Albany Medical College Holds 2023 Commencement Ceremonies
Albany Medical College awarded 224 degrees Friday, May 5, during the 185th Commencement ceremonies at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
Speakers included Alan Boulos, MD ’94, The Lynne and Mark D. Groban, MD ’67 Distinguished Dean of Albany Medical College; Maggie Gillis, Vice Chair of the Albany Med Health System Board of Directors; and student representatives of the Class of 2023.
“This exceptional group of individuals came to Albany Medical College through an extremely selective admissions process, and they have met and exceeded our highest expectations,” said Dean Boulos. “It has been our privilege and honor to teach and work beside these students, and in the process, to learn from each of their unique perspectives.”
Barney S. Graham, MD, PhD, a 2021 recipient of the Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research, delivered the keynote address. Dr. Graham, an immunologist, virologist, and clinical research physician, has been involved in the clinical evaluation of candidate vaccines for more than 30 years. He retired from the National Institutes of Health as Deputy Director of the Vaccine Research Center and chief of the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 2021. In 2022, he joined Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta as Professor of Medicine and Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Immunology and Senior Advisor for Global Health Equity.
In his remarks, Dr. Graham encouraged graduates to apply their knowledge and efforts for the good of humanity and to hold themselves to a high standard and trust their ability to persevere and succeed.
Dr. Graham received an honorary degree. John Simon, MD, who served as chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Albany Medical College for 28 years, and Ursula A. Matulonis, MD ’87, chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology and Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers, Brock-Wilson Family Chair at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, also received honorary degrees.
Medical degrees (MD) were awarded to 130 students. In addition, 41 received Master of Science degrees in Physician Assistant Studies, 16 received either Master of Science or doctoral degrees in clinical investigations and the biomedical sciences, 10 students received master’s degrees from the Alden March Bioethics Institute, while two received doctoral degrees from the bioethics program.
Twenty-five students who will receive Master of Science degrees in Nurse Anesthesiology in November also participated in the ceremony.
