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Marilyn Carlson Nelson to Give Keynote Address at Mayo Clinic Commencement
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ROCHESTER, Minn. — May 9, 2012. Seventy-nine physicians and scientists will receive degrees from Mayo Clinic during a joint commencement ceremony for the graduation classes from Mayo Graduate School and Mayo Medical School on Saturday, May 19, at Presentation Hall, Mayo Civic Center, 30 Civic Center Drive SE. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m.
Marilyn Carlson Nelson will give the keynote address. She is chairwoman and former CEO of Carlson, a global hospitality and travel company. Carlson Nelson graduated with a degree in International Economics from Smith College. She also studied at the Institut de Hautes Études Économiques et Politiques in Geneva and the Sorbonne in Paris. She holds several honorary doctorates from U.S. universities including the University of Minnesota. Carlson Nelson has appeared on Forbes magazine's list as one of "The World's 100 Most Powerful Women." U.S. News and World
Report named her one of "America's Best Leaders." Under her leadership, Carlson was the first major North American travel company to take a stand against the sexual exploitation of children in the tourism industry. She currently teaches a class in corporate responsibility at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management and is the author of the bestselling book "How We Lead Matters: Reflections On a Life of Leadership." In 2004, Carlson Nelson co-chaired the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, and is a co-founder of the Forum's Women Leaders Program. She served as chairwoman of the National Women's Business Council, a bipartisan advisory council to the president and Congress, and is past chairwoman of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. In 2006, she was inducted into the French Légion d'Honneur for her exemplary leadership and service to humanity. The leaders of Finland, Sweden and Norway have similarly honored her. Carlson Nelson serves on the boards of ExxonMobil, The Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She is chairwoman of the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees.
Mayo Graduate School will confer 28 master's degrees and 28 doctorate degrees in biomedical sciences. This year's Ph.D. and master's graduates came to Mayo from 21 states and 14 countries. Most will pursue advanced research training programs and careers in biomedical research at Mayo or other biomedical research institutions throughout the world.
"The rigor of our programs and the quality of researchers who study at Mayo Clinic contribute significantly to advancing biomedical research," says L. James Maher III, Ph.D., dean of Mayo Graduate School. "I am thrilled about the key roles of our graduate students in achieving major research discoveries during their apprenticeships at Mayo Clinic."
Mayo Medical School will confer 44 M.D. degrees on students this year, 21 of whom will complete all or part of their residency training in Minnesota.
"Preparing to become a doctor today to work in tomorrow's yet-to-be-defined health care environment requires significant commitment, bravery, compassion, energy and ability," says Terrence Cascino, Juanita Kious Waugh Executive Dean for Education and interim dean of Mayo Medical School. "We are so proud of our graduating students — they bring such skill and passion to their future roles in serving patients and advancing medicine."
In all, 100 physicians and scientists will receive degrees, including those not attending the ceremony.
Mayo Clinic educates medical and science professionals through five schools: Mayo Medical School, Mayo Graduate School, Mayo School of Health Sciences, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education and Mayo School of Continuous Professional Development. Mayo Medical School was established in 1972 and accepts 50 new students annually. The school has more than 200 students. Mayo Graduate School was established in 1989 and grants Ph.D., M.D.-Ph.D., and
master's degrees in 11 focus areas of biomedical research. The school has over 270 students.
Several graduates will be available for media interviews after the ceremony.
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About Mayo Clinic:
Recognizing 150 years of serving humanity in 2014, Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and education for people from all walks of life. For more information, visit 150years.mayoclinic.org, www.mayoclinic.org and newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org.
Media Contact: Rebecca Eisenman, 507-284-5005 (days), newsbureau@mayo.edu
