This year, fourteen students graduated with a Master of Public Health in the Global Health track, and seven students received the Graduate Certificate in Global Health. The week leading up to Friday's Commencement ceremony involved several events celebrating this year's graduates, including a dinner and two receptions. MPH graduates received their diplomas during the VU Medical School Commencement ceremony on May 10 in Langford Auditorium.

View photos from commencement week activities −

VUSM graduate Joseph “Joey” Starnes, M.D., M.P.H., was awarded the Sten H. Vermund Award for Excellence in Global Health for this year. The award recognizes the graduating medical student who has most demonstrated a strong commitment to improving the health of the people of or from a low- or middle-income country through distinguished scholarship, education, and/or contributions to the improvement of clinical care. The award was established in 2017, to honor Dr. Sten H. Vermund who was the founding director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health. 

Dr. Starnes matriculated at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (VUSM) in 2014 after receiving his undergraduate degree (B.A.) in molecular and cellular biology from Vanderbilt University. He received both his MPH and MD degrees from VUSM in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Joey will continue his training at Vanderbilt with a pediatric residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Learn more about Starnes and his work in global health −