Newswise — Bethesda, Md – Medical students, advanced practice nurses, military dentists, and scientists, clinical psychologists, and public health professionals will move from student to alumni status on Saturday, May 16 – Armed Forces Day – as they receive their degrees at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) 36th commencement exercise at the Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.
This year’s commencement speaker will be Air Force Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Thomas W. Travis, the Surgeon General of the Air Force, who graduated from medical school at USU in 1986. Former National Library of Medicine director Donald A.B. Lindberg, M.D., will be presented with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during the ceremony.
The USU commencement exercise is one of the nation’s most unique graduation ceremonies. Most USU students are active duty officers in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force or Public Health Service. Students enter DAR Constitution Hall wearing academic regalia, but after receiving their diplomas, leave the stage to change into their military uniforms and return to recite their respective Service commissioning oath, led individually by each Surgeon General, or his/her representative, as they are promoted to their next rank. Medical degree graduates from USU’s F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine – “America’s Medical School” -- also recite the Hippocratic Oath. Near the conclusion of the ceremony, the Service themes of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force and Public Health Service are played by the U.S. Marine Corps Band – “The President’s Own” – while current and former service members stand to honor all of the uniformed services.
Graduates from the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine include: 163 Doctor of Medicine degrees 9 Master of Health Administration and Policy degrees 25 Master of Public Health degrees 2 Master of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene degrees 6 Master of Science in Public Health degrees 3 Master of Science degrees 3 Doctor of Public Health degrees 28 Doctor of Philosophy degrees
Graduates from the Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing include:
3 Master of Science in Nursing (Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist) degrees 4 Master of Science in Nursing (Family Nurse Practitioner) degrees 19 Master of Science in Nursing (Nurse Anesthesia) degrees 11 Doctor of Nursing Practice (Family Nurse Practitioner) degrees 9 Doctor of Nursing Practice (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) degrees 4 Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing Science) degrees
Graduates from the Postgraduate Dental College include:
17 Master of Oral Biology (Army program - Comprehensive Dentistry) degrees 4 Master of Oral Biology (Navy program – Comprehensive Dentistry) degrees 3 Master of Oral Biology (Navy program – Endodontics) degrees 1 Master of Oral Biology (Navy program – Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology) degree 3 Master of Oral Biology (Navy program – Periodontics) degrees 5 Master of Oral Biology (Navy program – Prosthodontics) degrees 3 Master of Oral Biology (Navy program – Orofacial Pain) degrees 11 Master of Oral Biology (Air Force program – Comprehensive Dentistry) degrees 4 Master of Oral Biology (Air Force program – Endodontics) degrees 6 Master of Oral Biology (Tri-Service Orthodontic Residency) degrees
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The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), founded by an act of Congress in 1972, is the academic heart of the Military Health System. USU students are primarily active duty uniformed officers in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Public Health Service who receive specialized education in tropical and infectious diseases, TBI and PTSD, disaster response and humanitarian assistance, global health, and acute trauma care. A large percentage of the university’s more than 5,300 physician and 770 advanced practice nursing alumni are supporting operations around the world, offering their leadership and expertise. USU also has graduate programs in biomedical sciences and public health committed to excellence in research, and in oral biology. The University's research program covers a wide range of clinical and basic science important to both the military and public health. For more information, visit www.usuhs.edu.
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