A celebration of the countries and cultures represented in the UMass Medical School community will take place on Friday, May 6, at UMass Medical School’s tenth annual International Festival.
Festivities will begin at 9 a.m. in the Medical School lobbies when vendor booths selling handcrafts from around the globe open for business.
Following a welcome from Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Dean Anthony Carruthers at 11:30 a.m., a program of international dance and music performed by local students will be presented by masters of ceremony José Lemos, PhD, professor of microbiology & physiological systems, and Robert Layne, MEd, director of outreach programs.
Free samples of Pakistani and Cuban cuisine, Brazilian desserts and international teas will be available in the Faculty Conference room from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Raffle tickets for prizes including theater tickets and UMMS-branded items will be sold throughout the day to benefit Kelly Backpacks, a community organization founded by School of Medicine students that provides backpacks filled with essentials for children who have been placed in foster care.
