GALVESTON, Texas - The state's oldest medical school, the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, will award medical degrees to 187 new physicians on May 31.

The commencement of the 118th graduating class of the School of Medicine will be at Moody Gardens in Galveston.

Dr. Bernard F. Morrey, a UTMB alumnus and the emeritus chairman of the department of orthopedics at the Mayo Clinic, will be the commencement speaker.

Morrey was raised in Texas and, after working as an aerospace engineer for two years at NASA, he attended and graduated from UTMB and completed an internship and residency at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minn. He also received a master's degree in biomechanics from the University of Minnesota. After two years of service in the Air Force, he joined the staff at Mayo.

Dr. Garland D. Anderson, executive vice president and provost and dean of the School of Medicine, congratulated the students.

"I am so very proud of our medical students. They are bright, compassionate young women and men who have excelled in the classroom and in caring for patients," Anderson said. "They have contributed so much to the UTMB and Galveston communities during their four years here. I salute our students, who are joining a noble profession at a time when the profession, and the nation, really need them."

Several awards and honors will highlight the ceremonies at Moody Gardens, including:

  • The William N. and Ida Zinn Alpha Omega Alpha Award for the highest cumulative grade point average. The recipient is Ryan Eric Neilan.
  • The James W. Powers Memorial Award to honor a teacher selected by the graduating class who, through his example and instruction, best embodies the mission of educating physicians capable of practicing the art and science of medicine. The recipient is Dr. Bernard M. Karnath, an associate professor in the department of internal medicine. 
  • The Gold-Headed Cane award given to a student who exemplifies dedication to the health and welfare of patients. The five finalists selected by the graduating class are Conner Chan, Jennifer Flora Knudtson, Viet Pham, James E. Squires and Jennifer Gail Schopp.

Also during the ceremony, four physicians will be honored with the Ashbel Smith Distinguished Alumnus Award, the highest alumni honor bestowed by UTMB's School of Medicine Alumni Association. The 2008 Ashbel Smith awards will honor the work of Drs. Virginia Irvine Blocker (posthumous award), John A. Menchaca of Fort Worth, Machelle M. Seibel of Newton, Mass., and J. Marc Shabot, who has been a member of the faculty of medicine at UTMB for nearly 30 years.

For more information, go to http://www.som.utmb.edu/news/news_commencement08.html.