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541 to receive degrees at Upstate Medical University Commencement May 18

541 to receive degrees at Upstate Medical University Commencement May 18

Upstate Medical University Interim President Gregory L. Eastwood, M.D., will award 541 degrees and five professional certificates to graduates of the university’s colleges of Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, and Nursing at Upstate’s 2014 Commencement ceremonies Sunday, May 18 at the John H. Mulroy Civic Center at Oncenter, 421 Montgomery St., Syracuse.  Each college will present its own Commencement ceremony that day to individually recognize graduating students.

Barbara Resnick, Ph.D., C.R.N.P., and John R. Seffrin, Ph.D., will receive honorary doctor of science degrees from the State University of New York at Commencement. Resnick will speak at the colleges of Nursing and Health Professions ceremonies. Seffrin will address graduates of Upstate’s colleges of Medicine and Graduate Studies. Resnick is recognized for her innovative work in geriatrics, with special concentration on motivation related to functional activities, exercise behavior, testing outcomes of restorative care nursing programs, and other innovative long-term care projects. She is a professor in the Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health at the University of Maryland School of Nursing; holds the Sonya Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology at the School of Nursing; and maintains a clinical/faculty position with clinical work at Roland Park Place, a Lifecare community. Seffrin has served as chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society since 1992. Under his leadership, he has transformed the world’s largest voluntary cancer-fighting group into one of the world’s most progressive public health organizations. He spearheaded the creation of the society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, of which he is also the chief executive officer.

Pre-Commencement Dessert Reception Upstate will host a pre-commencement Dessert Reception for graduates and their families Saturday, May 17 from 8 to 11 p.m. in the Tiffany Ballroom at the Genesee Grande Hotel, 1050 E. Genesee St., Syracuse.

College of Health Professions

The ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. in the Crouse Hinds Theater of the Civic Center. A reception will immediately follow the ceremony in the lobby of the Campus Activities Building (C.AB.). College of Health Professions students Amelia Weimar (Radiation Therapy Program) and Anne Reilley (Doctor of Physical Therapy Program) will speak at Commencement. The College of Health Professions will award 191 degrees: 75 B.S., 39 M.S., 6 B.P.S. (bachelor of professional studies) and 71 D.P.T. (doctorate of physical therapy).

College of Nursing

Commencement ceremonies will be held at 11:30 a.m. in the Crouse Hinds Theater at the Civic Center. A reception will immediately follow the ceremony in the C.A.B. lobby. Student speakers are Amie Lorini (Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program) and Christine Kirkman (Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program). The College will award 154 degrees and four certificates: 61 B.S., 93 M.S., and four post-master’s certificates.

College of Graduate Studies

The ceremony will be held at 12:30 p.m. in the Civic Center’s Carrier Theater. A pre-ceremony brunch will be served at 10 a.m. in the Ninth Floor Dining Room of Weiskotten Hall. John R. Seffrin, PhD, will address students at Commencement. Student speaker is Tiffany Telarico Caza of the Microbiology and Immunology M.D./Ph.D. doctoral program. The College of Graduate Studies will award 27 degrees: 14 Ph.D., 10 M.S., 3 M.D./Ph.D. (Note: the M.D./Ph.D. degrees are conferred jointly with the College of Medicine.)

College of Medicine

The ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. at the Civic Center’s Crouse Hinds Theater. A reception will immediately follow in the C.A.B. lobby. The College of Medicine will confer 169 degrees and one certificate: 157 M.D., 12 M.P.H. (master of public health); and one Public Health Certificate.

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