The years of dedicated studying, clinical rotations, research, papers and exams will culminate in a two-hour ceremony at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 260 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, on Friday, May 15, 2015. Visit the Commencement website to learn more about the ceremony, including information about tickets, photos, academic regalia and much more.

Make Commencement Social

Share your graduation experience with us socially by using the hashtag #DrexelMedGrad on both Twitter and Instagram.

Honorary Degree Recipient

This year’s commencement speaker will be Karen DeSalvo, MD, MPH, MSc, assistant secretary for health, national coordinator for health information technology for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she sets high-level policy and the strategic direction of the office, which is at the forefront of the nation’s health IT efforts. From 2011 to 2014, DeSalvo was health commissioner for the City of New Orleans and a senior health policy advisor to its mayor, where she modernized the health department and was integral to the establishment of a public hospital. Before that, DeSalvo was a community leader who helped install neighborhood-based primary care and mental health services for vulnerable individuals. She also served as a professor of medicine and vice dean for community affairs and health policy at Tulane University School of Medicine. DeSalvo served on the boards of the National Association of County and City Health Officials and the Society of General Internal Medicine, among others. Her many honors include a 2014 Women’s Leader Award from the American Medical Student Association. Modern Healthcare also named her one of the 50 most influential physician executives in 2014. DeSalvo will receive an honorary doctor of science degree.

By the Numbers

A total of 544 students will receive degrees during the ceremony. The degree breakdown is as follows:

• 260 doctor of medicine degrees including:
  • 1 joint MD/PhD (doctor of philosophy)
  • 6 joint MD/MBA (master of business administration)
  • 6 joint MD/MPH (master of public health)
• 9 PhDs
• 275 master's degrees