"Generously share your knowledge – with your patients, with your colleagues, with the world. Collaboration is more than a buzzword; the future of health care and biomedical research hinges on collaboration."

Mark Richardson, MD, MBA, Dean, School of Medicine

From Dean Richardson: Congratulations Class of 2011!

Dear School of Medicine community:

On June 6 I was honored to take part in the OHSU School of Medicine's annual hooding and commencement ceremony. Friends, parents, children, grandparents and others - including many faculty members - came together to celebrate the enormous achievements and hard work of our newest graduates.

Our 401 graduates include 48 PhD degrees, two MD/PhD degrees, 99 MD degrees, three MD/MPH degrees, 110 master's degrees, 75 graduate certificates, 45 bachelor's degrees and 19 associate's degrees. The students join a long and proud tradition dating back 124 years to 1887, when the School of Medicine was first established.

In turn, their achievements also belongs to our faculty. Your dedication to teaching and guiding the Class of 2011 - as well as the current students and thousands who have gone before - is, by extension, a commitment to the health and well-being of the countless people in Oregon and around the world whose lives intersect with our graduates.

At this time of year we also recognize exceptional students and faculty members with honors and awards. Congratulations to all of you. You'll find more information about these award recipients below.

I am pleased to welcome the Class of 2011 into our distinguished community of men and women who dedicate their lives to health and healing. The future of health care needs great things from our graduates, and I know they are up to the challenge.  

Regards,

Mark Richardson, MD, MBA
Dean, School of Medicine

 

Missed the ceremony? Read speeches here!

• A Golden Age of Medicine: President Joe Robertson reminded the students that their future is a source of hope
  
• The Explosion of Knowledge: His parents' wartime service taught Dean Mark Richardson about sacrifice, believing in one's education and sharing one's knowledge
  
• The Most Trusted and Sacred Profession: In a hospital room, Dr. Sima Desai saw just what it meant to fulfil that responsibility
  
• The Learning Health System: Dr. William Hersh predicted "unprecedented opportunites to impact health care" for today's graduates
  
• The short, dingy white coat still inspired a long list of clear memories for Dr. Jessica Carlson, MD student speaker
  
• Marcel Proust, Thomas Huxley and George Bernard Shaw encouraged Dr. Jennifer Redig, Graduate Studies student speaker, always to remain a heretic
  
• 2011 Hooding Program lists graduates, events and awards

"I am excited to see today’s masters and PhD graduates join their professional colleagues in science, industry, education and health care. I look forward to hearing about their contributions to improving world health in years to come."

Allison Fryer, PhD, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies

The next generation of OHSU graduates prepare to transition from classrooms to clinical setting

A new generation of health care professionals, from physicians, nurses and dentists to physician assistants, nurse practitioners and nurse midwives, are graduating from Oregon Health & Science University this month. A series of graduation ceremonies begin on Monday, June 6, and continue throughout the month of June. In all, 979 students will graduate from OHSU to begin careers in various health care fields.

“As health care reform takes shape across the country and in Oregon, and health care occupations continue to evolve, it's exciting to see our next class of graduates begin their professional careers," said OHSU President Joe Robertson, MD, MBA. "At OHSU we often refer to our mission of serving all 96,000 square miles of Oregon. Graduation is a tangible moment in fulfilling that mission as quite literally, our students head out to care for patients within Oregon's borders and beyond.”

Read the full OHSU media release

A smattering of history, some reflections and thoughts about next steps

Newly titled members of the Class of 2011 reflect on their experience in the School of Medicine and look ahead to the next stage of their journey.

• Graduate Studies Program MCR/PhD student Jennifer Redig focuses on helping people with congenital heart defects
• MD Program Graduate Rae Seltzer talks about how it feels to suddenly have an MD
• MD Program Graduate Aleka Spurgeon-Heinrici overcomes obstacles, will now become a Family Medicine physician
  
• Where are they going next? Read more about MD graduates and this year's Match Day
• Graduate Studies degree programs have grown considerably over last 13 years
  

GRADUATES BY THE NUMBERS

• 
• Graduate Studies summary by degree
• MD Graduating Class of 2011
• Resident comparative match data

2011 School of Medicine Awards

At the end of the academic year, the School of Medicine recognizes students and faculty for academic and teaching excellence, or outstanding contributions to their field.

The Class of 2011 Hooding and Commencement Hooding Program lists awardees who were recognized at the June 6 ceremony. A select few and additional awards not mentioned in the program are featured below:

Awards & Recipients

• The Edward S. Hayes Gold Headed Cane Award was presented to Michael Goodwin (pictured holding the presentation cane below right)
  
  
• The Leonard Tow Award for Humanism in Medicine (Student) was presented to Mischa B. Ronick. The Leonard Tow Award for Humanism in Medicine (Faculty) was presented to Lisa G. Dodson, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine
  
  
• The John A. Resko Faculty Research and Mentoring Achievement Award was presented to Thomas Becker, MD, Professor and Chair, Department of Public Health & Preventive Medicine and Michael Andresen, PhD, Professor, Department of Physiology & Pharmacology
  
  
• The Dean’s Award for Exemplary Contributions to the School of Medicine was presented to Jessica Carlson, MD
  
  
• Continuing Medical Education Outstanding Faculty Awards were presented to Susan Grauer, MD, and Mark O'Hollaren, MD
  
  
• The OHSU Faculty Senate Distinguished Faculty Awards for the School of Medicine recognized David Ellison, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine, for Outstanding Research
  
  
• The OHSU School of Medicine Alumni Association Awards were presented on May 5. Charles Thomas, MD, received the Dean's Award; Bruce Calonge, MD, MPH R' 84, received the Esther Pohl Lovejoy, MD Leadership Award; Herbert Semler, MD '53, MS, was the Charles A. Preuss, MD Distinguished Alumnus recipient; Mary Stenzel-Poore, PhD '87, received the Richard T. Jones, MD, PhD Distinguished Alumni Scientist Award
  
  
• The Oregon Master of Public Health Program recognized two OHSU students in its 2011 Student Excellence Awards - MPH students Nathan Ansbaugh (research) and Andrew Thomas (leadership)
  

Check back regularly for updates – we’ll be adding more information about awards as it’s collected. Have an award to add? Let us know at somdeansoffice@ohsu.edu

"The class of 2011 may have more beards, carry more mason jars, perform the worst on basic science exams, compared to any other class but they are the kindest, most caring and committed individuals that you could ever want as your physician."

Jessica Carlson, MD, President, MD Class of 2011

"We are still young.  Right now we are the fresh eyes. We have few presumptions, few political alliances. We are still mostly unfettered free agents, able to explore, question and conjecture with relative immunity."

Jennifer Redig, PhD, Class of 2011

find photos of family and friends

Celebrate with our graduates! Relive the excitement of the 2011 ceremony (LINK) and find photos of present and past School of Medicine Hooding ceremonies at the SoM facebook page:

• 2011 Hooding Ceremony
  
• 2010 Hooding Ceremony
  
• 2009 Hooding Ceremony
• 2008 Hooding Ceremony