FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 3, 2006

GALVESTON, Texas ¾ The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston awarded medical degrees to 194 new physicians on Saturday, June 3. The ceremony, which marked the 116th commencement of the state's oldest medical school, took place at Moody Gardens in Galveston. UTMB opened its doors to its first class of medical students in 1891 with 13 faculty members and 23 students.

U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona addressed the class. Carmona was appointed by President Bush as the 17th Surgeon General, the nation’s chief health educator, in 2002.

Born in New York City, Carmona spent much of his childhood living in poverty. He dropped out of high school and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1967. While enlisted he received his Army General Equivalency Diploma and joined the Army's Special Forces, ultimately becoming a combat-decorated Vietnam veteran. He later received the prestigious gold-headed cane as the top graduate in his class at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine in 1979.

He told the class that by accepting their medical degrees they were creating a sacred trust with their patients and had a responsibility to promote health in their communities.

“I know what it is to walk in the shoes of the poor,” he said. “[As the surgeon general] I have tried to target these populations and give them a voice and I ask you to do the same.”

The commencement procession was led by members of the UTMB faculty chosen by Dr. Valerie Parisi, dean of the School of Medicine, Dr. Lauree Thomas, associate dean of student affairs and admissions, and the graduating class. Parisi joined UTMB in the fall of 2004 and is one of a handful of female deans of medicine in the nation.

UTMB President Dr. John D. Stobo presided over the ceremony and Justin Boatsman was selected by his classmates to deliver the class address.

Boatsman also received the William N. and Ida Zinn Alpha Omega Alpha Award Scholarship. William N. Zinn of Galveston established the scholarship fund in 1955. The purpose of the endowment is to provide an annual grant to the graduating student in the School of Medicine with the highest cumulative grade point average at the end of four years.

Brianna Reneé Swinke, senior class president, announced the winner of the Gold-Headed Cane Award, the highest honor awarded to a graduating medical student. Just being nominated for the award by the student body is a high honor. The award was presented to Matthew Dacso, who was chosen by his classmates as the student who best exemplified the ultimate in patient care. The cane is passed down to a new recipient each year during commencement ceremonies. While the actual cane is displayed at UTMB’s Moody Medical Library, a desktop replica is presented to the winner. The identity of the recipient is a closely guarded secret until the commencement ceremony. Dacso’s name is engraved in gold and attached to the cane.

The other four Gold-Headed Cane Award nominees were Laura C. McClendon, Kristen Lynn Solana Walkinshaw, David Yung Ming and David Michael Rider.

The fourth-year students also selected four School of Medicine faculty members to conduct the traditional hooding ceremony, which takes place after each graduate receives his or her degree. The hood is the most striking feature of the academic regalia. Its shape, size and colors reflect the degree the graduate has earned and the conferring institution. Being chosen as a “hooder” is the highest honor bestowed upon a faculty member by a graduating class. This year’s honors went to Dr. Robert E. Beach, John P. McGovern Osler Scholar, professor of internal and family medicine and assistant dean for educational affairs; Dr. James E. Blankenship, Ashbel Smith Professor of Neuroscience and Cell Biology; Dr. Bernard M. Karnath, associate professor of internal medicine; and Dr. Brian Miller, associate professor of neuroscience and cell biology.

The graduating class also named Beach the winner of the James W. Powers Memorial Award for his extraordinary contributions toward helping these physicians practice both the art and the science of medicine.

Beach was also chosen by the class to administer the Physician’s Oath after the degrees were conferred.

Immediately following the ceremony, Parisi hosted a reception for the graduates and their families and friends in the Floral Ballroom of the Moody Gardens Convention Center.
 

The University of Texas Medical Branch
Public Affairs Office
301 University Boulevard, Suite 3.102
Galveston, Texas 77555-0144
www.utmb.edu