GALVESTON, Texas – The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston will confer approximately 360 students with their degree from the School of Health Professions in a commencement ceremony on Friday, August 14 at the Moody Gardens Convention Center.
The 2 p.m. ceremony will feature commencement speaker and distinguished UTMB School of Health Professions alumus, Mario Celis. Dr. Danny Jacobs, UTMB executive vice-president, provost and dean of the School of Medicine will confer the degrees.
The ceremony will present several degrees to graduating students. These include bachelor’s degrees in clinical laboratory sciences and respiratory care and master’s degrees in physician assistant studies, occupational therapy, clinical laboratory sciences, nutrition and metabolism, and health professions. The School of Health Professions will also award a doctor of physical therapy degree.
“This is the culmination of years of hard work and determination of our students,” said Elizabeth Protas, dean of the school. “We are very proud of the achievements of these fine individuals and know that they will make a tremendous, positive impact in their health care careers. I congratulate everyone on this tremendous accomplishment.”
In addition to the degrees, several awards will be handed out to students who performed above and beyond their studies.
The John G. Bruhn Award for Professionalism recognizes a senior student who consistently displays, in personal and professional conduct, traits that bring credit to himself or herself, the school and his or her health profession. The Student Honor Award recognizes the graduating student who has contributed the most to his or her peers, the school, the university, and the community.
This year will see a new award, the Interprofessional Scholar Medal, which is awarded to students who embody UTMB’s interprofessional philosophy of working collaboratively with healthcare professionals, community-based providers, patients, and patients’ families to enhance health care. To obtain this distinction, students must participate in collaborative interprofessional activities and document their involvement through reflective writings that are included in a students’ professional website.
Keynote speaker Mario Celis earned an associate’s degree in respiratory care in 1984 and moved to Texas in 1989 to work as a clinical specialist and instructor in the school’s department of respiratory care. Celis acquired his Bachelor of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies from UTMB in 1994.
Celis later completed an educational program for musculoskeletal evaluation and rehabilitation from the University of Florida, Gainesville in 1995, and in 2004 he obtained a Master of Science degree in health education and promotion from the School of Health Professions at UTMB. Celis was recruited in 1997 by Shriners Hospitals for Children in Galveston.
He has served at the state and national level as a delegate to the Texas Academy of Physician Assistants and to the American Academy of Physician Assistants; and was also a multi-term president of the Physician Assistants for Latino Health organization.
For more information, please contact Judy Wolf at 409-772-3001 or jwolf@utmb.edu.