Congratulations to the 47 students who graduated from Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB) last Friday, May 15, 2015. The graduates make up the first class to graduate from OUWB and were selected from more than 3,200 applicants nationwide. The OUWB medical school opened in 2011 as Michigan’s first new M.D.-granting allopathic medical school in nearly 50 years and Oakland County’s first medical school ever. John Prescott M.D., chief academic officer of the Association of American Medical Colleges, gave Friday’s commencement address and AIDS activist Mary Fisher received an honorary doctor of humanities degree.
Of the 47 recent graduates, all have been placed in a residency program. 14 students have been accepted as residents at Beaumont Health. OUWB has been gradually increasing its class sizes since 2011 and has finally reached its full intended capacity. The school’s fifth class is expected to total approximately 125 students, more than double of the charter group.
Students in the charter class say they were drawn to attend medical school at OUWB because of the specialized medical learning curriculum that would be offered. Founding Dean Robert Folberg, M.D., inspired students when we spoke about reaching for mastery of medicine through an integrated program that would include the fostering of caring and compassionate physicians.
We’re pleased to have OUWB as part of our Medical Main Street network and to have both Oakland University President George W. Hynd and Beaumont Health President/CEO Gene Michalski as board members. Working together with exemplary partners like these, the burgeoning health sector in Oakland County will continue to grow and achieve great success.
Congratulations Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine on this historical milestone. We look forward to your future innovations and accomplishments as you blaze a new trail in the fields of medicine and patient care.
For more information about OUWB, visit oakland.edu/medicine.