In recognition of their leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Ohio Dominican
University (ODU) awarded Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine with
honorary degrees at a ceremony on Monday, Aug. 16.
The ceremony, 鈥淎 Celebration of Healthcare,鈥� coincided with an event to celebrate
and welcome ODU鈥檚 10th class of 50 Physician Assistant Studies master鈥檚 students, who are beginning the
27-month program. During the event, ODU President Connie Gallaher presented the DeWine鈥檚
each with a Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa. ODU鈥檚 Board of Trustees approved the degrees during its May meeting to recognize the
Governor and First Lady for their leadership during the COVID-19 health crisis.
鈥淭his pandemic has shed light on many things, but perhaps none more so than the critically
important role that healthcare workers play day in and day out, especially in times
of a pandemic,鈥� said President Gallaher during the ceremony. 鈥淎nother item that this
pandemic has shed light on is the importance of sound and bold leadership. There is
no blueprint for how to respond to these kinds of crises in modern times. However,
there鈥檚 no question that, without the leadership of Governor DeWine and the tremendous
support of our state鈥檚 First Lady, Fran DeWine, this current pandemic could have looked
very different in our state. The decisions that have been made over these past 18
months and the decisions that continue to be made 鈥� while no doubt difficult 鈥� have
helped to save lives and will help Ohioans come out of this a stronger and more resilient
people.
Governor DeWine thanked current and future members of the medical community for their
commitment to providing quality care to communities throughout and beyond Ohio.
鈥淚n many ways, I envy you; I envy you because you will have the opportunity throughout
your life, and virtually every single day, to change peoples鈥� lives, to make a difference
in their lives, to make their day better, to make their family鈥檚 day better. That
is a unique opportunity, and so thank you for being willing to take that opportunity,鈥�
said Governor DeWine. 鈥淭hroughout the pandemic, it has been a challenge for me, but
my challenge has paled in comparison to the challenge that has been faced by the medical
community. And so thank you and thank everyone who has been part of the medical community
who have faced unbelievable challenges, who did not have a roadmap either when this
started, and have had to deal with the horrible crisis that, unfortunately, is still
very much here. I am grateful.鈥�