Upstate Medical University Commencement is May 22

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Upstate Medical University will award 445 degrees and 18 professional certificates to graduates of the university's colleges of Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, and Nursing at SUNY Upstate's 2011 Commencement ceremonies Sunday, May 22. Each college will present its own Commencement ceremony to individually recognize graduating students.

David Botstein, Ph.D., and Mary Ann Shaw will receive honorary degrees during the College of Medicine Commencement ceremonies.

Botstein will receive a Doctor of Science honorary degree for his contributions to modern genetics. Shaw will receive a Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degree for her record of service in education, fund development, children's health and community development.

The College of Nursing will award 112 degrees at 9:30 a.m. in the Carrier Theater at the John Mulroy Civic Center, 421 Montgomery St., Syracuse. The ceremony also includes awards presentations, and a keynote address by Mimi Secor, a family nurse practitioner specializing in women's health at Newton Wellesley ObGyn, a private practice in Newton, Mass. As a national radio host of ReachMD's "Partners in Practice" program, she interviews nurse practitioners about how they are helping to meet healthcare needs in the United States and abroad. She recently coauthored the second edition of Advanced Health Assessment of Women, Clinical Skills and Procedures by Springer Publishing.

The College of Medicine will confer 165 degrees, at 10 a.m. at Crouse Hinds Theater at the John Mulroy Civic Center. The ceremony also includes awards presentations and addresses by Botstein and Shaw.

Since 2003, Botstein has directed the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics at Princeton University, where he also serves as the Anthony B. Evnin Professor of Genomics and professor of molecular biology. In 1980, he and his colleagues proposed the first molecular method for mapping genes that was used in subsequent years to identify several human disease genes, including Huntington's and BRCA1. Variations of this method were used in the mapping efforts that predated and enabled the sequencing phase of the Human Genome Project.

Shaw led the Steering Committee to develop and raise funds for the Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital, exceeding its campaign goal by nearly 150 percent, for a total of $21.5 million. She founded the Literacy Corps at Syracuse University to deploy college tutors to disadvantaged schools; launched Syracuse University's Center for Public and Community Service (now the Mary Ann Shaw Center for Public and Community Service); and has been a groundbreaking leader in the United Way organization, both as an executive and volunteer, and prompted the organization in Syracuse to address the issue of immunization.

The College of Graduate Studies will award 32 degrees at 1:30 p.m. in the Medical Alumni Auditorium at Weiskotten Hall, 766 Irving Ave, Syracuse. The ceremony includes awards presentations, and an address by Botstein.

The College of Health Professions will award 135 degrees, at 2:30 p.m. at the Crouse Hinds Theater in the John Mulroy Civic Center. The ceremony includes awards presentations, the presentation of Honor Society inductees, and addresses by Distinguished Guest Speaker Thomas P. Quinn, president and chief executive officer of Community General Hospital; Graduate Student Speaker Jennifer T. Davis, M.S., of the college's Physician Assistant Studies program; and Undergraduate Student Speaker Michael A. Moziak, of the college's Radiation Therapy program. Graduates, families and friends are invited to a Pre-Commencement Dessert Reception May 21, at 8 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza, 701 E. Genesee St., Syracuse.

Receptions for the colleges of Nursing, Medicine and Health Professions will be held in the lobby of the Campus Activities Building May 22 following their individual Commencement ceremonies. A reception for the College of Graduate Studies will be held in the main lobby of Weiskotten Hall immediately following its Commencement ceremony.

For more information about Commencement, contact the Office of Student Support Services at 464-8855.