June 13 graduation to honor future leaders in medicine

The medical school graduation begins at 2 p.m. June 13 with nearly 140 students participating.

About 73 of them will be medical students soon to be heading off on the next stage of their careers for three to five more years of training as residents in everything from otolaryngology at New York University School of Medicine to emergency medicine at UCLA to internal medicine at Stanford Hospital. Another 53 PhD students in a wide range of specialties from biophysics to genetics to cancer biology will join the medical graduates. An additional 12 students will receive a master's of science.

Helene Gayle, MD, a pediatrician renowned for her AIDS work, will be the featured speaker. Gayle, the president and CEO of the international poverty-fighting organization CARE, will join two student speakers chosen by their peers to honor the 2009 doctor of medicine, doctor of philosophy and master's of science graduates of the medical school on its 50th anniversary at the Palo Alto campus.

'This class represents an amazing combination of intellect and compassion,' said Neil Gesundheit, MD, associate dean for advising and associate professor of endocrinology. 'Our graduates are future leaders with a deep-rooted commitment to use their skills and medical knowledge to improve the nation's health, in the broadest sense.'

Amy Radermacher, a student graduating with a doctorate in immunology, will be the first of the two student speakers at the convocation ceremony which will be on the Dean's Lawn at the School of Medicine. She'll be followed by Adeoti Oshinowo, a medical student who has accepted a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Michigan. Both students were active in student leadership. The related stories provide a quick look at a few of their classmates who will also be accepting their diplomas on that afternoon.