UTMB's Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences awarded 33 degrees during its 47th commencement ceremony May 15. Chief Research Officer, vice president and GSBS Dean David W. Niesel presided over the convocation and Dr. David L. Callender, UTMB president, conferred the degrees at Levin Hall on the Galveston campus.
"To each of you, whatever path you choose to pursue -- researcher, teacher, entrepreneur or health policy advocate -- you will have limitless opportunities to improve health and health care in what we believe will be an increasingly collaborative, interdisciplinary and productive research environment," said Callender. "New technologies are becoming available, the pace of discovery is quickening, and bold innovation is before us. We look forward to seeing you all step into that arena."
During the ceremony, the Graduate Student Organization presented its Distinguished Teaching Award to Dr. Gustavo Valbuena, an associate professor in the Department of Pathology, director of the Research Histopathology Core and also director of the Master of Medical Science Program. The GSO honored Valbuena for generously sharing his expertise and experience, for his fresh, innovative approach to teaching, and the genuine concern he exhibits for his students’ continued success.
James C. Lee, professor and Robert A. Welch Distinguished Chair in Chemistry in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, received the Distinguished Faculty Service Award. For more than 25 years, Lee has demonstrated a commitment to quality graduate education at UTMB.
The Distinguished Faculty Research Award was presented to Kyriakos S. Markides, professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health and Annie and John Gnitzinger Distinguished Professor of Aging. Markides is a leading expert on the health and aging of Mexican Americans. His research spans four decades and has resulted in the publication of nearly 270 peer-reviewed articles.
Joan E. Nichols, associate dean for student affairs in the graduate school and associate director of the Galveston National Laboratory, was honored with the GSBS Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2015. She is also a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, and in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at UTMB. She received her Ph.D. from the GSBS in 1999. Her efforts to grow a human lung in a laboratory have moved UTMB to the forefront of regenerative medicine and have received world-wide media attention.
Nichols gave the commencement address, offering graduates 10 tips for success that have been important to her personally, including working hard, giving back and being able to adapt to change.
"The most important words of wisdom regarding success and survival come from Charles Darwin, who said, 'It's not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change,'" said Nichols. "Be the responsive person, be the one to change, and you cannot help but succeed."
The commencement mace bearer was Shakeel Ansari, a professor in the Department of Pathology. The ceremonial mace has been a symbol of university scholarship and integrity since the 11th century. It is used to lead academic processions, signifying the importance of the event and the confirmation of the academic process. Ansari also administered the Scientific Oath to graduates, a new feature at this year’s ceremony.
In 2014-2015, the GSBS awarded a total of 61 degrees: 43 doctorates, 17 masters and 1 M.D./Ph.D. degree.