MBT Convocation
The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford hosted a Convocation Ceremony for the Master of Science in Medical Biotechnology, Class of 2012. The event was held on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Robert J. Vickrey, MD Auditorium.
Penny Billman, PhD, Director, Master of Science in Medical Biotechnology Program, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, opened the program followed by a welcome address from Martin Lipsky, MD, Regional Dean. Timothy Koritz, MD, Trustee, Board of Trustees, University of Illinois; Karen Colley, PhD, Dean, Graduate College and Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago; and Saul Weiner, MD, Senior Associate Dean for Educational Affairs, College of Medicine and Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics University of Illinois at Chicago each provided a brief address.
Peter Bell, PhD, Director of Research and Development, Pierce Protein Research, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., was the invited industrial speaker. Margaret Maynard, PhD, Assistant Dean Medical Education and Evaluation, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford was the invited academic speaker.
Ramaswammy Kalyanasundaram, DVM, PhD, Head, Department of Biomedical Sciences recognized the program partners: Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Rock River Valley Blood Center, Rita A. Highland and Martin Lipsky, MD. Additionally, he presented the following Master of Science in Medical Biotechnology Awards:
Thermo Fisher Scientific Overall Achievement Award
Overall academic distinction, research excellence and leadership qualities
Sharmila Sambanthamoorthy
Anderson Packaging Best Innovation Award
Best independent research project
Purvi Patel
Academic Excellence Award
Academic distinction based on cumulative GPA
Sharmila Sambanthamoorthy
Jason T. Fong
Outstanding Research Award
Excellence in research work
Deven Etnyre
Raylene M. Williams, MS, MLS (ASCP), was the selected class speaker. Lisa R. P. Foti, MS, Lab Manager, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, was chosen as alumni speaker.
A reception was held in the Partners’ Pavilion immediately following convocation.
2012 Graduating Class
Deven Etnyre
Education: Northern Illinois University, BS, MS Ed
Jason T. Fong
Education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, BS
Hiren Khambhati
Education: Pathkar College, India, BSC Benedictine University, BS
Sripriya Ravindra Kumar
Education: Anna University, India, B Tech
Dippal Parikh
Education: Padmashree Dr. D.Y. Patil University, India, B Tech
Purvi N. Patel
Education: Sardar Patel University, India, BS Masters in Industrial Hygiene and Safety
Maria Ruden
Education: Rockford College, BS
Sharmila Sambanthamoorthy
Education: Anna University, India, B Tech
Mehrnoosh Shirani
Education: University of Illinois at Chicago, BS
Janani Srinivasan
Education: SASTRA University, India, B Tech
Vasundhara Vigh
Education: Uttar Pradesh Technical University, India, B Tech
Raylene Marie Williams
Education: Northern Illinois University, BS
Laura L. Sykaluk
Education: Iowa State University, BS
The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford is located at 1601 Parkview Avenue and has served the area since 1971 as a regional academic health science center.
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