ATHENS, Ohio -- On Saturday, June 7, commencement exercises for Ohio University's College of Osteopathic Medicine will be held at Templeton-Blackburn Memorial Auditorium beginning at 10 a.m. A reception in Baker Center Ballroom will follow the ceremony.
One hundred two members of the Class of 2003 will receive Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degrees during the event, which is held separately from Ohio University's general graduate commencement.
This year's graduating class is composed of 58 male students and 44 female students, including 25 minority students. Robert Biscup, D.O., an alumnus of the medical school's first class, the Class of 1980, will deliver the commencement address.
"For this year's graduation, we had decided we would like to feature someone who is prominent in the research community, specifically one of our graduates. Along those lines, Robert Biscup's name came up," says OU-COM Dean Jack Brose, D.O.
Ohio University President Robert Glidden, Ph.D., will preside over the ceremony. K. Ronald Routh, a representative of the Class of 2003, and William Burke, D.O., chairman of the Ohio University Alumni Association Board of Directors, will greet the graduating students.
Peter A. Bell, D.O., president of the Ohio Osteopathic Association; Jay Shubrook Jr., D.O., president of OU-COM's Society of Alumni and Friends; and Brose will make remarks and announce the recipients of college's annual awards, including the Osteopathic Heritage Award, Dean's Award, Family Practice Award, Specialty Medicine Award, Obstetrics and Gynecology Award, Pediatrics Award, Geriatric Medicine/Gerontology-Ohio Department of Aging Award, Social Medicine-Medical Humanities Award, Biomedical Sciences Award and the Centers for Osteopathic Research and Education site awards.
"The amount of information taught in medical school continues to grow exponentially," says Brose. "To master the art of medicine, OU-COM graduates must demonstrate a balanced combination of intellect, social skills, common sense, manual dexterity and perseverance. I feel very proud and confident that the rigorous training they've experienced at OU-COM combined with their native abilities will place them among the best physicians in our country."
Chip Rogers, director of external relations, oversees the planning of the commencement activities. "The difference, each year, in our graduation ceremonies is our students, soon to become alumni," says Rogers. "I always feel like a 'proud parent' as I watch them receive the hood and recite the oath. No two classes are alike."
"The best part though is the processional, at our graduation ceremonies. When the organist begins, people stand and the excitement and emotion begin to well. To see parents, faculty and staff with a bit of moisture at the corner of their eye makes me feel that the effort is all worthwhile."
