,I feel a collective sense of accomplishment by all of us. Wehave each faced a tremendous challenge early in our lives andwe have come through with flying colors. I think this experi-ence has given us an inner strength that cannot be seen, butburns deeply inside each one of us.”

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Class of 2008…

Amalia R.New York, New York

Julie R. Brooklyn, New York

Madeline R. Scarsdale, New York

Mia X.Freehold, New Jersey

Christopher C. Fairfield, Connecticut

Keith H. Manassas, Virginia

Marek S.Middle Village, New York

Min Soo K.Franklin Square, New York

Daniel R. Staten Island, New York

Laura Anne P. Bayville, New Jersey

Marie M. New York, New York

Selma S. Bronx, New York

Josue G. Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey

Lorenzo D. Berkeley Heights, New Jersey

Matthew A.Briarcliff Manor, New York

Shaquana R. Brooklyn, New York

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“Surviving has taught me to live life to the fullest. Do what you love – you never know what will happentomorrow!” Marie

“Be sure to stick with a good group of friends andembrace your dreams.” Daniel

“Never allow your disease to take precedence in defining who you are.” Sile

“Anyone can make a plan, but it’s those who stick withthe plan who succeed in life.” Bruce

“Never give up.” Mia

“The kindness and compassion of the staff inspired meto see the positive energy here every day in the face oftremendous adversity.” Julie

“Life is a journey, not a race.” Chris

“I learned that life is one big surprise. You never knowwhat will happen the next day.” Marek

“Fight this disease, don’t let it fight you.” Shaquana

“I’ve learned that so many people think and care aboutyou all the time no matter what you do, or who youare.” Min Soo

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We asked theGraduates...

and here are the top 10 lessons they’velearned…

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To view this issue and past issues of News9, please visitwww.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/5636.cfm