Commencement 2007
The University of Texas
Medical Branch School of Medicine
awarded 197 Doctor of Medicine degrees
at its 117th commencement exercises held on Saturday, June 2, 2007 at
the Moody Gardens Convention Center in Galveston. President John D. Stobo presided over Commencement. This year's ceremony marked
Dr. Garland D. Anderson's first as Dean of the School of Medicine. During the
ceremony, he introduced Dr. Zidella Seibel Brener who was one of only
three women in the UTMB School of Medicine class of 1935. She
participated in the ceremony as the honorary hooder for her grandson,
Seth A. Brener.
The Commencement Address was delivered by Benjamin Solomon Carson, Sr., M.D., professor of Neurosurgery, Plastic Surgery, Oncology and Pediatrics, and director of the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University. His story of achievement despite the odds and his extraordinary commitment to improving healthcare for all were inspirational. You can view Dr. Carson's speech here or read a transcript of his address here.
Vamsi Krishna was selected by his classmates to deliver the class address. The winner of the Gold-Headed Cane Award, the highest honor awarded to a graduating medical student, was presented to John Ray Blevins, who was chosen by his classmates as the student who best exemplified the ultimate in patient care. Michael B. Little 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.
During the ceremony, Dean Anderson presented the Ashbel Smith Distinguished Alumnus Award, the highest alumni honor bestowed by UTMB’s School of Medicine Alumni Association to Robert E. Askew, Sr., M.D. ’59; Charles D. Fraser, Jr., M.D. ’84; and Armond S. Goldman, M.D. ’53.
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 2007 School of Medicine graduating class to conduct the hooding
ceremony were: Robert E. Beach, M.D., William Osler Scholar and
professor, Departments of Internal Medicine and Family Medicine; James
E. Blankenship, Ph.D., Ashbel Smith Professor, Department of
Neuroscience & Cell Biology; Bernard M. Karnath, M.D., associate
professor, Department of Internal Medicine; and Brian T. Miller, Ph.D.,
professor, Department of Neuroscience & Cell Biology. Dr. Beach was
also chosen by the class to administer the Physician’s Oath after the
degrees were conferred.
In addition, Dr. Beach 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 Seventh Annual Military Commissioning Ceremony. Families and friends gathered to honor the following three graduating seniors who were commissioned officers at the ceremony held immediately following the Commencement Ceremony: Captain Raetasha S. Dabney; Captain Oliver L. Edwards and Captain Paige M. Hixson. Steven A. Lieberman, M.D., Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, gave the welcome and Second Lieutenant Gayle D. Haischer-Rollo, Incoming President of the Military Medical Student Association (MMSA), introduced the officers. Colonel Russell R. Snyder, USAF, MC, Faculty Sponsor for MMSA, administered the oath of office. The Color Guard was composed of Marines from the 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, Bravo Company – (REIN), 3rd Platoon. Family members participated in the ceremony by "pinning new bars" on the graduates.
Dean Anderson hosted a reception for the graduates and their families and friends in the Floral Ballroom of the Moody Gardens Convention Center.