SRPH Hosts Surgeon General as Commencement Speaker

Vice Admiral Regina M. Benjamin, M.D., M.B.A., Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service, will deliver the commencement address for the Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAMHSC) School of Rural Public Health at 9 a.m. on May 21 at Rudder Auditorium on the Texas A&M campus. Graduating students come from campuses located in College Station, Temple and McAllen, Texas.

Dr. Benjamin is the 18^th Surgeon General and oversees the operational command of 6,500 uniformed health officers who serve in locations around the world to promote, protect, and advance the health of the American people.

Captain Wendy J. Moreno, Medical Service Corps, United States Air Force, will also serve as alumni speaker during commencement.  Captain Moreno graduated with a Master of Health Administration degree from TAMHSC-School of Rural Public Health.

“The School of Rural Public Health was such a life-changing opportunity for me that I wish to offer whatever support I can to encourage the same experience to other service members,” states Moreno. “I appreciated so much an environment where professors and students alike truly valued my military service and experience.”

A current graduate student at TAMHSC-School of Rural Public Health, Stephanie McDougall, is especially looking forward to meeting Dr. Benjamin as she will be working this summer in the Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic in Alabama, which Dr. Benjamin not only founded, but served as CEO of for many years.

“What a wonderful opportunity for me to meet the founder of the clinic where I will be privileged to complete my practicum this summer,” states McDougall. “Dr. Benjamin’s work is an inspiration for me and so many other students and we are really looking forward to her commencement address.”