“Knowledge is power.”
The Thomas siblings – Jean-Alfred, Pascale and Bryant Thomas – heard those three words so many times from their father that it became a running joke.
More importantly, it became a principled belief by which they all live and achieve academically.
Now, in less than a month of one another, all three siblings have graduated with advanced degrees.
Jean-Alfred Thomas II graduated from Saint Louis University School of Medicine on May 15.
Bryant H. Thomas graduated with a B.A. in economics from Morehouse College on May 18.
Then Pascale M. Thomas graduated from Harvard Law School on June 5.
“I got something – the tree has brought more fruit than flowers,” said Dr. Jean A. Thomas, a Haitian immigrant who first came to St. Louis as an intern at the former Homer G. Phillips Hospital in 1975.
His wife, Mary Thomas, is a nutritionist, who met Dr. Thomas in 1976 when she worked as a dietician at Homer G. Phillips. She called the three almost simultaneous graduations an early birthday gift for herself and a great Father’s Day gift to her husband.
“I’m proud, but since I have traveled the road with them, it hasn’t really dawned on me yet, especially since I’m still moving around and getting things finalized,” she said.
Mary recently dropped Jean-Alfred off at Duke University where he will undertake a urology research fellowship for the next two years – before beginning residency. He is a graduate of John Burroughs School.
Pascale is currently in Chicago studying for the bar exam and will go work at corporate law firm in its investment, products and derivatives group this fall. She also graduated from John Burroughs School.
Bryant is currently preparing to begin his career at a major financial services company in New York. He previously graduated from Christian Brothers College.
“My parents worked hard for us to go to the schools we went to; it was important that we got the best education,” Pascale said.
“My parents were very direct with their feelings about the value of education, but more than anything – they led by example.”
After studying internal medicine in Haiti and completing government-required community services as repayment for his schooling, Dr. Thomas landed an internship in St. Louis at Homer G. Phillips Hospital.
Once in the states, Dr. Thomas focussed on obstetrics and gynecology. When at Homer G. Phillips Hospital closed in his last year of training there, Dr. Thomas became chief resident at Saint Louis University Hospital.
He is currently an associate clinical professor at Saint Louis University and assistant clinical professor at Washington University School of Medicine.
Mary, a nutritionist, holds a master’s degree in public health. She is office manager at her husband’s – or as she says her, best friend’s – private practice.
Jean-Alfred II said that being exposed to his father’s private practice helped him to gravitate toward science.
“It was a huge factor, seeing both of them involved in medicine,” Jean-Alfred said.
He said he decided to pursue medicine because it’s a dynamic field that’s always changing and very mentally challenging.
He chose urology because it offers a good mix of clinical and surgical work, and several disorders studied and treated by urologists affect blacks – especially black males – disproportionately.
Jean-Alfred II called the three graduations almost at the same time chaotic for his parents, but a watershed for them.
“It’s the end of them watching over us financially, but it’s a testament to their time and care and the culmination of their effort that put us on stage having us all graduated at the same time,” he said.
Pascale said having family support and people standing behind them was the ultimate privilege in their lives.
Though she completed pre-med requirements, she said, her switch to law was based on a desire to help others in another way. A political science class helped increase her interest in law.
“I liked all the vibrant conversation, critical thinking and exploration – it really appealed to me,” she said of her field of study.
She said becoming president of the Black Student Alliance at Duke University reaffirmed her decision as she learned how large institutions work and the bureaucratic hurdles.
Pascale said she is just as proud of her parents and her brothers as she is of herself.
She said, “But we always helped each other, so none of our accomplishments were achieved individually.”