ATSU-SOMA hosts 2020 virtual commencement ceremony
Posted: May 22, 2020
A.T. Still University-School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA) hosted a virtual commencement for its graduating class Friday, May 22, 2020. The ceremony was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The class of 2020 included 98 graduates who received their doctor of osteopathic medicine degrees. Among the graduates, 10 also received their master of public health degrees, and five are members of the U.S. military.
Gary M. Wiltz, MD, served as commencement speaker for the ceremony. Dr. Wiltz is chair of ATSU’s Board of Trustees, and CEO of Teche Action Clinic, a network of 13 federally qualified community health centers in southwest Louisiana. Dr. Wiltz received his medical education at Tulane University School of Medicine and became a board-certified internist. Dr. Wiltz joined ATSU’s Board of Trustees in 2013 and was appointed board chair in 2018. Among his many honors, Dr. Wiltz received National Association of Community Health Center’s 2018 John Gilbert Award, which recognizes people who have demonstrated a high level of excellence in the community healthcare field.
Graduates were congratulated by ATSU President Craig Phelps, DO, ’84; Norman Gevitz, PhD, ATSU senior vice president of academic affairs; and Jeffrey Morgan, DO, MA, FACOI, CS, dean of ATSU-SOMA.
“You will now be directly responsible for the care of your patients and they will look to you for advice, support, guidance, decisions, and advocacy regarding their health and wellbeing,” Dr. Morgan said. “You each now have the responsibility to define what it means to be an osteopathic physician, to demonstrate to the world what true professionalism is, and to shine a bright light on our profession. So, go forth with pride, new physicians from the SOMA class of 2020. Be the necessary good in the world as the next generation of leaders and healers in the osteopathic medical profession. Congratulations doctors!”
The ceremony is available for viewing at https://atsuvgrads.com/soma/