April 28, 2009

Drexel University College of Medicine will present 363 degrees to the graduating class of 2009 on May 15 at 9 a.m. at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (Verizon Hall), 260 South Broad Street. The College of Medicine will also honor the late Drexel University President Constantine Papadakis with a posthumous honorary doctor of medical sciences degree. 

Delivering the keynote address will be John Prescott, MD, chief academic officer of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The AAMC is a not-for-profit association representing the leadership of the nation’s medical schools and teaching hospitals, as well as faculty members, students, and resident physicians. In addition to his role at the AAMC, Prescott is one of the pioneers of emergency medicine whose research and scholarly interests include rural emergency care, injury control and prevention, and medical response to terrorism.

During the commencement ceremony, Drexel University College of Medicine will recognize Prescott with an honorary doctoral degree. The College will also present an honorary degree to D. Walter Cohen, DDS, chancellor emeritus at Drexel University College of Medicine.

This year’s commencement will also pay tribute to the late Drexel University President Constantine Papadakis, who died April 5. College of Medicine Dean Richard Homan, MD, will award a posthumous honorary doctor of medical sciences degree to Papadakis, recognizing his leadership and commitment to the medical school. Papadakis is largely credited with Drexel’s rescue of the bankrupt Allegheny University of the Health Sciences in 1998, which saved 13,000 jobs and the education of 3,000 students, while also preserving the traditions of Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann Medical College. Papadakis’ wife, Eliana, and daughter, Maria, will accept the degree, and Maria will speak to the graduating class.

The 363 graduates will receive the following degrees:

• 235 doctor of medicine (MD)
• 14 doctor of philosophy (PhD)
• 1 joint MD/PhD
• 1 joint MD/MBA (master of business admin.)
• 5 joint MD/MPH (master of public health)
• 7 master of science
• 13 master of biological science
• 27 master of medical science
• 15 master of forensic science
• 16 master of laboratory animal science
• 20 master of science in clinical research organization and management
• 9 master of science in pathologists’ assistant