Dr. Anthony Fauci to deliver keynote speech for Mayo Clinic on September 11

(ABC 6 News) – Two keynote speakers, including Anthony Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will highlight the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences virtual commencement ceremony.

The commencement will be held virtually on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.

This is the first time Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences has held graduation for only its graduates. Due to COVID-19, the school has invited 2020 graduates as well as master’s degree and M.D.-Ph.D. students to attend. More than 100 graduates will be recognized at the event.

The ceremony will be available by live video stream for everyone in the Mayo Clinic community, including our graduates and their loved ones, faculty, students, alumni, and staff.

Anthony Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the chief medical adviser to the president, will deliver the 2021 commencement address. He also will receive an honorary degree during the commencement ceremony.

Dr. Fauci’s speech will be pre-recorded in Washington, D.C., where he will receive an honorary doctorate presented by Stella Hartono, M.D., Ph.D., a 2017 graduate who now works alongside him at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Dr. Fauci, who has been one of the most visible public health leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been NIAID director since 1984.

Franklyn Prendergast, M.D., Ph.D., emeritus professor of biochemistry, molecular biology, and pharmacology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, also will be a keynote speaker at commencement this year.

Also speaking at the event will be Dr. Meyer; Stephen Ekker, Ph.D., dean of the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences; Alaa Koleilat, Ph.D., a Class of 2021 graduate; and Gianrico Farrugia, M.D., Mayo Clinic president and CEO.

Sixty-two students will graduate with the Class of 2021, including 26 Ph.D., 31 master’s, and five M.D.-Ph.D. graduates. The school also has invited Class of 2020 graduates to attend.

More information about the commencement can be found here.