Over 70 master of science, pharmacy, and doctor of philosophy degree graduates crossed the stage on Friday, May 17 at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences’ Commencement ceremony at Holly Auditorium at UT Health San Antonio.

This year’s graduation speaker was Dr. Kenneth Hargreaves, professor and chair of the Department of Endodontics, and professor in the departments of pharmacology, physiology and surgery at our university. Dr. Hargreaves spoke about the role of clinician scientists in discovery and encouraged graduates to continue to discover.

“Science is driven today by not just knowledge but by curiosity,” Dr. Hargreaves said. “Like all science, it starts with something we don’t know. It’s up to you to go out and make lives better.”

This year’s student speaker was Lauren Cornell, who graduated along with the Class of 2019, from our joint Translational Science Ph.D. program with the University of Texas at San Antonio, and University of Texas at Austin. She holds a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Lauren is the CEO and co-founder of Novothelium, a biotech startup company working on nipple regeneration for women who have had a mastectomy. She also spoke about her work at the United States Army Institute of Surgical Research in the Department of Ocular Trauma where she is principal investigator on a corneal graft replacement research project.

Later in the weekend, the School of Health Professions, School of Dentistry, Long School of Medicine and School of Nursing also held respective graduations meaning that nearly 650 students received degrees from UT Health San Antonio.

Slideshow about our graduates

Photos

Livestream Footage

More about UT Health San Antonio’s Class of 2019

The diversity of the graduating classes reflects a primary core value honored by UT Health San Antonio. Seven of every eight graduates have Texas residency, which reflects the university’s first mission of educating physicians, dentists, nurses, scientists and health professionals for the state of Texas. Here is a closer look at this weekend’s graduates.

According to preliminary data from the university’s institutional research office:

• • 55 percent of the May graduates are from minority groups
  • 56 percent are women
  • 87 percent are Texas residents

Hispanic graduates

According to the data, 48 Hispanic candidates are expected to graduate from the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine. The School of Dentistry will award degrees to 45 Hispanics and the School of Nursing will graduate 38. The School of Health Professions and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences will each graduate 27 Hispanics.

Following are the total graduates and number of graduates of minority heritage in each school:

• • Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 69 graduates, 46 of minority heritage (67%)
  • School of Nursing, 95 graduates, 61 of minority heritage (64%)
  • Long School of Medicine, 224 graduates, 117 of minority heritage (52%)
  • School of Dentistry, 175 graduates, 92 of minority heritage (52%)
  • School of Health Professions, 81 graduates, 41 of minority heritage (50%)

Gender

Women outnumber men in the graduating classes of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry and School of Nursing.

Following are the total graduates and number of women graduating in each school:

• • School of Nursing, 95 graduates, 77 women (81%)
  • Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 69 graduates, 44 women (63%)
  • School of Dentistry, 175 graduates, 101 women (58%)
  • School of Health Professions, 81 graduates, 39 women (48%)
  • Long School of Medicine, 224 graduates, 101 women (45%)

Texas residency

The School of Nursing and the School of Health Professions lead the way in percentage of Texas residents in their graduating classes.

Following are the total graduates and number of Texas residents graduating in each school:

• • School of Nursing, 95 graduates, 93 from Texas (98%)
  • School of Health Professions, 81 graduates, 76 from Texas (94%)
  • Long School of Medicine, 224 graduates, 204 from Texas (91%)
  • School of Dentistry, 175 graduates, 139 from Texas (79%)
  • Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 69 graduates, 46 from Texas (67%)

Information about the graduating class can be found on the University’s Newsroom: https://news.uthscsa.edu/graduation-weekend-takes-center-stage/ 

This article was written by Charlotte Anthony, marketing specialist at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at UT Health San Antonio.