Rush University will recognize nearly 850 graduating students at its 50th Commencement Ceremony, which will be held on Saturday, April 30, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Credit Union 1 Arena, 525 S. Racine Ave., Chicago.
This year’s event also will mark the kickoff of Rush University’s 50th Anniversary celebration. Rush University is celebrating five decades years of education, discovery, and clinical excellence. With deep roots in Chicago and a rich tradition of service, the University has continually evolved, raising the standard of education to better serve its community and improve health.
The University’s president, Sherine Gabriel, MD, MSc, and provost, Susan L. Freeman, MD, MS, will preside over the ceremony and award degrees to students graduating from the University’s four colleges.
The commencement address will be delivered by David Blumenthal, MD, MPP, president of the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation dedicated to affordable, quality health care. He is a renowned health services researcher and national authority on health IT adoption. Blumenthal has authored more than 300 scholarly publications, including the seminal studies on the adoption and use of health information technology in the United States.
Prior to assuming the leadership of the Commonwealth Fund in 2013, Blumenthal served as chief health information and innovation officer at Partners Healthcare System (now Mass General Brigham) in Boston, Massachusetts, and was Samuel O. Thier Professor of Medicine and Professor of Health Care Policy at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. From 2009 to 2011, Blumenthal was the national coordinator for health information technology under President Barack Obama.
About Rush University Commencement
Established in 1972, Rush University comprises Rush Medical College, the College of Nursing, the College of Health Sciences and the Graduate College. Graduating Rush Medical College students will be receiving doctorate degrees in medicine. Students from the College of Nursing will receive either master’s in nursing or doctorate in nursing practice degrees.
Degrees conferred by the College of Health Sciences include bachelor’s degrees in health sciences, imaging sciences, medical laboratory science, perfusion technology, respiratory care and vascular ultrasound; master’s in clinical laboratory management, clinical nutrition, health systems management, medical laboratory science, occupational therapy, perfusion technology, physician assistant studies, research administration, respiratory care and speech-language pathology; and the doctorate in audiology.
Degrees conferred by the Graduate College include master’s in anatomy and cell biology, biochemistry, biomechanics, biotechnology, clinical research, immunology/microbiology, neurosciences, and pharmacology; and doctorates in philosophy in anatomy and cell biology, biochemistry, biomechanics, health sciences, immunology/microbiology, molecular biophysics and physiology, neurosciences, nursing science and pharmacology.
Rush University is the academic component of Rush University Medical Center, a leading academic medical center. Rush University has expanded from one college and fewer than 100 students to four colleges and a fall, 2021 enrollment of 2,889. Rush University is known for its practitioner-teacher model, translational research, nurturing academic environment and focus on community and global health.
