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Celebrating with the 2015 Commencement honorees

By Mark Shelton and Ellie Castano

May 31, 2015
  • Trish McQuilkin, MD, who will be honored for her work during the outbreak of Ebola in Liberia, at the Commencement 2015 Honorary Degree Dinner.
  • Pieter and Monica Coenraads at the Honorary Degree Dinner. Monica Coenraads will receive an honorary degree for her work supporting research into Rett Syndrome.
  • Vice Provost Luanne Thorndyke, MD, center, chats with Tina Miller and Andrew Miller, MD.
  • Maxine Morse enjoys a moment at the Commencement 2015 Honorary Degree Dinner.
  • Victor Dzau, MD, center, is the Commencement 2015 keynote speaker. Dzau is president of the Institute of Medicine.
  • Ellen Gravellese, MD, at the Honorary Degree Dinner.
  • Katherine Luzuriaga, MD, will be honored for her work in Liberia at Commencement 2015.
  • Marcellette Williams, PhD, senior vice president for academic affairs at the University of Massachusetts.
  • UMass Memorial Health Care CEO—and UMMS alumnus—Eric Dickson, MD, at the Honorary Degree Dinner.
  • UMass Chan Executive Vice Chancellor Robert Jenal at the Honorary Degree Dinner.
  • Professor emeritus Leonard Morse, MD, Shirley Siff, EdD, and Jill Terrien, PhD.
  • Chancellor Michael F. Collins and Victor Dzau, MD.
  • University of Massachusetts Trustee R. Norman Peters brings greetings from the UMass Board.
  • Monica Coenraads speaks at the Honorary Degree Dinner.
  • Monica Coenraads with her daughter Chelsea at the Honorary Degree Dinner

At the 42nd Commencement on Sunday, May 31, honorary degrees are being awarded in recognition of the research and drug development advocacy work of Rett Syndrome Research Trust co-founder Monica Coenraads and the academic and health care leadership of Institute of Medicine President Victor J. Dzau, MD. Thirteen individuals dubbed ‘Ebola fighters’ for their commitment, courage and heroism in taking direct action against the Ebola epidemic in Liberia will also be recognized on Sunday.

On Saturday, May 30, a small dinner was held in their honor. The dinner provided an opportunity for the honorary guests to get to know each other, as well as an opportunity for the leadership of UMMS to express their appreciation for the honorees.