Morehouse School of Medicine Celebrates 120 Graduates at Third Winter Commencement

Courtesy of Morehouse School of Medicine

Morehouse School of Medicine conferred master’s and doctoral degrees upon 120 graduates at its Third Winter Commencement on Friday, December 15. The ceremony was held at the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel on the Morehouse College campus and was also livestreamed for guests who were unable to attend in person.

“You are entering your various professions at an unprecedented time. Trust in the knowledge you’ve gained and remember to always lead with compassion and humility,” Morehouse School of Medicine President and CEO Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, FACOG, told the graduates. “People will look to you for answers and guidance. They will trust you with the most vulnerable and important part of themselves – whether as a research study participant, a community partner, or as a patient, they will expect you to understand the depth of trust they are extending to you and the weight of hope that rests on your shoulders.”

At the ceremony, MSM awarded 12 Master of Administration in Justice-Involved Care degrees; five Master of Public Health degrees; 33 Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies degrees; one Master of Science in Biomedical Research degree; 57 Master of Science in Biotechnology degrees; one Master of Science in Clinical Research degree; six Master of Science in Health Informatics degrees; one Master of Science in Medical Sciences degree; two Master of Science in Neuroscience degrees; two Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences degrees; and one Doctor of Medicine degree.

Ravi Thadhani, MD, MPH, Executive Vice President for Health Affairs at Emory University, Executive Director of the Woodruff Health Sciences Center, and Vice Chair of the Emory Healthcare Board of Directors, served as the keynote speaker.

Commencement Week kicked off Thursday evening with Class Day, recognizing student excellence in academics across the Graduate Education in Biomedical Science (GEBS), Graduate Education in Public Health (GEPHs), and Physician Assistant Studies programs with the presentation of numerous achievement and leadership awards. The Dean’s reception followed, giving students and their families the opportunity to socialize with each other as well as Dr. Montgomery Rice and Dean and Executive Vice President of Health Affairs Joseph A. Tyndall, MD, MPH.

First established as a two-year medical program at Morehouse College in 1975, Morehouse School of Medicine has been an independent institution since 1981. In addition to its world-renowned Doctor of Medicine program, MSM offers a wide range of health sciences doctorate and master’s degrees in public health, biomedical sciences, and physician assistant studies. Many programs are available online or in a hybrid format for distance learners.