Commencement 2008
The University of Texas
Medical Branch School of Medicine awarded 187 Doctor of Medicine degrees
at its 118th commencement exercises held on Saturday, May 31, 2008 at
the Moody Gardens Convention Center in Galveston. This year's 
ceremony marked
Dr. David L. Callender's first as president of the University of Texas Medical Branch. President Callender presided over Commencement. During the
ceremony, Dr. Garland D. Anderson, dean of the School of Medicine, executive vice president and provost, praised the graduates for their generosity in donating their senior class gift to the UTMB Cancer Fund for patients without insurance.
The procession was led by the senior faculty marshal, Dr. Kathryn A. Cunningham, professor and interim chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, the Chauncey Leake Distinguished Professor in Pharmacology, and director of the Center for Addiction Research. The commencement address was delivered by Dr. Bernard F. Morrey, a UTMB alumnus and the emeritus chairman of the Department of Orthopedics at the Mayo Clinic. His message to the graduates included the importance of professionalism and focusing on the best interest of the patient. In his closing, Dr. Morrey quoted a phrase from one of the founders of the Mayo Clinic, William W. Mayo, in a commencement address to Rush Medical School in 1910: “Remember, the best interest of the patient is the only interest to be considered.” You can view Dr. Morrey's speech here or read a transcript of his address here.
Brian B. Gilmer was
selected by his classmates to deliver the class address. His speech drew laughter and applause as he recounted the medical school journey of the Class of 2008. You can view his speech here. The winner of
the Gold-Headed Cane Award, the highest honor awarded to a graduating
medical student, was Viet H. Pham, who was chosen by
his classmates as 
the student who best exemplified the ultimate in
patient care. Ryan E. Neilan was presented The William N. and Ida
Zinn Alpha Omega Alpha Award. The award is given to the graduating
student in the School of Medicine with the highest cumulative average at
the end of four years.
Dean Anderson presented the Ashbel Smith Distinguished Alumnus Award, the highest alumni honor bestowed by UTMB’s School of Medicine Alumni Association, to Virginia Irvine Blocker M.D. ’39 (posthumously); John A. Menchaca, M.D. ’67; Machelle M. Seibel, M.D. ’75; and J. Marc Shabot, M.D. ’73.
Each year,
in recognition of their
outstanding contributions to the students' education, several
faculty are elected by the graduating class to conduct the hooding ceremony
and to
deliver the Physician's Oath at commencement . These honors are
the highest that a class can bestow. Faculty who were elected this year
by the 2008 School of Medicine graduating class to conduct the hooding
ceremony were: Dr. Robert E. Beach, professor, Department of Internal Medicine and the Paul R. Stalnaker, M.D. Distinguished Professor in Internal Medicine; Dr. Michael C. Boyars, professor, Department of
Internal Medicine; Dr. Thomas J. Collins, professor, Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology and the Dr. and Mrs. Joseph T. Painter Professor for the UTMB Academy of Master Teachers; and Dr. Brian T. Miller, professor, Department of Neuroscience & Cell Biology. Dr. Bernard M. Karnath, associate professor, Department of Internal Medicine, was
chosen by the class to administer the Physician’s Oath after the
degrees were conferred.
In addition, Dr. Karnath was selected by the Class as the recipient of the
James W. Powers Memorial Award. This award honors a 
teacher of clinical
subjects who, by his or her example and instruction, has contributed in
an eminent way to the central task of UTMB--the creation of physicians
capable of practicing both the art and the science of medicine.
This year marked the Eighth Annual Military Commissioning Ceremony. Families and friends gathered to honor the following four graduating seniors who were commissioned officers at the ceremony held immediately following the Commencement Ceremony: Captain Gayle D. Haischer-Rollo; Captain Aaron G. Matlock; Captain Brenna M. Shackelford; and Captain Jason M. Smalley. Dr. Steven A. Lieberman, vice dean for academic affairs, gave the welcome and Lieutenant Colonel Russell R. Snyder, USAF, MC (Ret.), faculty sponsor for the Military Medical Student Association, narrated the ceremony. Brigadier General Thomas R. Coon, commander, 10th Air Force, Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas, gave remarks and administered the oath of office. The color guard was composed of representatives from the United States Marine Corps. Family members participated in the ceremony by "pinning new bars" on the graduates.
Dean Anderson hosted a reception following the graduation ceremony for the graduates, faculty, family, and friends in the Floral Ballroom of the Moody Gardens Convention Center.