UMass Chan faculty celebrated and donors honored at 2024 Convocation and Investiture ceremony

On Thursday, Sept. 12, the 2024 Convocation and Investiture ceremony celebrated the achievement of faculty at UMass Chan Medical School—“the heart and soul of this academic institution”—and the donors who support them. The event capped the end of an annual weeklong celebration marking the start of a new academic year.

In his convocation address, Chancellor Michael F. Collins called for continued teamwork, collaboration and encouragement among students, faculty and staff to fulfill the Medical School’s mission.

“In our work, there is no finish line, only new starting points. Let us begin this academic year by rounding the corner, arm in arm, and let us commit together to racing to our most ambitious future. There is much to accomplish,” Collins said.

The chancellor listed the largest graduate school classes in UMass Chan’s history; the creation of a new regional campus, UMass Chan-Lahey; the enrollment of 32 medical students in the LEAD@Lahey track in its first year; and the opening of the new education and research building, as just some of the momentous achievements that will carry UMass Chan beyond the goals included in the Impact 2025 strategic plan.

Collins said a stewardship group of faculty and learners will be established early next year, to “chart a new starting point for our medical school.”

Chancellor's Medals

The 2024 recipients of the Chancellor’s Medals for excellence in teaching, scholarship, service and clinical excellence were announced as follows:

Mary Callery O’Brien, MD, associate professor of medicine, received the Chancellor’s Medal for Distinguished Teaching. Dr. Callery O’Brien was invited to present the 2025 Last Lecture, a celebration of teaching, and received the Manning Prize, a $10,000 award established by former UMass Board Chair Robert Manning and his wife, Donna Manning, both of whom are UMass alums. 

Craig L. Peterson, PhD, vice chair and professor of molecular medicine, received the Chancellor’s Medal for Distinguished Scholarship. Dr. Peterson will present the plenary lecture at this fall’s research retreat.

The Chancellor’s Medal for Distinguished Clinical Excellence was presented to Erik Garcia, MD, associate professor of family medicine & community health. Dr. Garcia is invited to lead the first-year class in the recitation of the Oath of Maimonides at the 2025 White Coat Ceremony. 

The Chancellor’s Medal for Distinguished Service was awarded to Jean Frazier, MD, the Robert M. and Shirley S. Siff Chair in Autism, professor of psychiatry, and executive director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center. Dr. Frazier is invited to carry the Medical School’s ceremonial mace at events throughout the academic year.

Endowed professors named 

The following faculty members were honored and invested as endowed professors, with gratitude to the donors who established the endowed funds that support these positions: 

Daryl A. Bosco, PhD, professor of neurology and biochemistry & molecular biotechnology and associate vice chair of research for the Department of Neurology, was invested as the Paul J. DiMare Chair in Neurodegenerative Disease.

Swanee DiMare and Tony DiMare, wife and son of the late Paul J. DiMare, joined the stage with Dr. Bosco. Chancellor Collins recognized Paul DiMare, who passed away in 2022 from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, for his “mission to advance lifesaving treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, reflecting a lifelong commitment to helping others and eradicating suffering.”

Kevin Donahue, MD, professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, was invested as the David J. and Barbara D. Milliken Professor of Preventive Cardiology.

Dale L. Greiner, PhD, professor of molecular medicine and co-director of the Diabetes Center of Excellence, was invested as the Herman G. Berkman Chair in Diabetes Care Innovation.

John E. Harris, MD, PhD’05, chair and professor of dermatology, was invested as the Lambi and Sarah Adams Chair in Genetic Research. 

Elinor K. Karlsson, PhD, associate professor of molecular medicine, was invested as the Dr. Eileen L. Berman and Stanley I. Berman Foundation Chair in Biomedical Research.

Danny G. Winder, PhD, chair and professor of neurobiology, was invested as the Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research Chair I. 

Jeannette M. Wolfe, MD, professor of emergency medicine, was invested into the Joy McCann Professorship for Women in Medicine.