Alumni

By Darla Brown

Medical School graduates celebrate 10-35 year reunions

Medical School graduates from the classes of 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, and 1998 met old and new friends at UT-Houston Alumni ’08 Homecoming and Reunion the weekend of Feb. 29. This marked the first opportunity for a 35th class reunion.

Alumni from across the country attended the two-day event, which included class dinners, tours of the Medical School, a continuing medical education course from Eugene Boisaubin, M.D., professor of internal medicine, and the annual meeting of the Alumni Association.

The event’s highlights included the Saturday evening dinner and reception at Trevisio Restaurant and the unveiling of the newest distinguished alumnus plaque for Daniel Hale, M.D., ’77 (see p. 32).

“A great time was had by all,” says Resa Ott, director of alumni relations. “It’s impressive to learn what our alumni are doing and the difference they are making in their communities.”

New to the reunion weekend this year were tours of the Medical School’s new six-story replacement facility and an option for families to visit the zoo.

At the reunion, Victoria Regan, M.D., ’87, president of the Alumni Association, announced a new initiative aimed at alumni philanthropy – the 1000 by 500 campaign for scholarships, which seeks 1,000 donations of $500 each. The fund-raising program is open to friends and faculty members of the Medical School as well. Eight previous recipients of the Alumni Association’s scholarships attended the homecoming festivities, telling the alumni what a difference a scholarship can make.

“Scholarships from our alumni send the message that the alumni care and that we have a tradition of giving,” Ott says.

First registrar Betty Murphy attended the homecoming events, and received a standing ovation for her work. Former alumni director Sondra Ives participated in the reunion dinner, along with guest speakers Regan, Hale, Dean Giuseppe Colasurdo, M.D., and Henry Strobel,Ph.D.