San Antonio Students Celebrate Achievements at UT Health San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas – Hundreds of students were honored for their achievements at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio’s combined spring and summer commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 18. The joyous occasion took place at the Alamodome, where 1,098 graduates crossed the stage to receive their diplomas in front of proud parents, family members, and friends.
Celebratory Atmosphere
The atmosphere was filled with excitement and pride as the graduates, donning their caps and gowns, made their way across the stage. Family and friends in the audience cheered on their loved ones, while university faculty and staff applauded the hard work and dedication of the students.
Words of Wisdom
Acting UT Health San Antonio President, Robert Hromas, MD, FACP, congratulated the graduates on their milestone achievement. He emphasized that receiving a diploma is just the beginning of a journey into the healthcare field, which can be both magical and challenging. Hromas stressed the importance of humility and continuous learning in the medical profession.
“Life is short and the art of healing is long,” Hromas said. “We give you this diploma as a reminder to keep learning, because one day, what you have learned after this diploma will become more important to patients than what you learned before this diploma.”
Diverse Achievements
The spring and summer 2024 graduates hail from various schools within UT Health San Antonio, including the School of Health Professions, School of Nursing, Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, School of Dentistry, and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. The graduates will go on to serve in a wide range of healthcare professions and research fields.
Among the diverse specialties represented by the graduates are speech language pathology, adult-gerontology acute care nursing, pediatric dentistry, radiological sciences, and personalized molecular medicine.
Class of Distinction
The Class of 2024 joins the ranks of over 43,000 total graduates of UT Health San Antonio since its establishment as a medical school in 1959. The university continues to make strides in academic excellence, research, and clinical care.
Year of Firsts
Notable achievements from the Class of 2024 include two students who became the first graduates of the nation’s first dual degree program in medicine and artificial intelligence. The MD/MS in AI dual degree program combines a Doctor of Medicine degree from UT Health San Antonio and a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence from UTSA.
Inspirational Stories
The graduation ceremony also featured inspirational stories from five Class of 2024 graduates, including Grayson Means from the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, Afaf Saliba Jaafar from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Gina Baxter from the School of Health Professions, Natalie Cordeiro from the School of Dentistry, and Dayelsy Navarrete Alvarez from the School of Nursing.
Embracing Humility
As the graduates embark on their professional journeys, Hromas encouraged them to embrace humility and compassion in their work. He reminded them that they are entrusted with the health and well-being of their patients, and that continuous learning is essential in the field of healthcare.
“We as the faculty of UT Health San Antonio have learned as much from you as you have learned from us, because we too are on the same journey, with humility and with caring… Thank you and congratulations!”