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The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

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The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Graduates 648

Health Care Professionals: 

Chonna Larry Earns M.D. from the

College of Medicine

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Memphis, Tenn. – On Friday, May 28, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) graduated 648 health care professionals.  Chonna Larry of Little Rock, Ark., was one of 143 graduates from the College of Medicine.  With more than 13,300 alumni, the college is recognized for its rigorous classroom and intensive clinical training of students.  About 4,500 (40 percent) of the physicians now practicing in Tennessee were trained at the UT College of Medicine.

The graduation ceremony was held at FedEx Forum in downtown Memphis.  Steve J. Schwab, MD, interim chancellor of UT Health Science Center, presided over the ceremony.  Jan Simek, interim president of the University of Tennessee, conferred the degrees. 

            Chonna Larry, daughter of Willie and Betty Larry, graduated with a specialty in medicine and plans to enter residency in general surgery at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.  Chonna is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.  She will continue her military career as a surgeon in the U.S. Army.

Harry Jacobson, MD, former Vanderbilt Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and former CEO of the Vanderbilt Health System, delivered the commencement address to the graduates and their families.  His remarks were titled, “Health Care is a Team Sport.”  Dr. Jacobson, a nephrologist and health care entrepreneur, retired from Vanderbilt in 2009 after more than 12 years as CEO. 

The 648 graduates were from all six of the UT Health Science Center’s colleges.

n      178 from the College of Allied Health Sciences;

n      73 from the College of Dentistry;

n      43 from the College of Graduate Health Sciences;

n      143 from the College of Medicine;

n      36 from the College of Nursing; and

n      175 from the College of Pharmacy.

As the flagship statewide academic health system, the mission of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is to bring the benefits of the health sciences to the achievement and maintenance of human health, with a focus on the citizens of Tennessee and the region, by pursuing an integrated program of education, research, clinical care, and public service.  Offering a broad range of postgraduate training opportunities, the main campus is located in Memphis and includes six colleges: Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy.  UTHSC has additional colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy plus an Allied Health Sciences unit in Knoxville, as well as a College of Medicine campus in Chattanooga.  For more information, visit www.uthsc.edu.

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