First physicians graduate from Waterloo campus
[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/gent.jpg” caption=”An honorary doctorate will be awarded to Michael Gent, a professor emeritus of the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at McMaster.”]
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McMaster University's largest ever class of doctors will be among 394 health sciences graduates at the Faculty of Health Sciences spring convocation at Hamilton Place today.
This year's graduating class of 155 from the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine includes the first group of students to train at the Waterloo Regional Campus of the medical school, located in downtown Kitchener.
At the convocation, baccalaureate degrees will be awarded to 13 students of the midwifery program and 159 in the Bachelor of Health Sciences program. There will be 67 diplomas, master's degrees and doctorates conferred on students who pursued studies in a variety of health sciences disciplines.
Honorary doctorates will be awarded to Michael Gent, a professor emeritus of the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at McMaster, and J. Craig Venter, a pioneer of genomic research and founder of the J. Craig Venter Institute. Both recipients will receive honorary Doctor of Science degrees.
Michael Gent is renowned as one of the world's leading biostatisticians and a builder of McMaster University's exemplary global reputation in health sciences, specifically in clinical epidemiology and biostatistics.
During his McMaster career, beginning in 1969 as one of the first members of the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dr. Gent worked on a broad spectrum of collaborative research in both laboratory and clinical settings, and contributed significantly to the advance of the general methodology and organization of clinical trials.
He is also a philanthropist in support of his field. His generosity established a professorship and a subsequent gift endowed a full research chair, the Michael Gent Chair in Healthcare Research.
J. Craig Venter is one of the world's most renowned genomic scientists, and he is receiving his honorary degree in absentia, as this week was the breakthrough announcement of his team's development of synthetic life. This creation of a synthetic cell, published in the high-impact journal Science, opens the way to create useful microbes from scratch to make vaccines and biofuels.
Previously, Dr. Venter published the first diploid human genome – now considered the most complete representation of the human genome.
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