Mayo Clinic Trustee James L. Barksdale to Speak at Mayo Clinic Commencement

Monday, May 12, 2008

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Eighty-five physicians and scientists will receive degrees from Mayo Clinic during a joint commencement ceremony for the graduating classes from Mayo Graduate School and Mayo Medical School on Saturday, May 17. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. in Presentation Hall, Mayo Civic Center, 30 Civic Center Drive S.E.

James L. Barksdale, chairman of the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees and president of Barksdale Management Corporation, a philanthropic investment company, will deliver the commencement address. Barksdale has more than 35 years of executive experience with corporations such as Federal Express, McCaw Cellular and AT&T Wireless Services. He was CEO of Netscape Communications Corp. In addition to serving on the Mayo Clinic board, Barksdale is on the boards of Time Warner, Federal Express and Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Mayo Graduate School will confer 25 master's degrees and 23 Ph.D. degrees in biomedical sciences. This year's Ph.D. and master's graduates came to Mayo from 20 states and 11 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 medical research," says Diane Jelinek, Ph.D., dean of Mayo Graduate School. "I am thrilled about the close involvement and collaboration of our graduate students in achieving major research discoveries at Mayo Clinic."

Mayo Medical School will confer 33 M.D. degrees on students this year, including 23 who will complete all or part of their residency training in Minnesota. "Preparing to become a doctor in today's and tomorrow's health care environment requires significant commitment, sacrifice, compassion, energy and ability," says Keith Lindor, M.D., the medical school's dean. "I am so proud of our graduating students. They will bring such skill and passion to their future roles in serving patients and advancing medicine."

Together, Mayo Graduate School and Mayo Medical School will confer M.D.-Ph.D. degrees on four graduates who have completed eight years of training as physicians and biomedical research scientists.

Mayo Clinic educates medical 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 Continuing Medical Education. Mayo Medical School was established in 1972 and is considered one of the nation's best medical schools. The school annually accepts 50 new students and totals 203 students. Mayo Graduate School was established in 1989 and grants Ph.D., M.D.-Ph.D., and master's degrees in 11 areas of biomedical research. The school has 257 students.

Several graduates will be available for media interviews after the ceremony.

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