Family, friends, faculty, and other well wishers descended upon the campus of Loma Linda University for a weekend of pomp and circumstance, celebrating the class of 2014.
Three graduation exercises took place Sunday, May 25, granting degrees to nearly 500 graduates. Five more ceremonies will take place Sunday, June 15, at Loma Linda University Drayson Center.
The schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dentistry kicked off the 2014 commencement season, with ceremonies at 8:30 a.m., 1:00, and 5:00 p.m. respectively. These were held on the south campus mall, facing Coleman and Chan Shun pavilions.
The LLU School of Medicine granted 192 degrees—172 with the MD degree, two bachelor’s and six master’s degree candidates, and 12 PhDs. The School of Pharmacy graduated 82 with the PharmD degree. The School Dentistry bestowed 222 degrees—nearly 50 with associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in dental hygiene, 101 with DDS, 21 through the International Dentistry Program, and 53 with post-doctoral MS degrees in dental specialties.
Commencement addresses were given by Richard Hart, MD, DrPH, president of Loma Linda University Health; Ronald Carter, PhD, provost of Loma Linda University; and Graham Stacey, PhD, MS, associate dean of students for Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, respectively.
During the School of Medicine commencement ceremony, four individuals were honored by Loma Linda University. They are:
- David Hinshaw, MD, emeritus professor of surgery and former president of Loma Linda University Medical Center, LLUSM class of 1947: LLU Lifetime Service Award.
- He Chao, MD, vice president, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, and professor of surgical oncology, Zhejiang University Medical College, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China: LLU Global Service Award.
- Leroy Reese, MD, associate dean of the LLU School of Medicine at White Memorial Medical Center, LLUSM class of 1972: University Alumnus of the Year
- Charles Sims, MD, LLUSM class of 1960, president and cofounder of California Cryobank, Los Angeles: University Distinguished Humanitarian Award
During the School of Dentistry commencement, two individuals were also honored with LLU awards. They are:
- Peter Geistlich, PhD, board chair, Geistlich Pharma, Wolhusen, Switzerland: Distinguished Humanitarian Award
- Yiming Li, DDS, MSD, PhD: LLU Distinguished Investigator Award
A detailed article regarding the graduations, as well as the university and school honorees, will be included in the June 2014 issue of “LLUH Today.” Images from each of the three schools are available here:
· School of Medicine: on.fb.me/1tCWtp7
· School of Pharmacy: on.fb.me/1ojJHMk
· School of Dentistry: on.fb.me/1tDAT3U