Rex Marco, MD, Shares a Powerful Lesson with McGovern Medical School’s Class of 2026

When Rex Marco, MD, stood before the McGovern Medical School Class of 2026 as this year’s commencement speaker, he could have reflected on decades of accomplishments in orthopedic surgery, education, or research. Instead, he chose to tell a deeply personal story—one about gratitude, forgiveness and the people who shape our lives.

The professor of orthopedic surgery and director of the Orthopaedic Spine Fellowship challenged graduates to think beyond the clinical skills they developed during medical school and consider the values that will define them throughout their careers.

“If you had told me years ago that I’d be giving a commencement speech,” Marco joked as he opened his remarks, “I probably would have told you to get a second opinion.”

A Lesson Hidden in a Graduation Photograph

With his trademark humor setting the tone, Marco shared a photograph from his medical school graduation—a joyful image of him surrounded by family members who supported his journey into medicine.

Looking back decades later, he sees more than a milestone. He sees a lesson he wishes he had learned sooner.

Marco recounted a promise his uncle made during college. Doubting whether his nephew would be accepted into medical school, his uncle promised to buy him any car he wanted if he got in. After graduation, Marco collected on the promise, but instead of asking what kind of car he wanted, his uncle surprised him with a brand-new red car.

Although grateful, Marco admitted he couldn’t fully appreciate the gift.

“I wanted to feel pure gratitude,” he told graduates. “But there is something in me, something young, something unhealed that was disappointed.” That experience eventually taught him one of the central messages of his address.

“Gratitude is a practice,” he said. “It’s not a reaction.”

What We Carry Into Medicine

Marco explained that unresolved disappointments and resentment have a way of quietly following us into every aspect of life—including medicine.

“What you carry shows up in your life and in medicine,” he said. “Because there will be days when things don’t turn out the way you had hoped. What you carry—gratitude or resentment—shapes how you show up for your patients, your team and your family.”

Years later, Marco’s own life changed dramatically after a bicycle accident left him with a spinal cord injury. The experience transformed his perspective not only as a surgeon, but also as a patient, educator and advocate.

Looking back at that graduation photograph, he also recognizes something else: within two years of that moment, four of the family members standing beside him had passed away.

“I hadn’t yet learned gratitude,” he reflected. “I hadn’t yet learned forgiveness. And I hadn’t yet learned just how short time truly is.”

Leading with Love

Instead of offering advice, Marco invited the graduates into a moment of reflection. He asked graduates to consider whether they were holding on to anger or resentment toward someone who had loved and supported them imperfectly.

“Can I leave the bitterness behind?” he asked. “Not for them—but for you.”

He reminded graduates that while medicine will demand excellence, technical skill alone is not enough.

“What matters now is how you live and how you care for yourself, your family and the people who will trust you with their lives.”

As the ceremony ended, Marco encouraged graduates to pause before celebrating, to embrace the family members and mentors who helped them reach this milestone, and to remember that today’s photographs will one day become treasured memories.

“My hope for you is this,” he said. “May you practice gratitude. May you choose forgiveness. And may you lead with love.”

His final words captured the heart of the message he hopes every new physician carries into residency and beyond.

“Love will carry you further than any car ever will.”

Watch the Full Commencement Address

Marco’s remarks offered far more than could be captured in print. Watch his complete commencement address to the McGovern Medical School Class of 2026 below.

 

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