Commencement | Current Students

The president of Upstate, Dr. Dewan, speaks at the 2023 Commencement while students and audience watch.

2025 Commencement

Sunday, May 4th

Congratulations to the Class of 2025!

SUNY Upstate Medical University will confer degrees on graduates from all four Upstate colleges: Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, and Nursing. This year, Upstate will celebrate graduates on May 4th. The ceremony features remarks from Upstate leadership, faculty, students, and this year’s honorary degree recipient.

Additional details will be available in January 2025.

"Fulfill your higher calling... pursue your dreams of changing the world. You are everyday heroes that we so desperately need."
- Dr. Mantosh Dewan

Student and Staff Information

This section will be updated with changes/additions throughout spring semester.

Any questions? Contact:

Ryan Green
Director of Campus Activities
[email protected]

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Remembering Past Commencements

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2024 Commencement

Upstate will award 430 degrees, certificates during Commencement May 5

Honorary degree recipients are Jose Jalife, MD, PhD; Katelyn K. Jetelina, MPH, PhD; and Nader Rifai, PhD.

2023 Commencement

Upstate will award 520 degrees, certificates during Commencement May 7

Stanford Professor Emeritus Dr Paul Brown, founder of Impossible Foods and head of the Impossible Foundation, will receive an honorary degree and address graduates.

2022 Commencement

Upstate will award 474 degrees, certificates during Commencement May 1

Students from Upstate's colleges of Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine and Nursing will be awarded degrees, ranging from bachelor's degrees to doctorates.

2021 Commencement

Upstate to hold Commencement May 8 and 9

Upstate Commencement ceremonies are May 8 and 9

Upstate's 2021 Commencement ceremonies will be held in-person and virtually.

2020 Commencement

A screen capture of New York Health Commissioner Harold Zucker, MD, JD, from Upstate's 2020 virtual Commencement.

Upstate’s 419 graduates enter a ‘temporarily troubled world as graduates and heroes,’ after first-ever virtual Commencement

Deans and speakers emphasized unique circumstances, praised student resilience.

2019 Commencement

Health Commissioner Zucker will deliver the Upstate Medical University Commencement Address May 5

New York State Health Commissioner Zucker to address graduates at Upstate Medical University Commencement May 5

Upstate will confer degrees on 478 students.

2018 Commencement

Three will receive honorary degrees at Commencement May 20

Carolyn Jones, Jean William Pape, MD, and Tracy Shenandoah will speak to graduates and receive honorary degrees.

This Commencement celebrates high schoolers 'graduating' from Upstate

Henninger High School and Fowler Public Service Leadership Academy students were honored for completing Upstate's Medical Education for Diverse Students (MEDS) Program. MEDS students learned about anatomy, CPR, suturing, and other public health issues.

2017 Commencement

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

Michael R. Barratt, MD, a NASA physician and astronaut and one of the nation's few specialists dually trained in medicine and aerospace medicine, will receive an honorary degree and address graduates.

Physician and astronaut Michael Barratt to receive honorary degree at Upstate Commencement May 21

Michael R. Barratt, MD, MS, is one of the nation's few specialists dually trained in medicine and aerospace medicine.

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