Commencement 2018: New program will mark first graduating class

EVMS will celebrate its largest commencement to date May 19 as more than 400 students join the ranks of EVMS alumni and enter into careers in health professions and medicine. The Class of 2018 includes students from the institution’s new master’s-level program, Pathologists’ Assistant.

The commencement ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 19, at Norfolk Scope Arena. Keynote speaker Karen Remley, MD, MBA, MPH, FAAP will give the official address. Dr. Remley is the first female CEO and Executive Vice President of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). In that role, she represents more than 60,000 pediatricians across the nation and helps shape public policy in pediatric care globally. From 2008 to 2012 she served as Commissioner of Health for the Commonwealth of Virginia, where she served as the lead advisor to the Governor on public health issues. She also managed a $560 million budget and 4,000 employees in that role. During her tenure, the state saw significant improvements in important public health indicators including teen pregnancy, infant mortality, and cardiovascular disease. Dr. Remley is a 20-year member of the EVMS faculty and was the founding director of the EVMS M. Foscue Brock Institute for Community and Global Health. She led the Institute’s efforts to connect the clinical, research and educational programs to specific health concerns in the region.

Commencement is the culminating event of several days of graduation-related ceremonies, including the annual white-coat retirement ceremony for graduating medical students, the Surgical Assisting and Physician Assistant formal white-coat ceremonies and the Military Commissioning and Recognition Ceremony. 



MPA White Coat Retirement ceremony

Graduating students of the Master of Physician Assistant program held a white coat retirement ceremony Thursday, May 10 at the Pagoda in Norfolk. At the event, students participated in a ceremonial burning of the short white coats they received their first week at EVMS.



MD White Coat Retirement ceremony

This AAMC Award-winning event celebrates the transition from medical student to MD Alumni. On a farm in May, EVMS holds a ceremonial burning of the short white coats students received their first week at EVMS.




2018 Military Graduates

Thank you for your sacrifice for our freedom and your service to our country.



2018 Award and Induction Ceremonies

Students, residents and faculty were honored at several award ceremonies and honor society inductions ahead of commencement.


Surgical Assisting Awards and White Coat Ceremony

Surgical Assisting graduates don long white coats during this ceremony which officially signifies their transition from trainee to trained medical professional. This year marks 20 years in a row with a 100 percent pass rate on the national certification exam for the entire class. Congratulations, class of 2018!


Physician Assistant Awards and White Coat Ceremony

Students in the Master of Physician Assistant (PA) Class of 2018 traded in their short white coats for the long coats of trained medical professionals at the PA Awards & White Coat Ceremony held Friday, May 18. During the awards portion of the ceremony, students received honors for academic achievements and faculty members were recognized for excellence in teaching. Several students, faculty and alumni also were inducted into the Pi Alpha PA National Honor Society.