ATSU-ASDOH, SOMA celebrate commencement ceremonies
Posted: May 22, 2015
A.T. Still University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA) and Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) celebrated their 2015 graduating classes at the Mesa Arts Center, on Friday, May 22.
The ATSU-SOMA class of 2015, with 104 graduates becoming doctors of osteopathic medicine, marked the fifth graduating class for the school. Among the 2015 graduating class were seven military graduates.
Ron Yee, MD, MBA, FAAP, chief medical officer for the National Association of Community Health Centers, gave the welcome introduction. The keynote speaker was Winston Wong, MD, MS, who is medical director, community benefit director, Disparities Improvement and Quality Initiatives at Kaiser Permanente. ATSU-SOMA presented Dr. Wong with a doctor of humane letters during the ceremony.
The newly minted doctors will now transition to the next phase of their medical training in a residency setting.
The residency match statistics for the ATSU-SOMA class of 2015 report that approximately 67 percent of graduates will enter a primary care specialty residency and about 88 percent will enter a needed specialty residency.
Later that afternoon, 74 ATSU-ASDOH students crossed the stage receiving their Doctor of Dental Medicine degree, 22 of whom received a Master in Public Health and two who received a Doctor of Health Education through ATSU’s College of Graduate Health Studies. The class also included three military graduates. This was ATSU-ASDOH’s ninth graduating class.
Jeffrey A. Parker, MPA, and chief executive officer of DentaQuest Healthcare Delivery, was the keynote speaker. Mr. Parker also serves as chairman of Sarrell Dental in Alabama, Community Dental Care in Texas, and Community Dental Care of Kentucky. He was the recipient of a doctor of humane letters from ATSU-ASDOH during the ceremony.