Date:	April 30, 2008
Contact:	Ellen Averill (918) 561-8215

OSU graduates 79 osteopathic physicians

TULSA, Okla. — Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences and College of Osteopathic Medicine will award Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degrees to 79 recipients at 7 p.m. Friday, May 9, at Union Performing Arts Center, 6636 S. Mingo Road in Tulsa. Graduate degrees in biomedical sciences and forensic sciences also will be conferred.

Elaine Ramos, president of the Class of 2008, is the speaker.

OSU Medicine military commissioning ceremonies take place at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at the DoubleTree Hotel – Warren Place. Army Maj. Gen. Jason K. Kamiya, director of joint training for United States Joint Forces Command - Joint Warfighting Center in Suffolk, Va., is guest speaker. A social hour begins at 6 p. m. and the graduation banquet begins at 7 p.m.

At commencement, Distinguished Public Service Awards will be given to Janet Pearson, associate editor of the Tulsa World, and Regent Calvin J. Anthony, a Stillwater pharmacist and businessman and a member of the Board of Regents for Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges.  

The Distinguished Public Service Awards are presented annually for development of medical education so as to embody the highest standards of excellence and dedicated teaching; improvements in health care for the community, state, and nation; and for advancement of ideals that contribute to building a better society. Person and Anthony are being recognized for their support of and contributions to health care, particularly for the under-served, and in securing the future of graduate medical education for osteopathic medicine graduates in Tulsa.

Other awards including the OSU Regents’ Distinguished Student Award, Distinguished Teaching Award and Distinguished Research Award will be presented.

Osteopathic medical schools emphasize training students to be primary care physicians. Providing physicians to rural and under-served Oklahoma is core to the college's mission.  More than 2,300 osteopathic physicians have graduated from the college since 1977. There are currently 25 colleges of osteopathic medicine, and three branch campuses that offer the doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) degree.

Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa offers programs in osteopathic medicine, biomedical sciences and forensic sciences. Since its beginnings more than 30 years ago, OSU-CHS has grown to offer nine graduate degrees. On-campus programs, distance learning and OSU partnerships train osteopathic physicians, research scientists and health care professionals with an emphasis on serving rural and under-served Oklahoma. More information about OSU Center for Health Sciences and OSU Medicine is available at www.healthsciences.okstate.edu.