Matthew C. Spitzer, MD, President of the US Board of Directors of Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres, will give the keynote address at the graduation ceremony for Eastern Virginia Medical School Saturday, May 19, 2012.

See here for a complete list of graduation events.

More than 3,000 parents, families and friends are expected to attend the EVMS commencement ceremony at the Norfolk Scope to celebrate the accomplishments of 296 graduates. The graduates include 113 new physicians and 183 from a variety of health professions degree programs.

The MD Class of 2012 recently planted a water oak tree at the new Wellness Campus of the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk as its class gift. The tree was dedicated in honor of the memories of faculty members Thomas R. Pellegrino, MD, and Donald W. Lewis, MD, who died this academic year.

Virginia State Senator Ralph Northam, MD, also presented members of the Lewis and Pellegrino families with resolutions from the Virgnia General Assembly.

Beyond Clinic Walls, a student-run community outreach program, is receiving statewide praise from the Commonwealth Council on Aging.

The program received a second place, and a $2,000 check, as part of the annual Best Practices award competition. The Commonwealth Council on Aging advises the Governor on issues affecting the nearly 1 million Virginians age 65 and older.