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The students, faculty and staff of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences have accomplished in a few years what others might have considered impossible, said Dean Anthony Carruthers at the GSBS Celebration of Student Achievement on Thursday, June 1.
“Our story is one of students, staff, faculty and leadership driving to solve the most perplexing, important and exciting biomedical problems of the age,” Dean Carruthers told those assembled in the Albert Sherman Center Cube.
In the 35 years since the GSBS accepted its first cohort of seven students—compared to the current incoming class of 60—UMass Medical School has become one of the world’s great institutes, having graduated more than 185 students with master’s degrees and 750 with doctorates. Paraphrasing President John F. Kennedy, the dean said that the young biomedical school “chose to aim for the moon and do the other things not because they’re easy, but because they are hard.”
After asking what the world would be like without its past and present great scientists, Carruthers emphasized what he said were two important truths.
“The advancement of science cannot be left solely to chance or philanthropy,” he said. “A coordinated, public commitment to and ownership of research is necessary if we are to eradicate systemic ignorance, the true foundation of disease and suffering, from our fragile planet home.”
“Secondly, each of us is directly a beneficiary of the outstanding biomedical research undertaken at the great research institutions of the world.”
Carruthers said the ambition, determination, talent and commitment of faculty, staff, students and leadership enabled the university to achieve success rapidly with only limited state and philanthropic support. The university is among the ranks of the world’s most important biomedical research intuitions, with a faculty of more than 400 and an annual research portfolio of more than $280 million “with every indication, government allowing, of continued growth,” he said.
Without these characteristics, UMMS would be an aspirational dream and not a reality.
“Celebrate your accomplishments; be excited about your future paths; continue to aim for the moon; and keep an eye on the University of Massachusetts Medical School because the first 35 years of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences have been remarkable, but the next 35 years, with continued hard work, creativity and commitment, promise to be truly astonishing,” he said.
During the ceremony, 22 scientists, including some who will earn degrees on Sunday, June 4, at UMass Medical School’s 44th Commencement, were recognized for academic achievement, mentoring, service and scholarship. They include:
Chancellor’s Award:
Kasmir Ramo
Jun Kinases in Hematopoiesis and Vascular Development and Function
Roger Davis, PhD, Mentor
Curriculum Achievement Award:
Yekaterina Makeyeva—Basic and Biomedical Sciences
Zeynep Mirza—Basic and Biomedical Sciences
Grant Weaver—Basic and Biomedical Sciences
Nicholas Peterson—MD/PhD Program
Matthew Alcusky—Clinical & Population Health Program
Outstanding Mentoring Award:
Krishna Ghanta, Mentoring in a Research Setting
Craig Mello, PhD, Mentor
Recognition of Student Community Service
Monika Chitre
Patrick Emery, PhD, Mentor
Jennifer Moon
Jeanne Lawrence, PhD, Mentor
Recognition Travel Awards:
Riccio GSBS Travel Award:
Shiuli Agarwal
Katherine Fitzgerald, PhD, Mentor
Alireza Edraki
Erik Sontheimer, PhD, Mentor
Peter Lee
David Guertin, PhD, Mentor
Devyn Oliver
Claire Benard, PhD, and Michael Francis, PhD, Mentors
Rachel Stamateris
Laura Alonso, MD, Mentor
Arvind Venkatesan
Craig Ceol, PhD, Mentor
GSBC Student Travel Awards:
Ami Ashar-Patel
Melissa Moore, PhD, Mentor
Alireza Edraki
Erik Sontheimer, PhD, Mentor
Pallavi Lamba
Patrick Emery, PhD, Mentor
Jill Moore
Zhiping Weng, PhD, Mentor
Dean’s Award for Outstanding Mid-thesis Research
Janelle Hayes
Structure and Mechanism of an Exceptionally Powerful Molecular Motor
Brian Kelch, PhD, Mentor
Dean’s Award for Outstanding Thesis Research
Hatem Elif Kamber Kaya
Regulation of the Drosophila Initiator Caspase Dronc through Ubiquitylation
Andreas Bergmann, PhD, Mentor
Yihang Li
Mechanisms of Synaptic Development and Premature Aging in Drosophila
Vivian Budnik, PhD, Mentor
Recognition of Class Speaker
Brian Quattrochi
Brian Lewis, PhD, Mentor
