Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine graduates MD Class of 2023 Commencement held May 7

SCRANTON – Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine conferred Doctor of Medicine (MD) degrees upon the 108 students in the Class of 2023 at commencement ceremonies on Sunday, May 7, at 11 a.m. at FM Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre.  

Julie Byerley, M.D., M.P.H., Geisinger Commonwealth’s president and dean, welcomed guests and graduates. She noted the resilience and fortitude of the Class of 2023, whose medical school years occurred almost entirely within the span now called “the COVID era.” “Medicine is necessarily a calling to be among people, to accompany them and to support them,” she said. “Having to learn our profession partially on screens cannot have been easy. Yet this class did it and did it admirably. They are a dedicated group who have demonstrated a commitment to service already.”

Virginia McGregor, chair of the school’s board of directors, and Geisinger President and CEO Jaewon Ryu, M.D., J.D., also delivered remarks.
William Jeffries, Ph.D., provost and vice dean of education, together with Dr. Byerley, presented the commencement speaker, Old Forge native Catherine DeAngelis, M.D., with an honorary Doctor of Medical Arts degree. 

Dr. DeAngelis is a Johns Hopkins University Distinguished Service Professor Emerita, professor emerita at the Johns Hopkins University schools of medicine (Pediatrics) and public health (Health Policy and Management), and editor-in-chief emerita of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association (2000–2011), where she was the first woman in the role.  

She has authored or edited 13 books on pediatrics, medical education, patient care and professionalism; a memoir, Pursuing Equity in Medicine: One Woman’s Journey; and a medical mystery novel, Angel or Devil’s Advocate. Dr. DeAngelis has also published over 250 peer-reviewed articles, chapters and editorials. Most of her recent publications have focused on professionalism and integrity in medicine, on conflict of interest in medicine, on women in medicine and on medical education. Her major efforts have centered on equity and human rights, especially as they relate to patients, health professionals and the poor.