Franklyn Prendergast, M.D., Ph.D., to Give Keynote Address at Mayo Clinic Commencement

Friday, May 07, 2010

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Ninety-two medical and Ph.D. students 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 22, at Presentation Hall, Mayo Civic Center, 30 Civic Center Drive S.E. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m.

Franklyn Prendergast, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Pharmacology and Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic and director, Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine, will deliver the commencement address. Dr. Prendergast joined Mayo Clinic as a consultant and assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology in 1978, and served as chair for the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from 1986 to 1989. He became the Edmond and Marion Guggenheim Professor in 1988. His principal areas of research are protein chemistry and biophysics. His current research centers on drug design and discovery and computational biology. He served two terms on the Mayo Clinic Board of Governors and was a member of the Mayo Board of Trustees for 17 years. He was past director of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. Dr. Prendergast has received numerous academic honors, including Distinguished Graduate of the University of Minnesota and The University of the West Indies. He is a member of several national boards, and has served the National Institutes of Health extensively over the last 20 years with roles on numerous advisory groups and boards. Dr. Prendergast also serves on the scientific advisory boards of several prominent academic institutions and of several biotechnology firms.

Mayo Graduate School will confer 28 master's degrees and 30 doctorate degrees in biomedical sciences. This year's Ph.D. and master's graduates came to Mayo from 20 states and 16 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 34 M.D. degrees on students this year, 13 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 Keith Lindor, M.D., dean, 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."

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 Continuous Professional Development. Mayo Medical School was established in 1972 and accepts 50 new students annually. The school has over 180 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 250 students.

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

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