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5th Annual UMHS Commencement Ceremony 2016 at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, New York City

Posted by Scott Harrah
June 30, 2016

UMHS held its 5th Annual UMHS Commencement Ceremony for the third year in a row at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center in New York City on Friday, June 10, 2016. The “next generation of physicians” was honored in an inspiring ceremony, with four candidates for Honors, 21 for High Honors and 22 for Highest Honors.

The ceremony included graduates for August 31, 2015; October 31, 2015; November 30, 2015; December 31, 2015; February 29, 2016; March 31, 2016; April 30, 2016 and June 1, 2016. Candidates for June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2016 were also listed in the official program.

The UMHS Endeavour looks at this celebratory day for UMHS graduates and their families.

UMHS PRESIDENT WARREN ROSS: Speaking to Class of 2016. Photo: Island Photography

UMHS PRESIDENT WARREN ROSS: Speaking to Class of 2016. Photo: Island Photography

The Processional “Pomp and Circumstance” was performed by The West Village Quartet.

JERRY W. THORNTON, PhD: UMHS Vice President gives Welcome Address. Photo: Island Photography

JERRY W. THORNTON, PhD: UMHS Vice President gives Welcome Address. Photo: Island Photography

UMHS Vice President Jerry W. Thornton, Ph.D gave the welcome address, followed by President Warren Ross. President Ross spoke about the legacy of UMHS founder, the late Dr. Robert Ross (1918-2011) and his commitment to medical education.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER JOHN O'LEARY: Giving his inspirational keynote speech to graduates. Photo: Island Photography

KEYNOTE SPEAKER JOHN O'LEARY: Giving his inspirational keynote speech to graduates. Photo: Island Photography

The keynote speech was given by inspirational bestselling author/speaker John O’Leary. Mr. O’Leary told his incredible story of how, as a 9-year-old boy, he was burned on 98% of his body in an accident and given just a 1 % chance of survival. While enduring nearly five months in the hospital, years of therapy, countless surgeries for skin grafts and, eventually, losing all his fingers to amputation, John developed a great appreciation for doctors and the medical community. Mr. O’Leary, a columnist for Parade Magazine and author of the bestseller On Fire: 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life,spoke of the humanity and caring nature of one particular doctor who made a difference and helped save his life.

GRADUATE SPEAKER: Merrie Wiyana Oei, MD. Photo: Island Photography

GRADUATE SPEAKER: Merrie Wiyana Oei, MD. Photo: Island Photography

Merrie Wiyana Oei, M.D., the graduating UMHS student with the highest honors, was the featured graduate speaker. President Ross, Edwin Purcell, Ph.D, the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Chair and Professor of Anatomy and Professor of Histology at UMHS, and David Herrick, Ph.D, Professor of Genetics and Immunology, did the conferral of degrees. Finally, Dr. George H. Shade, UMHS Clinical Dean, had graduates recite the Hippocratic Oath.

EDWIN PURCELL, PhD: Associate Dean of Academic Affairs & Professor of Anatomy and Professor of Histology speaks to graduates. Photo: Island Photography

EDWIN PURCELL, PhD: Associate Dean of Academic Affairs & Professor of Anatomy and Professor of Histology speaks to graduates. Photo: Island Photography

GEORGE H. SHADE JR., MD, FACOG, FACPE: Clinical Dean with scepter. Photo: Island Photography

GEORGE H. SHADE JR., MD, FACOG, FACPE: Clinical Dean with scepter. Photo: Island Photography

HIGHEST HONORS

  • Joseph Earl Conklin, Jr.
  • Jonathon Tyler Creary
  • Nishant Dagli
  • Brandon Reid Kirshner
  • Alyssa Eileen Mahon
  • Devan Narenda Makati
  • Banafsheh Motazedi
  • Merrie Wiyana Oei
  • Samuel Park III
  • Thushyanthan Pathmalingam
  • Allan J. Puderer
  • Thivisa Rajagopal
  • Alberto Antonio Rivera Torres
  • Sandy Saintelia
  • Luis Antonio Sanchez Iglesias
  • Carilyn Elizabeth Stark
  • Rafal Szymczuk
  • Vivian Laura E. Szymczuk
  • Danilo Vitente Tadeo, Jr.
  • Elena Voronejskaia

HIGH HONORS

  • Miriam B. Bernstein
  • Rickey Yu Chiang Chen
  • S Justin Michael Eagleston
  • Roza Hamid Hassen
  • Aaron Christopher Hoo
  • Zaid Iqbal
  • Umair Usman Khan
  • Jared William Koen
  • Mark Kenneth Stanley Kwarciak
  • Ronald Edward May IV
  • James Aaron McLennan
  • James T Miller
  • Echezona Gerald Nsofor
  • Syed Muaz Rizvi
  • Kareem Sioufi
  • Sonal Talwar
  • John Trangucci
  • Toribiong A Uchel
  • Daniel Fils Verna
  • Lucinda M Wenzlick

HONORS

  • Gaganjit Kaur Dillon
  • Sean P Ewing
  • Rachel J Kumar
  • Elizabeth Mattes Nielsen

 

GRADUATES RECITING THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH: Doctors at last! Photo: Island Photography

GRADUATES RECITING THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH: Doctors at last! Photo: Island Photography

 

(Top photo) THE CLASS OF 2016: UMHS graduates and executive faculty at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on June 10, 2016. Photo: Island Photography



About UMHS:

Built in the tradition of the best US universities, the University of Medicine and Health Sciencesfocuses on individual student attention, maintaining small class sizes and recruiting high-quality faculty. We call this unique approach, “personalized medical education,” and it’s what has led to our unprecedented 96% student retention rate, and outstanding residency placements across the US and Canada.

Posted by Scott Harrah

Scott is Director of Digital Content & Alumni Communications Liaison at UMHS and editor of the UMHS Endeavour blog. When he's not writing about UMHS students, faculty, events, public health, alumni and UMHS research, he writes and edits Broadway theater reviews for a website he publishes in New York City, StageZine.com.

Topics: UMHS Alumni

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