usp bullet<strong>in</strong>: usp c<strong>elebrates</strong> 185th commencement page Left to right: delbert payne, chairman <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> USPboard <strong>of</strong> trustees; j. lyle bootman, PhD, honorarydegree recipient; and president gerb<strong>in</strong>o.class <strong>of</strong> 2006commencement factsTotal Graduates: 470Russo earnedher master’s degree<strong>in</strong> pharmacy adm<strong>in</strong>istrationand hada job l<strong>in</strong>ed up at Kennedy MemorialHospital <strong>in</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn New Jersey as apharmacy technician.Also, wait<strong>in</strong>g to walk with his class wasJOHN DANG PharmD’06, who was <strong>the</strong>third member <strong>of</strong> his family to graduate fromUSP with a PharmD degree. Dang hadmultiple job <strong>of</strong>fers and planned to accept aposition with Walgreens Pharmacy.John’s bro<strong>the</strong>r, BINH (PharmD’01), andsister, LINH (PharmD’02), had graduated<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> past, and <strong>the</strong>ir parents, Anh andTruc Dang were very proud to attend <strong>the</strong>iryoungest son’s graduation. John said he wasgo<strong>in</strong>g to miss <strong>the</strong> late nights <strong>of</strong> study<strong>in</strong>g andstay<strong>in</strong>g up with his friends. He knew hislong hours <strong>of</strong> study<strong>in</strong>g would be exchangedfor long hours <strong>of</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g as a pharmacist.Like <strong>the</strong> Dang family, o<strong>the</strong>r proudparents, grandparents, bro<strong>the</strong>rs, sisters, andextended family l<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>the</strong> majestic VerizonHall. A state-<strong>of</strong>-<strong>the</strong>-art, viol<strong>in</strong>-shapedconcert hall with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Kimmel Center, it ishome to <strong>the</strong> <strong>Philadelphia</strong> Orchestra. TheClarendon Brass Ensemble played “Pompand Circumstance” from <strong>the</strong> side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>stage as <strong>the</strong> ma<strong>in</strong> event began. Familymembers jockeyed for positions <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> aislesto get pictures <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> graduates as <strong>the</strong>ywalked <strong>in</strong>side.The students, <strong>the</strong>ir black gowns adornedwith colored hoods that reflected <strong>the</strong>irdegree, processed <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> hall, followedby <strong>the</strong> faculty. Pr<strong>of</strong>essors carried bannersannounc<strong>in</strong>g each college, led by a bannerbear<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> USP logo, carried by ROBERTTRACHMAN BC’06, president <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Student Government Association for 2005–2006. The banners were new to this year’scommencement. Faculty award recipient Dr.Tietze carried <strong>the</strong> banner for <strong>Philadelphia</strong>College <strong>of</strong> Pharmacy. ROY R. ROBSON,PhD, associate pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> humanities,carried <strong>the</strong> Misher College <strong>of</strong> Artsand <strong>Sciences</strong> banner. MARGARET A.REINHART, MS, <strong>in</strong>structor <strong>of</strong> biology,carried <strong>the</strong> College <strong>of</strong> Health <strong>Sciences</strong>banner. MICHELLE COHEN, PhD,associate pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> occupational<strong>the</strong>rapy, carried <strong>the</strong> College <strong>of</strong> GraduateStudies banner.The open<strong>in</strong>g remarks from PresidentPHILIP P. GERBINO P’69, PharmD’70were <strong>in</strong>spirational and set <strong>the</strong> tone for<strong>the</strong> event.“Graduates, today you leave <strong>the</strong> classroomsand laboratories. You enter <strong>the</strong> ranks<strong>of</strong> cl<strong>in</strong>icians, scientists, and discoverers.You possess those same characteristics<strong>of</strong>ten associated with <strong>in</strong>novators, leaders,practitioners, and scholars. You carry alegacy <strong>of</strong> excellence. You are now part<strong>of</strong> that amalgam <strong>of</strong> em<strong>in</strong>ence that forms<strong>the</strong> tradition and reputation <strong>of</strong> USP,”Dr. Gerb<strong>in</strong>o said.J. Lyle Bootman, PhD, dean <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>College <strong>of</strong> Pharmacy at <strong>the</strong> <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong>Arizona, was <strong>the</strong> honorary degree recipientand <strong>the</strong> first person to receive a diploma—adoctor <strong>of</strong> science degree.Dr. Bootman is well known <strong>in</strong> his field,with many speak<strong>in</strong>g engagements andpublished articles to his credit. One <strong>of</strong> Dr.Bootman’s many books, Pr<strong>in</strong>ciples <strong>of</strong>“You’ll feel <strong>the</strong> power <strong>of</strong> this day by…what you’ll do.You are graduat<strong>in</strong>g from a lead<strong>in</strong>g school <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> country.”j. lyle bootman, PhD, Honorary Degree Recipientpeter j. miller, PhD, Director <strong>of</strong> AcademicAssessment, carried <strong>the</strong> academic mace <strong>in</strong>his role as Chief Marshal. Dr. Miller led <strong>the</strong>commencement procession.Pharmacoeconomics, is published <strong>in</strong> 35countries and has been translated <strong>in</strong>to sixlanguages. Dr. Bootman is a member <strong>of</strong>several pr<strong>of</strong>essional associations <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g<strong>the</strong> American Pharmacists Association.Dur<strong>in</strong>g his commencement address, Dr.Bootman said, “To be a part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sciences</strong>’ graduation is a highlight<strong>of</strong> my career.” He added that it was excit<strong>in</strong>gto be a part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> commencement at <strong>the</strong>nation’s first and oldest school <strong>of</strong> its type.“You must feel like your lives are chang<strong>in</strong>gnow. We see <strong>the</strong> excitement on your faces,”Dr. Bootman said <strong>in</strong> his speech. “You’ll feel<strong>the</strong> power <strong>of</strong> this day by where you end upand what you’ll do. You are graduat<strong>in</strong>gfrom a lead<strong>in</strong>g school <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> country.”Dr. Bootman said that graduat<strong>in</strong>gfrom college is one <strong>of</strong> life’s manyrites <strong>of</strong> passage—like your first day<strong>of</strong> k<strong>in</strong>dergarten, your wedd<strong>in</strong>g day,<strong>the</strong> births <strong>of</strong> your children—andshould be treasured.Dr. Bootman said it is an excit<strong>in</strong>gtime to enter <strong>the</strong> workforce, withso many Baby Boomers turn<strong>in</strong>g 60this year.“You’ll be on <strong>the</strong> front l<strong>in</strong>esmanag<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir care,” he said. “Theknowledge you’ll master today willsave lives later. It will help you to bea better consumer and to better helpyour family.”Class valedictorian Wible gavea humorous speech near <strong>the</strong> end<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> program thank<strong>in</strong>g andcongratulat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> parents <strong>in</strong> attendance.“They are filled withpride and love…It is <strong>the</strong> opportunetime to ask for more money,” hesaid, jok<strong>in</strong>gly.Wible quoted found<strong>in</strong>g fa<strong>the</strong>rBenjam<strong>in</strong> Frankl<strong>in</strong> and rap artistSean “Puffy” Combs. He questionedstudents about how <strong>the</strong>y measuresuccess—“Is it a mov<strong>in</strong>g target orout <strong>in</strong> space? Is happ<strong>in</strong>ess part <strong>of</strong> it?“How can you take that knowledgeand <strong>in</strong>tegrate it <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> world?USP gave us <strong>the</strong> tools we need tomake it work.”The f<strong>in</strong>al person to be honored at <strong>the</strong>ceremony was Dr. Tietze, who was given<strong>the</strong> L<strong>in</strong>dback Foundation Award for Dist<strong>in</strong>guishedTeach<strong>in</strong>g. The once-<strong>in</strong>-a-lifetimeaward is based on student nom<strong>in</strong>ations.On <strong>the</strong> nom<strong>in</strong>ation ballots, studentsmade <strong>the</strong>se comments about Dr. Tietze:“[She] is <strong>the</strong> best teacher at USP,” “She’shappy to be <strong>the</strong>re and wants you to learn,”and “She keeps my <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> class forfour hours.”cont<strong>in</strong>ued on next pageDegrees Granted: 499Degrees AwardedUndergraduate: 412Graduate: 87Dual-Degree Graduates: 29Men: 153Women: 317Age <strong>of</strong> Youngest Graduate: 21Age <strong>of</strong> Oldest Graduate: 57Number <strong>of</strong> States Representedby Graduates: 22Number <strong>of</strong> CountriesRepresented by Graduates: 10Number <strong>of</strong> Graduates with a3.40 GPA or HigherUndergraduate: 81Graduate: 74Breakdown <strong>of</strong> DegreesBS: 115BS <strong>in</strong> Health Science: 51DPT: 9MBA: 13MOT: 8MPT: 18MS: 57PharmD: 224PhD: 4