University of the Sciences in Philadelphia will honor two individuals who have made outstanding contributions to society when the 189th commencement ceremony is held on Wednesday, May 26, 2010, at 1 p.m. In addition to conferring degrees almost 500 degrees, the University will also bestow two honorary doctor of science degrees on Professor Sir Michael Rawlins and Richard E. Stearns when this year’s graduates take to The Mann Center for the Performing Arts.
Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, MD, FRCP, FFPM, FMedSc, has been chairman of the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) since its formation in 1999. An independent organization, NICE is responsible for providing national guidance on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health. A fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Professor Rawlins has authored more than 300 articles for peer reviewed journals, individual book chapters, and books. He is the recipient of numerous appointments, honors, professional distinctions, and awards.
Richard E. Stearns, MBA, is president of World Vision, one of the largest non-profit organizations in the United States. After a quarter-century business career serving as CEO of two different corporations, he joined World Vision in 1998, leading the Christian relief and development organization to unprecedented growth and calling on the American Church to respond to the global AIDS pandemic. Since joining World Vision, Mr. Stearns has seen donations triple from $358 million in 1998 to over $1.2 billion in 2009 while reducing overhead by almost one third. He serves on President Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
At University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, students embark on a challenging learning experience in a proving ground for successful professionals in the healthcare-related fields. A private, coeducational institution dedicated to education, research, and service, and distinguished as the nation’s first college of pharmacy, the University has produced leaders in the healthcare marketplace since its founding in 1821, including founders of six of the top pharmaceutical companies in the world. With undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs in such disciplines as pharmacy, bioinformatics, physical therapy, healthcare business, and health policy, the 3,000 students in the University of the Sciences’ five colleges learn to excel in scientific analysis and to apply their skills to improving healthcare in their communities and in the lives of people worldwide. For more information about University of the Sciences, visit www.usp.edu.