NEWS RELEASES
6/8/04 News Release
PRINT MEDIA CONTACTS: Ruthann Richter, (650) 725-8047 ()
BROADCAST MEDIA CONTACTS: M.A. Malone at (650) 723-6912 ()
MEDIA ADVISORY:
HOLLYWOOD AIDS ACTIVIST PAUL MICHAEL GLASER
TO SEND OFF STANFORD MED SCHOOL CLASS OF 2004
STANFORD - The 2004 School of Medicine convocation ceremony will take place Saturday with a commencement address by Paul Michael Glaser, the original Starsky from the 1970s TV hit “Starsky and Hutch.” He now directs the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. The media are invited to attend the event, which takes place at 2 p.m. on the Dean’s lawn at the medical school.
Glaser, an actor, director and filmmaker, plays a piovotal role in the world of AIDS, both as an advocate of those infected and as someone who intimately understands the devastation the disease can cause. In addition to his involvement with the foundation, three members of his family – his wife and two children – were infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Both his wife Elizabeth and daughter Ariel died of the disease; his son Jake, now 19, is HIV-positive.
The foundation, co-founded by Elizabeth Glaser, funds pediatric research and fights for the best public policy for children. Since its inception, the foundation has raised more than $120 million to help children with HIV/AIDS and other serious and life-threatening illnesses.
School of Medicine Dean Philip Pizzo, MD, has been involved with the foundation since its launch and serves as vice chair of its board of directors. He said he invited Glaser to speak to the graduating class to share his personal perspective. “Paul Glaser has played an instrumental role in championing the work of the foundation and has been an eloquent spokesperson for the importance of research as well as humanism and care for those afflicted with serious disease,” said Pizzo.
This year’s School of Medicine graduating class includes 164 students: 88 will receive their medical degrees and 64 will receive doctorates (including nine students who have simultaneously earned both an MD and a PhD). Additionally, 12 students will receive master’s degrees.
As an actor, Glaser has appeared in several feature films, including
2003’s “Something’s Gotta Give” with Jack Nicholson
and Diane Keaton. This year, he appeared in three episodes of the TV series
“Third Watch.” He also played in the title role in the 1976
TV movie, “The Great Houdini.” He has directed several feature
films, including “The Running Man” with Arnold Schwarzenegger
and “The Air Up There,” with Kevin Bacon as well as episodes
of such TV series as “Robbery Homicide Division,” “The
Agency,” “Judging Amy” and “Miami Vice.”
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The Stanford University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the nation’s top 10 medical schools, integrating research, medical education, patient care and community service. For more news about the school, please visit http://mednews.stanford.edu. The medical school is part of Stanford Medicine, which includes Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. For information about all three, please visit http://stanfordmedicine.org/about/news.html.
