The Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine awarded degrees to 106 students during graduation events Friday, April 28, at the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center in Huntington.
Master of Medical Science degrees were awarded to the 25 inaugural graduates of the physician assistant program during a ceremony at noon. The 28-month program was established in 2018 in response to increased demand for physician assistants across the nation’s health care workforce. Marshall University welcomed its first class, graduating today, in January 2021.
Paulome Srivastava, president of the class of 2023, delivered remarks, and members of the Pi Alpha Honor Society inductees were recognized.
Durng the 43rd annual graduation and investiture at 4 p.m., Marshall University President Brad D. Smith conferred 78 Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degrees, two Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in biomedical research and one combined Doctor of Medicine-Doctor of Philosophy (M.D./Ph.D.).
Members of the M.D. class matched to residency training programs at locations including Duke University Medical Center, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Stanford Health Care, University of Central Florida Healthcare and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Four students matched in specialty matches for ophthalmology and military residency programs. 25 students will remain in West Virginia to complete their residency training.
Mary Beth Harler, M.D., a 1993 alumna and president of IGM Autoimmunity and Inflammation, delivered the keynote address to the Class of 2023. Luke E. Hamm, M.D., president of the class of 2023, delivered remarks, and J. Adam Whitmore, M.D., was selected by his classmates to lead the recitation of the Oath of Hippocrates.
The ceremony also included recognition of Stephen M. Petrany, M.D., as the School of Medicine Alumni Association 2023 honorary alumnus. Petrany, a professor and chair of family and community health at the School of Medicine, has overseen unprecedented growth in department outreach, health policy and rural medicine as well as the creation of a new Division of Addiction Sciences dedicated to leading the School of Medicine and Marshall Health’s response to the addiction crisis.
The events were streamed live and are available for viewing at www.facebook.com/MUSOMWV and www.marshall.edu/livestream.
———-
Photos: (Above) Master of Medical Science degrees were awarded to the 25 inaugural graduates of the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine’s physician assistant program during a ceremony at noon, Friday, April 28. (Below) Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy graduates from the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine participated in the school’s 43rd annual graduation and investiture ceremony at 4 p.m., Friday, April 28.