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468 to receive degrees, certificates at Upstate Medical University Commencement May 21

468 to receive degrees, certificates at Upstate Medical University Commencement May 21

Each college will present its own ceremony to individually recognize graduating students. Laraque-Arena will offer welcome remarks at each ceremony.

Michael R. Barratt, MD, this year’s honorary degree recipient, will deliver keynote addresses at all four ceremonies. Barratt is a NASA physician and astronaut and one of the nation’s few specialists dually trained in medicine and aerospace medicine. He will receive an honorary doctor of science degree from during the ceremony. For a complete bio on Barratt go to: Michael Barratt to receive honorary degree.

- Commencement Dessert Reception

Graduates and their families are invited to a pre-Commencement Dessert Reception with live music and cash bar Saturday, May 20 from 8 to 11 p.m. at Genesee Grande Hotel, 1060 E. Genesee St., Syracuse.

- College of Health Professions

College of Health Professions commencement ceremonies will be held at 9 a.m. in the Crouse Hinds Theater, John H. Mulroy Civic Center at Oncenter, 411 Montgomery St., Syracuse. A reception will immediately follow the ceremony in the Campus Activities Building. The college will award 152 degrees: 66 BS, 39 MS, 8 BPS (Bachelor of Professional Studies) and 39 DPT (Doctorate of Physical Therapy). Katherine Beissner, PT, PhD, professor and interim dean of the College of Health Professions, will welcome students and their families. Student speakers from the class of 2017 are Heidi Beuttenmuller, BS, Respiratory Therapy, and Kayla Henry, MS, Physician Assistant Studies. Anthony Kurec, Class of 1986, president of the Health Professions Alumni Association, will offer welcome remarks on behalf of the association.

- College of Nursing

College of Nursing commencement ceremonies will be held at 11:30 a.m. in the Crouse Hinds Theater. A reception will immediately follow in the Campus Activities Building. The college will award 103 degrees and 5 certificates: 23 BSN, 76 MSN, 4 DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) and 5 post-master’s certificates. Lynn Cleary, MD, vice-president for Academic Affairs and interim dean of College of Nursing, will welcome graduates and their families. Representing the Class 2017 are student speakers Taylor Solak, (Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program), Allyson Kemp (Master of Science in Nursing Program) and Florence Mandebvu, (Doctorate of Nursing Practice). Michael Allain, RN, MS, class of 2009, president of the Nursing Alumni Association, will offer remarks on behalf of the association.

- College of Graduate Studies

College of Graduate Studies commencement ceremonies will be held at 1:30 p.m. in the Ballroom, Oncenter Convention Center, 800 S. State St., Syracuse.  A pre-ceremony brunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. in the Oncenter Ballroom. The college will award 33 degrees: 26 PhD, 7 MS. Mark E. Schmitt, PhD, professor and dean of the College of Graduate Studies, will offer remarks. Student speaker is Gregory Goreczny, Class of 2017, Anatomy and Cell Biology PhD program.

- College of Medicine

The College of Medicine ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. in the Crouse Hinds Theater. A reception will immediately follow in the Campus Activities Building. The College of Medicine will confer 172 degrees: 147 MD, 21 MPH (Masters of Public Health) and 4 MD/MPH degrees. Mantosh Dewan, MD, interim dean of the College of Medicine, will welcome graduates and their families. Student speakers are Amanda Ghanie, Master of Public Health Program, and Ramzi El Hassan, Doctor of Medicine Program. Richard Cantor, MD, FAAP, FACEP, president of the Medical Alumni Association, will speak on behalf of the association.

- Joint Degrees (Colleges of Graduate Studies and Medicine)

The colleges of Graduate Studies and Medicine will jointly award 3 MD/PhD degrees.

Visit Commencement for more information.

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