ATSU-SHM holds 8th commencement ceremony

On June 5, A.T. Still University’s School of Health Management (ATSU-SHM) graduated its latest class of master’s degree recipients in geriatric health, public health, health administration, and health education; and doctoral degree recipients in health education. The ceremony was held at 10 a.m. at the Ophelia Parrish Fine Arts Center at Truman State University.

The school, which opened in 1999, seeks to meet the nation’s growing demand for administrators, managers, and teachers in healthcare settings.

“Spending a weekend with our graduates face to face is a rewarding experience,” said SHM Dean Kimberly O’Reilly, D.H.Ed., M.S.W. “These students have worked hard to meet their educational goals, and I am humbled to be the person who gets to shake their hands and congratulate them. As this class of outstanding men and women embark on their new journeys with fresh perspectives compliments of their ATSU degrees, I am confident they will help improve the state of healthcare and preventive health policy for many years to come.”

Jack Dillenberg, D.D.S., M.P.H., inaugural dean of ATSU’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, provided the keynote address. Dr. Dillenberg is recognized at local, state, and national levels as an expert in the area of public health leadership, health program development, social marketing, oral health issues, health center design, training of community health workers, community organizing, and lecture presentations.

“I was proud to be asked to speak at this ceremony,” said Dr. Dillenberg. “I am truly honored that you would allow me to take part in your special day.”

SHM student Michelle Brown Harris, from Chicago, graduated with her master’s degree in public health and is proud of the degree she earned from ATSU. “After graduation, I want to focus on work with community health centers in urban and underserved areas,” she said. “I feel like I now have the tools that I can readily apply to the community health environment.”