School of Medicine graduate Obianuju Aluka shares a big hug with Kanny Aluka Anya, who hooded her during last year’s School of Medicine graduation.
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Contact: Will Sansom, 210-567-2579

SAN ANTONIO (May 15, 2012) — Gordon Hartman, an inspirational San Antonio leader who with his wife, Maggie, founded the Gordon Hartman Family Foundation in 2005, is the invited speaker Saturday, May 26, for the School of Health Professions commencement at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio.

After selling their locally owned homebuilding and land development companies, the Hartmans have donated $15 million to date to pursue their dream of helping children and adults with special needs. Their devotion to this cause is inspired by their 18-year-old daughter, Morgan, who was born with both cognitive and physical special needs.

In April 2010, they celebrated the grand opening of Morgan’s Wonderland, the world’s first ultra-accessible family fun park designed with special-needs individuals in mind and built to be enjoyed by everyone.

Hartman will address hundreds of graduating health professionals in fields including physical therapy, occupational therapy, clinical laboratory sciences, dietetics and nutrition, emergency health sciences, dental hygiene, physician assistant studies and respiratory care.

Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., chancellor of The University of Texas System, is one of the invited speakers for the School of Medicine Commencement on Sunday, May 27.

Here is a roundup of commencement ceremonies of all the Health Science Center schools.

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Friday, May 25, 4 p.m.
Holly Auditorium, UT Health Science Center

Speaker: Arlan Richardson, Ph.D., professor of cellular and structural biology, UT Health Science Center; senior research career scientist, South Texas Veterans Health Care System; former director, Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies

School of Nursing graduate Molly Gwillim (behind Andrea Greer) can’t contain her excitement at the 2011 graduation ceremony.

School of Nursing
Saturday, May 26, 9 a.m.
Greehey Arena, St. Mary’s University

Speaker: Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda, Ph.D., M.P.H., RN, CPH, assistant professor, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty Scholar, School of Nursing & Health Studies, University of Miami

School of Health Professions
Saturday, May 26, 2 p.m.
Greehey Arena, St. Mary’s University

Speaker: Gordon V. Hartman, founder, president and CEO of the Gordon Hartman Family Foundation

Dental School
Sunday, May 27, 9 a.m.
Greehey Arena, St. Mary’s University

Speaker: Leo Rouse, D.D.S., FACD, dean, Howard University College of Dentistry

School of Medicine
Sunday, May 27, 2 p.m.
Greehey Arena, St. Mary’s University

Speakers: Jason Schillerstrom, M.D., associate professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., chancellor of the University of Texas System; William L. Henrich, M.D., MACP, president of the UT Health Science Center San Antonio; Francisco González-Scarano, M.D., dean of the School of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs at the UT Health Science Center; and Florence Eddins-Folensbee, M.D., vice dean for undergraduate medical education in the Health Science Center's School of Medicine.

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The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, one of the country’s leading health sciences universities, ranks in the top 3 percent of all institutions worldwide receiving federal funding. Research and other sponsored program activity totaled $231 million in fiscal year 2011. The university’s schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions and graduate biomedical sciences have produced approximately 26,000 graduates. The $736 million operating budget supports eight campuses in San Antonio, Laredo, Harlingen and Edinburg. For more information on the many ways “We make lives better®,” visit www.uthscsa.edu.