The day before, the 69 graduates participated in an honors convocation where they were “hooded” by an individual of their choice, signifying the awarding of a doctoral-level degree. During the honors convocation ceremony, students were also recognized for their academic achievements. Both ceremonies took place at the USA Mitchell Center.
“I feel overwhelmingly lucky to be a part of this class,” said class president Grant Zarzour. “I have been overwhelmingly satisfied with everything that I have learned at USA. The passion and energy from faculty here is amazing – they deep down have a desire to work with us and help us become better physicians.”
At the honors convocation ceremony, Zarzour received the Medical Alumni Leadership Award, given to the senior student by vote of classmates, in recognition of outstanding leadership of the graduating class; the Community Service Award, presented by the Medical Society of Mobile County to students whose classmates believe best fulfill the ideals of humanitarian public service as demonstrated by superior awareness of, and achievement in, civic and community programs; and the Lewis D. Anderson Medical Student Achievement Award, the highest honor presented to a medical student by the department of orthopaedic surgery.
Zarzour will complete his residency training in orthopaedic surgery at the USA Hospitals in Mobile, Ala.
Katelyn Braswell, another graduate, said the past four years of medical school have gone by surprisingly fast. Braswell said the background she received at USA has prepared her for residency training and beyond. “USA gives you that one-on-one experience,” she said. “Everyone knows you, and the professors are extremely approachable and are always willing to help.”
Braswell will complete her residency training in obstetrics-gynecology at the USA Hospitals.
Graduate William Hundley has spent the past eight years studying at USA, where he earned both his bachelor’s degree and medical degree. “It has been absolutely priceless to have the opportunity to have hands-on learning experiences,” Hundley said. “You don’t get that at other institutions. We will all leave knowing how best to treat patients because of the one-on-one experiences that we’ve had here.”
Hundley will complete his residency training in internal medicine at the USA Hospitals. After his residency, he hopes to stay in Alabama.
“The years have gone by very fast,” he said. “I’m looking forward to what the future has to offer.”
Including the 2011 class, 2,186 physicians have graduated from the USA College of Medicine since its opening in 1973. Approximately one-third of the physicians practicing in the Mobile area earned their medical degree from USA or completed residency training in the USA Hospitals System.