On May 16, 2024, the Division of Public Health hosted a graduation celebration and reception to honor its graduating class at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The class of 2024 consists of 64 students who graduated with an array of degrees and certificates from the Public Health program.
Throughout the evening, several speakers delivered congratulatory remarks and recognized the impressive achievements of the graduating class including John Barrett, MD, Interim Chair of the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine (DFPM), and Jim VanDerslice, PhD, Chief of the Division of Public Health.
Attendees heard from student speakers David Suisse, MPH; Valerie Wendel, MPH; and Kari Pedersen, MPH, as they reflected on their experiences in the Public Health program.
The evening concluded with the graduates taking the Public Health Oath alongside the faculty who taught and guided them throughout their degree programs.
“It was great to see our students celebrating with their families. It gives all of us, faculty and staff, such a feeling of accomplishment; this is why we work here. And we share the students’ excitement as they move onto the next phase of their lives, using what the program has given them to impact the world,” said VanDerslice.
Since the program began in 1974, more than 1,500 students have graduated from the Division of Public Health.