College of Medicine – Tucson honors newest class of doctors

May 15, 2024
Photos by Noelle Haro-Gomez, UArizona Health Sciences Office of Communications
Two University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson professors place a ceremonial graduation hood over the shoulders of their daughter. All are dressed in caps and gowns and smiling.

Meghana Partha, MD, is hooded by her parents, Indu Partha, MD, and Sairam Parthasarathy, MD, who both teach in the UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson, during the college’s class of 2024 commencement ceremony at Centennial Hall on May 9.

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

The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson celebrated the graduation of more than 100 new physicians during its 2024 spring commencement at Centennial Hall. The new physicians will begin residency training programs this summer, dispersed across 66 graduate medical education training centers in 29 states and the District of Columbia. Seven of the graduates participated in the college’s MD/PhD dual-degree program and previously earned doctorates.

“The students in the class of 2024 will always be special to me because they are the first to complete all four years of their medical education during my tenure,” said Michael M.I. Abecassis, MD, MBA, the Humberto and Czarina Lopez Endowed Dean of the UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson. “What’s more, they began at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which not only presented a tremendous challenge but a truly unique learning opportunity. Throughout their medical education journey, they have shown tremendous resilience, dedication and compassion, and we look forward to the transformative impact they will have as physicians.”

Degrees were conferred by University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins, MD, and Dean Abecassis administered the Hippocratic Oath to the graduates.

While most graduates were hooded by their faculty mentors, those with an immediate family member who is a physician can request to be hooded by them. 

A version of this story, along with profiles of some of the new physicians, can be found on the College of Medicine – Tucson website.

Four University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson medical students wearing graduation caps and gowns stand side by side, smiling, before their graduation ceremony.
Two women, a mother and daughter, both in graduation caps and gowns, stand together, smiling, before the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson commencement ceremony.
Two University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson students in graduation regalia take a selfie before their graduation ceremony.
Three University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson professors in graduation caps and gowns stand together, smiling.
Two University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson students in graduation regalia take a selfie before their graduation ceremony.
Three University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson students in graduation caps and gowns stand together, smiling.
Faculty and students from the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, dressed in graduation caps and gowns, walk outside on their way to the commencement ceremony.
Students from the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, dressed in graduation caps and gowns, take a selfie outside on their way to the commencement ceremony.
Two University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson students in graduation regalia wave as they walk outside on their way to their graduation ceremony.
Six University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson students and one professor, all in graduation regalia, stand together outside before going to their commencement ceremony.
A University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson student dressed in a graduation cap and gown has a ceremonial hood placed over her shoulders by her father, who is also dressed in graduation regalia.
Two people dressed in caps and gowns reach for each other to hug during the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson graduation ceremony.
A University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson student dressed in a graduation cap and gown has a ceremonial hood placed over his shoulders by his faculty mentor, who is also dressed in graduation regalia.
A University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson student dressed in a graduation cap and gown has a ceremonial hood placed over his shoulders by his father, who is also dressed in graduation regalia.
A University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson student dressed in a graduation cap and gown hugs her father, who is also dressed in graduation regalia, while standing on a stage.
A University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson student dressed in a graduation cap and gown has a ceremonial hood placed over his shoulders by his father, who is also dressed in graduation regalia.
A large group of University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson graduates dressed in caps and gowns stand on a stage reading the Hippocratic Oath.
A University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson graduate smiles as he holds flowers and a gift bag while surrounded by family and friends.
A University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson professor laughs with a recently graduated medical student after the commencement ceremony. Both are dressed in graduation caps and gowns.
A University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson graduate in a cap and gown smiles as she holds flowers while surrounded by family and friends.
More than 100 University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson class of 2024 graduates and faculty stand on the stairs outside a building on the UArizona campus. All are dressed in graduation regalia.