College of Medicine – Tucson honors 2025 graduates
Duri Sabina Saeed, MD, celebrates onstage at Centennial Hall as her uncle, Muhammad Numan, MD, waits to hood her during the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson spring 2025 convocation.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson celebrated the graduation of more than 100 new physicians during its 2025 spring commencement at Centennial Hall. The new physicians will begin residency training programs this summer, dispersed across 60 graduate medical education training centers in 24 states. More than 40% of the graduates will remain in Arizona and nearly 40% will go into primary care, important factors in addressing the state and national shortage of primary care physicians.
In separate graduation ceremonies, the College of Medicine – Tucson honored undergraduate and graduate students earning Bachelor of Science in Health Science degrees in physiology and medical sciences. Additionally, the college honored 16 graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Emergency Medical Services program. The Bachelor of Science in Medicine graduated its third class, with 33 students completing the program this year — an increase from six graduates a year ago.
“Please remember, as you care for your patients as great physicians, not just to treat the illness or injury but to treat the whole person, taking into consideration all the circumstances and conditions that are part of their ecosystem,” advised Michael M.I. Abecassis, MD, MBA, the Inaugural Humberto and Czarina Lopez Endowed Dean of the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson and a member of the BIO5 Institute.
A version of this story and additional stories about this year’s College of Medicine – Tucson graduates can be found on the college’s website.
Members of the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson Class of 2025 celebrate backstage at Centennial Hall before the college’s spring convocation.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
U of A College of Medicine – Tucson medical students capture their excitement with a selfie backstage at Centennial Hall before the college’s spring 2025 convocation.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
Brenda Valencia-Jones, MD, is hooded by Kevin Moynahan, MD, vice dean of medical education and a professor at the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson, during the college’s spring 2025 convocation.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
Geoffrey Rubin, MD, chair and professor of medical imaging at the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson, hugs his daughter, Elka Rubin, MD, after hooding her during the college’s spring 2025 convocation.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
Brandon Nguyen, MD, is hooded by his father, Paul Nguyen, MD, and sister, Alexandra Nguyen, MD, during the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson spring 2025 convocation.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
(From left) Carlos Gonzales, MD, assistant vice president of Indigenous Affairs for the University of Arizona Health Sciences and an associate professor in the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson, stands with Adam Christian Carl, MD, after hooding Carl during the college’s spring 2025 convocation.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
Hamza Ghannam, MD, celebrates earning his medical degree during the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson spring 2025 convocation.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
Bashar Majeed, MD, points to his son, Zain Bashar Majeed, MD, in celebration after hooding his son during the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson spring 2025 convocation.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
U of A College of Medicine – Tucson spring 2025 graduates read the Hippocratic Oath at the end of the college’s Class of 2025 convocation.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
Toluwalase Ayotunde Talabi, MD, Ayomide Odeneye, MD, and Lacey Culpepper, MD, celebrate as they leave Centennial Hall after their U of A College of Medicine – Tucson 2025 convocation.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
Gabrielle Luu, MD, celebrates with her family after the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson 2025 convocation.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
Jasmine Lock, MD, (right) celebrates graduating from the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson with her mother, Nana Nyarko, after the college’s spring 2025 convocation.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
(From left) Anju Kalya, Kanishka Chinnaraj, Rohit Sahota and Preeti Sahota celebrate earning their Bachelor of Science in Health Science degrees in medical sciences from the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson during the spring 2025 convocation.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
Ty G. Mellor is presented with a sash by Jonathan Lee-Confer, PhD, an assistant professor, during the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson spring 2025 convocation. Mellor earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Science degree in physiology.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
Salehah Carillo-Shabazz is presented with her Bachelor of Science in Health Science degree in medical sciences from the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson during the spring 2025 convocation.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
Nicholas Samuels celebrates earning his Bachelor of Science in Health Science degree in medical sciences from the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson during the spring 2025 convocation.
Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
(From left) Emma Kawamoto, Skyler Kourt and Olivia McConnell wait for the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson Bachelor of Science in Medicine and Bachelor of Science in Emergency Medical Services spring 2025 convocation to begin.
Photo by Noelle Haro-Gomez, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
Avnish Bhattrai, is hooded by Roberta Diaz Brinton, PhD, a Regents Professor and director of the Center for Innovation in Brain Science, for earning his doctorate in medical pharmacology from the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson during the Interdisciplinary and Biomedical Sciences spring 2025 convocation.
Photo by Noelle Haro-Gomez, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications