University of Illinois College of Medicine Celebrates 143rd Commencement Ceremony
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The University of Illinois College of Medicine celebrated its 143rd commencement on Friday, May 9, 2025 at Credit Union 1 Arena. The ceremony honored graduating students from its various degree programs, with 280 receiving their MD degree, constituting one of the largest graduating medical school classes in the United States. The Class of 2025 includes 177 who have completed the MD degree in Chicago, 52 in Peoria, and 51 in Rockford. A convocation ceremony was held at the Rockford campus April 26, while Peoria’s ceremony will be held Saturday, May 10.
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These new physicians will continue their professional training in one of 26 medical specialties across 35 states. In addition, 128 of those who graduated will be entering their residency programs in Illinois.
The College also awarded 31 PhD degrees and 44 master’s degrees, spanning health professions across education, biomedical sciences, medical physiology, clinical and translational sciences, public health, and public safety. 19 of the 133 students receiving the Master of Public Health degree today represent the inaugural cohort of our integrated MD/MPH joint degree. In this unique program, students concurrently completed rigorous medical and public health degrees in only four years, and are provided with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives to advance the healthcare of both individual patients and communities at large.
Senior Associate Dean for Educational Affairs Raymond H. Curry, MD, FACP, once again served as grand marshal of the ceremony, with greetings from University of Illinois System Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs Nicholas Jones, PhD, UIC Chancellor Marie Lynn Miranda, PhD, and Vice Chancellor of Health Affairs Robert Barish, MD, MBA.
“To the 2025 graduating class, you represent the finest examples of the College’s mission to advance health for everyone,” Executive Dean Mark Rosenblatt said in his remarks. “It is my sincere hope that you will forever apply what you have experienced as students at the College of Medicine: passion in your pursuits, compassion for, and dedicated service to your patients, and excellence in every aspect of your lives.”
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Dr. Julie Morita, MD ’90, served as commencement speaker for this year’s ceremony. Dr. Morita is currently president and CEO of The Joyce Foundation, and her many achievements include leading the Chicago Department of Public Health as commissioner, acting as executive vice president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and serving as advisor to the White House, U.S. Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and numerous state and local public health agencies. Dr. Morita offered graduates wisdom, perspective, and advice shared with her as they begin their careers, “Here’s some advice I received from Dr. David Goldberg, another UI COM graduate. ‘Keep a sense of curiosity in your medical bag.’ Curiosity animates us to be more patient, more forward-looking. Curiosity drives us to ask more questions, to think, to learn, and to consider what is between the words of what our patients say.”
Associate Dean of Medical Education at the Chicago campus Amanda Osta, MD, recognized the 2025 Golden Apple Award recipients (Dr. Mahesh Patel, Dr. Ananya Gangopadhyaya, Dr. Pavan Srivastava, Dr. Pooja Monpara, and Dr. Erin Hickey) and the 2025 William J. Grove Outstanding Student Award (Dr. Shivani Majmudar).
Dr. Aisha Suhaiba, president of the Class of 2025, provided remarks on behalf of the class.
Dr. George Stephen Irwin, ’77, led graduating students in the Physician’s Pledge before Dr. Curry closed out the ceremony.