Student Affairs and Resources

106th School of Medicine Commencement Recognizes 201 Students

Photography by Mark Stehle, Mark Stehle Photography

Four years ago, more than 200 students came to North Broad Street to earn a degree at the School of Medicine. They arrived with dreams: to save people’s lives, make scientific discoveries, and improve the health care system. On May 23, at the School of Medicine’s commencement at the Academy of Music, these hopeful students became graduates who had become well-equipped to pursue those dreams. 

The commencement recognized the achievements of 201 students who were awarded degrees: 173 students earned the doctor of medicine degree; 5 earned a dual doctor of medicine and doctor of philosophy degree; 20 earned the doctor of philosophy degree; and 3 earned the master of science degree.

Organist John Binsfeld provided a prelude and the processional and recessional music.  The Transplantations, the medical student a cappella group,  sang the national anthem. Executive Associate Dean Richard Kozera served as Master of Ceremonies.   

Dean John Daly addressed the diverse audience of students, faculty, staff, family members and friends.  He recognized the students’ achievements, and the importance of positive personal relationships to their success.

“These graduates’ hard work and study have made them well-prepared to enter the next phase of their careers,” he said. “And their success is due in considerable measure to the support of family and friends. You have helped develop their talents to the fullest extent.”

Darrell Kirch, MD,  President and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges, served as the commencement’s keynote speaker. He encouraged the graduates to “See the World through New Eyes,” the eyes of those who would, at some point in their lives, come to rely upon the current and future medical and scientific expertise gained by the graduates.

“Soon, you’re going to have initials after your name,” he said. “When that happens, are you going to look at patients through your new expert eyes, or will you retain the ability to know what it’s like to be a patient?” He asked the graduates to cling tenaciously to their values. “Never forget the personal statement that you wrote for your application to medical school, because it is that idealism that will lead you to make the right decisions.”

Joseph Gwiszcz, president of the Class of 2008, echoed Kirch’s sentiments.

“I challenge you to remember the way that you felt the day before medical school started, when you were filled with an idealistic vision,” he said. “You have all proven yourselves in the world of academia; now prove yourselves in the world of humanity.”

Jenny Chiang, editor of the 2008 yearbook, Skull, presented its dedicatee, Gerald Sterling, PhD,  Associate Dean for Medical Education and Professor of Pharmacology.

“He was always there when we needed guidance,” Chiang said about Sterling. “His willingness to listen to us truly brought together the Temple community.”

In his acceptance, Dr. Sterling summed up the commencement’s theme of talent, hard work and the constant pursuit of excellence.

“This class set a very high bar for all following classes – they had remarkable levels of performance,” he said. “But I was reminded of how truly great a Temple education is when my mother was in the hospital this year, and all of her doctors were Temple graduates. It confirmed for me that a Temple physician is simply the best. The Class of 2008 is now a part of that great tradition.”

Darrell G. Kirch, MD

AAMC President and CEO

Darrell G. Kirch, MD, is president and chief executive officer of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Founded in 1876 and based in Washington, D.C., the AAMC is a not-for-profit association representing all 129 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools; nearly 400 teaching hospitals and health systems, including 68 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and 94 academic and scientific societies. Through these institutions and organizations, the AAMC also represents 109,000 faculty members, 67,000 medical students, and 104,000 resident physicians.

A distinguished physician, educator, and medical scientist, and a noted authority on the organization and management of academic medical centers, Dr. Kirch's career spans all aspects of academic medicine and includes leadership positions at two medical schools and teaching hospitals, as well as at the National Institutes of Health.

Before becoming AAMC president, Dr. Kirch was selected as chair-elect of the association, and co-chaired the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. He also has served as chair of the AAMC Council of Deans Administrative Board, and as chair of the American Medical Association Section on Medical Schools.

Dr. Kirch assumed the position of AAMC president in July 2006 following six years as senior vice president for health affairs, dean of the college of medicine, and CEO of the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center at The Pennsylvania State University, where he and his leadership team are credited with revitalizing the institution and guiding it through a period of educational innovation and major growth in clinical activity and research funding. Before joining Penn State, Dr. Kirch held a number of leadership positions at the Medical College of Georgia from 1994 to 2000, including serving as dean of the medical school, senior vice president for clinical activities, and dean of the school of graduate studies.

As a psychiatrist and neuroscientist, Dr. Kirch conducted research on the biological basis of and clinical treatments for severe neuropsychiatric disorders. Following the completion of his residency training at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, he joined the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in Bethesda, Maryland, where he was named acting scientific director in 1993. His NIMH contributions were recognized when he was presented with the Outstanding Service Medal of the United States Public Health Service.

Dr. Kirch is a member of several professional societies, including the American Psychiatric Association, American College of Psychiatrists, and American Medical Association. He was elected to membership in the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies in 2007, and currently serves as a member-at-large of the National Board of Medical Examiners and on the board of directors of Research!America.

A native of Denver, Dr. Kirch received both his B.A. and M.D. degrees from the University of Colorado, which in 2002 presented him with its Silver and Gold Alumni Award. He has had an active career as a clinician and researcher, and has held medical faculty positions at Penn State, the Medical College of Georgia, and George Washington University. A prolific writer and public speaker, he has published more than 100 articles and book chapters, and made presentations to numerous medical, educational, scientific, and advocacy organizations.

Biography courtesy of AAMC.

Contact Information:

Student Affairs and Resources

Kathleen Reeves, MD

Associate Dean, Student Affairs

MRB Suite 101

3420 North Broad Street

Philadelphia, PA 19140

T: 215-707-1670

F: 215-707-4725

kreeves@temple.edu

Micki Miller

Administrative Specialist

T: 215-707-1670

F: 215-707-4725

helen.miller@temple.edu