218 graduate at commencement 2007

Two hundred and eighteen medical students took the final steps across the stage at the George R. Brown Convention Center and walked into their chosen profession as physician May 29.

Commencement speaker Dr. Wiley "Chip" Souba Jr., the 2007 Distinguished Alumnus, welcomed them into this next phase of their life's journey, as did interim Dean Jerry Wolinsky and UT Health Science Center President James Willerson. Dr. Michael Kelly, president of the Harris County Medical Society, and Dr. Ladon Homer, immediate past president of the Texas Medical Association, also spoke to the graduates.

The student awards were presented to Matthew Ulrickson, who received the Walter G. Sterling Award for Excellence and the Truman G. Blocker Jr. M.D. Gold-Headed Cane Award. Paul Pierce received the Hitoshi Nikaidoh, M.D. Award for Humanism in Medicine.

The faculty teaching awards also were recognized: The John Freeman Faculty Teaching Award, Dr. Elizabeth Hartwell; the John P. McGovern Award, Dr. Alberto Puig; the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, Dr. Judianne Kellaway; the Herbert L. and Margaret W. DuPont Master Clinical Teaching Award, Dr. Eugene Toy; and The Alpha Omega Alpha Volunteer Clinical Faculty Award, Dr. G.S. Ramesh.

The ceremony concluded with Willerson leading "The Eyes of Texas."

-D. Brown