College of Medicine – Phoenix celebrates Class of 2025

Thursday
A smiling woman wearing graduation regalia looks ahead as someone behind her places a ceremonial hood over her shoulders.

Shannon Alsobrooks, MD, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, is hooded for earning her Doctor of Medicine degree during the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix spring 2025 convocation.

Photo by Noelle Haro-Gomez, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications

The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix’s Class of 2025, led by a bagpipe and drum corps, walked in a procession through downtown Phoenix into their convocation ceremony at the Orpheum Theatre on May 12.

Dean Fred Wondisford, MD, MS, MBA, congratulated the graduates for their dedication toward pursuing a career in medicine and health care. He advised the Class of 2025 to continue to evolve with medicine and to build trust with their patients.

“Treat the patient not just the disease by listening to your patients,” Wondisford said. “There is more to being a physician than the medical knowledge you have learned. Building a natural rapport with your patients will help form trust in your relationship.”

Prior to the hooding of the medical students, Shannon Alsobrooks, MD, delivered the student address. Alsobrooks, who was selected by her peers to make the speech, commended her fellow classmates for earning their degrees and the dedicated deans, faculty and clinical partners for being role models.

“This day is not ours alone but represents a historic accomplishment for those who carried us through with their unwavering support, sacrifices and belief in our dreams,” she said. “Of course, we have all heard that in residency, the days are long and the years are short. But I want to encourage us to find those meaningful moments of joy hidden in the gaps of our busy schedules.”

For the first time, this year’s ceremony welcomed the 2025 graduates of the college’s Pathway Scholars Program, as well as graduates of the Master of Science in Clinical Research and the College of Health Sciences’ Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Translational Sciences students. The Pathway students earned their Master of Medical Studies degrees and will matriculate into medical school with the Class of 2029.

A version of this story and additional stories about this year’s College of Medicine – Phoenix graduates can be found on the college’s website. 

Several bagpipers in kilts and hats lead a procession of people in graduation regalia through the streets of downtown Phoenix.
Several smiling young men and women in graduation caps and gowns walk in a line outside under some trees.
A young woman in graduation regalia smiles as she holds a large flag with “2025” on it.
A tall young man wearing a graduation cap and gown smiles as he hugs two friends.
A young woman wearing graduation regalia smiles as other people dressed the same way are in the background.
Four young men in graduation caps and gowns stand around, laughing. One of them has turned up his cap as a joke.
A man wearing a graduation cap and gown kisses his daughter, who is being held by his wife.
Four medical students stand together, smiling, in their graduation caps and gowns.
Two medical students in graduation caps and gowns smile as they take a selfie.
A smiling woman wearing graduation regalia looks ahead as a professor, who is also in a graduation cap and gown, places a ceremonial hood over her shoulders.
A young man wearing a graduation cap and gown smiles as he holds up two fingers in a “V” sign while a professor behind him places a ceremonial hood over his shoulders.
Dozens of medical students wearing graduation caps and gowns smile as they stand together during their graduation ceremony.
A bearded man wearing a graduation cap and gown smiles as his smiling young daughter sits on his shoulders.
A young woman in a graduation cap and gown smiles while holding flowers and side hugging her brother.
A tall, smiling young man in a graduation cap and gown stands with about a dozen family members, many of whom are holding photos of his face.
Two young women in graduation caps and gowns hold flowers and smile.
A smiling young woman in a graduation cap and gown hugs her mom after her graduation ceremony.
Nine students, all wearing graduation caps and gowns, stand together in front of a “College of Medicine – Phoenix” backdrop outside.