By: Chung So and Darrin S. Joy
“Pomp and Circumstance,” mortar boards and traditional gold tassels met with a sense of pride and accomplishment at the City of Hope Graduate School of Biological Sciences’ 14th annual commencement ceremony on June 6.
Following an inspirational keynote address by Gerald Joyce, M.D., Ph.D., of The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif., students Valerie Chavez, Seung-Gi Jin, Daniel Kim, Damon Meyer and Chen Wu received Doctor of Philosophy degrees in biological sciences.
Students listened intently as their mentors addressed the audience of family members and friends, fellow graduate students and City of Hope faculty and staff. Each mentor praised his student’s scientific abilities and expressed confidence in his student’s future before presenting the diploma.
In turn, the students thanked their mentors, supporters and the school while pledging to continue their scientific work.
The school also awarded health-care executive Norman Payson, M.D., an honorary Doctor of Science in recognition of his dedicated support.
“Dr. Payson is an accomplished leader in the health-care industry and a loyal supporter of the graduate school,” said John J. Rossi, Ph.D., Lidow Family Research Chair and dean of the Graduate School of Biological Sciences. “We are delighted to present him with our school’s highest honorary award, the Doctor of Science, in recognition of his ongoing contributions to our mission.”
Payson serves on City of Hope’s board of directors and was chair and chief executive officer of Oxford Health Plans Inc., a leading provider of health benefit plans.
“The graduate school at City of Hope has an outstanding faculty and an environment that fosters learning and discovery. The institution is developing the next generation of bright and talented researchers,” Payson said. “I am honored to receive this degree.”
Payson and his wife, Melinda, recently generously supported the program through a gift that will establish the Dr. Norman and Melinda Payson Graduate Studies Center — a resource for future scientists in training within the school — and will endow a graduate fellowship to support student stipends.
City of Hope’s Graduate School of Biological Sciences is an accredited program that trains students in chemical, molecular and cellular biology as well as bioinformatics and genetics. Program graduates receive a Doctor of Philosophy in biological sciences.
Past recipients of the honorary Doctor of Science degree include Michael Kaplan, co-partner of real estate management firm ARKA Properties Group, Richard S. Ziman, chair and CEO of West Los Angeles-based real estate investment firm Arden Realty Inc., Gil Schwartzberg, former president, CEO and chair of City of Hope’s board, Stephen B. Kass, chair and CEO of national debt-buying company Credit Max LLC, and Meyer E. Hersch, founder and general partner of Hersch and Company.
