The 124th class of the UTMB School of Nursing celebrated its commencement and pinning ceremonies on April 22 at the Moody Gardens Convention Center. The graduating class comprised 419 graduates, including 91 students who earned advanced degrees, and six who were awarded doctoral degrees.
Pamela G. Watson, vice president for education and dean of the
School of Nursing, and Dr. Garland D. Anderson, executive vice president, provost and dean of the
School of Medicine, welcomed the graduates and guests.
“Nurses are the heart of health care delivery in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and wherever there are patients,” said Watson.
Col. Karen L. Weis, dean of the
United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, delivered the commencement address. Weis has served in a variety of roles throughout the world, including flight nurse and officer-in-charge of aircrew training at the 2nd and later 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, where her missions included evacuating patients after the Sarajevo market bombing. She received her master’s degree in nursing from UTMB in 1997 and was inducted into the school’s alumni hall of fame in 2009.
The traditional pinning ceremony, which symbolically welcomes the graduates into the nursing profession, was held prior to commencement.