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PRESS RELEASE - International American University College of Medicine,a growing center for international education located on the beautiful island nation of Saint Lucia, West Indies celebrated a long-anticipated event on Friday, May 22 as the Class of 2015 graduated from the College’s Doctor of Medicine program.
During the College’s first-ever commencement, family, friends, deans and dignitaries bore witness to this historic event, both for the University and for the nation of Saint Lucia, as 25 members of the inaugural class received their Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degrees.
“This is a milestone for our university,” said IAU President Manmadhan Nair; “the members of this graduating class will excel in their careers in medicine and prove to be noble representatives for the University and the College of Medicine, specifically.”
Prior to the commencement ceremony, the University hosted a social reception for the graduates and alumni and their friends and family members. The commencement was held at the Dallas Museum of Art, in Dallas, Texas which is home to the Office of the Board of Trustees, the President, the Registrar and the Deans.
The Honorable Kenny Anthony, LLM, PhD, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, delivered the keynote address. VistaspKarbhari, PhD, President of the University of Texas at Arlington, also delivered remarks and congratulated the graduates on their achievements.
IAU President, Manmadhan Nair stated, “we are deeply indebted to the Prime Minister and the people of Saint Lucia for partnering with the University and providing a home for our institution.We can’t think of anyone more deserving of the honor of speaking at our Inaugural Commencement than the Prime Minister who invited us to establish the University in Vieux Fort in 2003.”
After receiving their M.D. degrees, the graduates participated in a long-standing medical school tradition known as the “hooding” ceremony, led by Paul Cherian, MD,founding Dean of the College, and Cletus Carvalho, MD, Executive Dean of the College of Medicine.
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The hooding is an important rite of passage that formally acknowledges the achievements and accomplishments of the graduates. Following the hooding ceremony the graduates recited in unison the Hippocratic Oath, a reminder of the high standards of performance and behavior that they should aspire to achieve as they begin their professional careers as physicians. At the ceremony, the President of the University also bestowed upon Paul Cherian, MD the honor of serving as Dean Emeritus for the College of Medicine.
Graduates, Drs. Ann Kwon, Asfand Khan, and Jeffrey Schachterwere recognized with Distinguished Graduate Awards for earning remarkable scores on the USMLE Step 1—the gateway exam for becoming a licensed physician and earning a residency in the United States.
Dr. Kwon earned a residency in Pathology at Georgetown University Medical Centre. The average USMLE Step 1 score for the graduating class of 2015 was a 223 while the average USMLE Step 2 (CK) score for the class of 2015 was a 235.
The graduates of 2015 hailed from Canada, Djibouti, Nigeria, Syria, and the United States and have completed their undergraduate education at some of the most prominent institutions including, Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of New Brunswick, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Alberta, University of Toronto, Cornell University, and the University of Connecticut.
Following graduation, graduates will spend between three to seven years of their medical careers in the next phase of their training—the specialized program known as residency.
On March 20, results from “Match Day,” observed at medical schools around the US, revealed that IAU graduates earned coveted residency spots at various hospitals and universities in the U.S. including the Georgetown University School of Medicine and the Cleveland Clinic.
The students vied for competitive positions that included pathology, neurology, obstetrics/gynecology, internal medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics, and family medicine.
Following the commencement ceremony, graduates and their families and friends were treated to a University banquet, where President Nair reiterated his appreciation to the graduates, their families and the nation of Saint Lucia.
The President also awarded the University’s founding staff members and current Director of Public & Community Relations,Sibi Gopalakrishan, the 2015 Institutional Service Award.
During the banquet, former U.S. SenatorRon Paul, MD addressed the audience and encouraged the graduates to be humble and patient-centered physicians.