Dr. Michael E. Whitcomb and Dr. Shirley Johnston to Speak at Ross University School of Medicine and School of Veterinary Medicine Graduations

Ross University is pleased to announce that Dr. Michael E. Whitcomb, editor-in-chief of Academic Medicine, and Dr. Shirley Johnston, dean of Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Veterinary Medicine and the first female dean of a veterinary school, will be the commencement speakers at the Ross University School of Medicine and School of Veterinary Medicine graduation ceremonies on June 15. This year’s commencement will graduate nearly 700 medical students and more than 200 veterinary students – Ross University’s largest classes to date. The ceremonies will take place in New York City at Avery Fisher Hall located in Lincoln Center. The School of Medicine graduation takes place at 9:30 a.m. and the School Veterinary Medicine follows at 3:00 p.m. "We are honored to have Dr. Whitcomb and Dr. Johnston speak at our upcoming graduations,” said Dr. Thomas Shepherd, president of Ross University. "It has been a fantastic year for Ross University, and we are proud to graduate such an outstanding group of doctors and veterinarians. We wish them the very best going forward.” Dr. Michael E. Whitcomb was appointed editor-in-chief of Academic Medicine, the journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges ("AAMC”), in November 2001, and has been instrumental in establishing the journal as one of the finest international publications in the field of medical education. Until 2006, Dr. Whitcomb simultaneously served as the AAMC’s senior vice president for medical education and director of the Division of Medical Education, as well as the director of the AAMC Institute for Improving Medical Education. Throughout his career, Dr. Whitcomb held the position of dean of the schools of medicine at both the University of Missouri-Columbia and the University of Washington, and he established the Center for Health Policy Studies at Ohio State University and served as its first director. Dr. Whitcomb was also a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow of the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Shirley Johnston became the first female dean of a veterinary school in 1998 when she helped begin Western University’s veterinary medical program in Pomona, California. She remains the only female dean of a veterinary school today. Prior to Western University, Dr. Johnston had a distinguished career as an educator of veterinary medicine, rising to be the associate dean for academic affairs at the University of Minnesota, and then holding a chair position at Washington State University in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. In addition, Dr. Johnston was a diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists. About Ross University Ross University is a provider of medical and veterinary education, offering doctor of medicine and doctor of veterinary medicine degree programs. Ross University School of Medicine was founded in 1978 and is located in Dominica. Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine was founded in 1982 and is located in St. Kitts, which is in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. Ross University students are held to the same high standards as graduates of United States medical and veterinary schools and, like those graduates, are eligible to practice medicine and veterinary medicine in the United States upon successful completion of the requisite licensing examinations. Ross University is a division of DeVry Inc. (NYSE:DV), an international higher education company. Ross University's administrative services including enrollment, registrar and financial aid services are located in Edison, N.J. For more information about Ross University, visit www.RossU.edu.