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UCSF School of Medicine Celebrates 2012 Commencement

By Lisa Cisneros

The UC San Francisco School of Medicine graduated the Class of 2012 on May 11 at a festive ceremony at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.

Among the newly minted doctors this year are Angela Echiverri and Chelsea Bowman.

Bowman says she came to UCSF to find her passion, whether it's conducting bench side, clinical or translational research, advancing community or global health, or driving improvements in health care or health policy. Among the highlights of her experience at UCSF is the interaction with her classmates.

Bowman recently told UCSF Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann, MD, MPH, a new acronym for UCSF: You can stay forever. In fact, Bowman will do that at least for another three years serving her residency in internal medicine and focusing on quality improvement and patient safety.

Echiverri is a graduate of the Program in Medical Education for the Urban Underserved (PRIME-US), which provides skills and support to medical students with demonstrated interest in working with urban underserved communities. A champion for diversity and health equity, Echiverri was honored with the 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards.

2012 Commencement

Graduating students

She will serve her residency in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the UCSF-affiliated San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. After that, Echiverri says she will pursue a career in academic medicine, practicing primary care, addressing health disparities and strengthening the pipeline of disadvantaged students in the medical profession.

 

UCSF School of Medicine Facts

  • Founded as Toland Medical College in 1864
  • Affiliated with University of California in 1873
  • Occupies seven major sites in San Francisco and Fresno with 28 academic departments, nine organized research units and seven interdisciplinary research centers
  • Ranked by U.S. News & World Report fifth in quality of research training and third in quality of primary care training. UCSF is the only medical school listed in the top five in both categories.
  • Ranked first among U.S. public medical schools in dollars awarded by the National Institutes of Health.

Photos by Elisabeth Fall/fallfoto.com

Dan Lowenstein, vice chair of the Department of Neurology and director of the UCSF Epilepsy Center.
Dan Lowenstein, vice chair of the Department of Neurology and director of the UCSF Epilepsy Center, directs the Physician-Scientist and Education Training Programs for the medical school.
Dean Sam Hawgood and Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann walk slightly ahead of Vice Chancellor Joseph Castro as they headed into the commencement ceremony.

Dean Sam Hawgood and Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann walk slightly ahead of Vice Chancellor Joseph Castro as they headed into the commencement ceremony.

Three members of the School of Medicine's Class of 2012 pause for a photo.
Three members of the School of Medicine's Class of 2012 pause for a photo.
Angela Echiverri, who earned a double major at UCLA and a Masters degree in public health from John Hopkins, can now add an MD degree to her academic achievements.
Angela Echiverri, who earned a double major at UCLA and a Masters degree in public health from John Hopkins, can now add an MD degree to her academic achievements.
Members of the Class of 2012 gather before the ceremony.
Members of the Class of 2012 gather before the ceremony.
Two graduates of the UCSF School of Medicine.
The UCSF School of Medicine celebrated commencement on May 11 at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. Here two graduates prepare for the ceremony.
Graduates of the UCSF School of Medicine with family.
Family members participate in the joy of recognizing a major milestone in life: graduating from medical school.
Family members participate in the joy of recognizing a major milestone in life: graduating from medical school.
Catherine Lucey, vice dean for education in the School of Medicine, takes part in her first commencement ceremony since taking that post on Sept. 1.
Catherine Lucey, vice dean for education in the School of Medicine, takes part in her first commencement ceremony since taking that post on Sept. 1.
This year's winner of the Gold-Headed Cane Award is Leslie Sheu. Each year, the cane is presented to a senior medical student who has been selected by classmates as being the most representative of a true physician.
This year's winner of the Gold-Headed Cane Award is Leslie Sheu. Each year, the cane is presented to a senior medical student who has been selected by classmates as being the most representative of a true physician.

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