New graduates celebrated at Commencement ceremony

Northeast Ohio Medical University returned to E.J. Thomas Hall in Akron Saturday, May 4, for its 44th Commencement ceremony. It was a day to celebrate the years of commitment and dedication of the nearly 300 graduating students as they crossed the stage to receive their M.D., Pharm.D. and other degrees to enter the health professions.

Daniel I. Simon, M.D., president of academic and external affairs and chief scientific officer for University Hospitals, addressed the graduates as keynote speaker. Dr. Simon reminded graduates that they will be counted on as up-and-coming leaders in the health care industry, urging them to find necessary solutions.

“We need your help – your creativity, new approaches and solutions,” said Dr. Simon. “Improving access to care, administrative efficiency, equity and health care outcomes will require new leaders and new caregivers – the new graduates of NEOMED!”

NEOMED also honored two individuals with honorary degrees — Paul R. Bishop, J.D., a Trustee Emeritus of NEOMED, who helped guide the University through an enormous stage of growth, and Ward J. “Jack” Timken, the retired president and current trustee of the Timken Foundation, which has awarded more than 6,000 grants to improve education at a variety of levels.

NEOMED Provost Forrest Faison III, M.D., presented the military pinning ceremony; four graduates were honored. The graduates are Abigail Beaver, Christian Bittner, Michaela Ward McFadden and Teresa Whetstone. Bittner and Whetstone are from the U.S. Air Force, while Beaver and McFadden are from the U.S. Navy.

The College of Graduate Studies had its largest graduating class in its history, which included 12 graduates of the inaugural class of the Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant program.

For full additional coverage of Saturday’s Commencement ceremony, check out NEOMED’s Facebook, X and Instagram accounts.