Class of 2011 graduates 55, prepares for residency

Commencement ceremonies for the University of Nevada School of Medicine Class of 2011 were held this afternoon at Lawlor Events Center in Reno. The 55 graduating students celebrated completion of their medical education by receiving their academic hoods and reciting the Hippocratic Oath, which reaffirms their commitment to the medical profession.

Ken Maehara, Ph.D., associate professor of pathology at the School of Medicine, served as the ceremony keynote speaker.

Addressing the class in her remarks, Peggy Dupey, Ph.D., associate dean for admissions and student affairs said, "You are true ambassadors for what being a physician should represent: a commitment to service, a dedication to lifelong learning, and a sense of compassion and caring that shines through all of you."

The Class of 2011 has a short break before they begin their residency training programs across the country in July. This year's graduating class continued Nevada's tradition of placing in some of the nation's most competitive residency programs. Students matched with more than 30 different residency institutions across the nation and will enter specialties ranging from anesthesiology to orthopedic surgery.

Of note, 21 graduates, or 39 percent will enter primary care specialties including internal medicine, pediatrics and family medicine. Nationwide, and especially in Nevada, there is a shortage of primary care physician, so this is especially good news.
Member of the Class of 2011 matched with some of the most competitive residency training programs in the country including the Mayo Clinic, University of Southern California, University of California at Davis and Howard University.

In addition to celebrating the graduation of the Class of 2011, the School of Medicine honored several faculty and community members who have supported the philosophy and goals of the medical school and have made significant contributions to the health care field in Nevada.