Script

10:00 — Program Begins — Judy Wolf steps to lectern to welcome:

Mrs. Wolf:

Welcome to the Investiture of Dr. Francisco Cigarroa as the third president of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

I’m Judy Wolf, Senior Vice President for External Affairs, and on behalf of this academic health center, we welcome our members of the Board of Regents, elected officials, guests from out of state, from other universities, from the UT System, our distinguished visitors and the family of Dr. Cigarroa.

I want to thank our wonderful musicians who have provided the music for the prelude, Dr. Dahlia Guerra, Chair of the Department of Music at UT -Pan Am and Mr. Yamil Yunes, a most talented student there. UT - Pan Am is a great partner of ours in the Regional Academic Health Center. I would also like to thank Mr. Arturo Pasalagua an entering student at UT — Pan Am, who also played so beautifully with them.

Please remain seated for the first part of the processional. The Mace will be carried by the Investiture Marshal, Dr. Steven Wartman, Executive Vice President for Academic and Health Affairs and Dean of the Medical School.

Pomp and Circumstance starts to play.
Dr. Wartman leads academic procession.
Dr. Wartman comes to stage and places Mace in stand and remains standing by Mace.
The others fall into the assigned rows in the audience, in the rows marked "Processional.

After Dr. Wartman has started the processional, Judy Wolf announces Processional groups by category. Dr. Wartman, visiting dignitaries from other universities, from the UT System, the Platform Party, the Presidential Party and the Regents will have their names and titles superimposed on the large screen as they enter. Mrs. Wolf stays at lectern.

Right after Mary Etlinger has entered the auditorium — a slight pause in both the Processional and the music:

Mrs. Wolf:

Ladies and Gentlemen, please stand for the arrival of the Presidential Party and the members of The Board of Regents.

Note: The Platform Party and the Presidential Party and Regents go to the stage; Dr. Wartman, who has been standing by the Mace, takes his place by his chair after the Presidential Party comes on stage. When the last member of the Presidential Party is in place on the stage, Pomp and Circumstance ends.

Mrs. Wolf:

Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain standing for the Presentation of Colors, the National Anthem and the Invocation.

The Colors are presented by the Junior ROTC of the Dr. Leo G. Cigarroa High School in Laredo, Texas. The National Anthem will be sung by Mrs. Linda Poetschke, Associate Professor of Music at The University of Texas at San Antonio. The Invocation will be delivered by The Reverend David Garcia of San Fernando Cathedral.

ROTC comes down and places flags. Hands over heart from time flag is seen until placed.
Dr. Poetschke comes to stage from the front row and sings National Anthem. Returns to chair.
Father Garcia comes to lectern from the front row and delivers Invocation. Returns to chair.

Mrs. Wolf:

Please be seated.

There are many special guests with us today and I would like to introduce some of them at this time; others will be introduced later.

We have many elected officials today and I’d like to introduce them, ask them to remain standing and please hold your applause until the end.

The Mayor of the City of Harlingen, Mr. Connie de la Garza.

From the San Antonio City Council:

• Councilman Julian Castro
• Councilman Enrique Martin
• Councilman Carroll Schubert
• Councilman David Garcia
• Councilwoman Antoniette "Toni" Moorhouse
• Councilwoman Bonnie Conner
• And the Mayor of San Antonio, the Honorable Ed Garza

We’re very honored to have elected officials from Dr. Cigarroa’s hometown of Laredo with us today.

From the Laredo City Council:

• Councilman John Galo
• Councilman Joe Guerra
• And the Mayor of Laredo, the Honorable Betty Flores

From the Bexar County Commissioner’s Court:

• Commissioner Paul Elizondo
• And County Judge Nelson Wolff

From the Webb County Commissioner’s Court:

• Commissioner Jerry Vasquez
• Commissioner Felix Velasquez, Jr.
• And Webb County Judge, the Honorable Mercurio Martinez, Jr.

From the Texas House of Representatives:

• From McAllen -- Representative Roberto Gutierrez
• From Kingsville, Representative Irma Rangel, Chair of the House Committee on Higher Education

And from San Antonio …

• Representative Elizabeth Ames Jones
• Representative John Longoria
• Representative Jose Menendez
• Representative Arthur Reyna
• Representative Carlos Uresti

From the Texas State Senate:

• Senator Leticia Van de Putte
• And the Dean of the Texas Senate, Senator Carlos Truan

And a group of people are appointed by the Governor and very important to all higher education in the state: The members of the prestigious Higher Education Coordinating Board: Mr. Bob Shepherd from Harlingen, Mr. Raul Fernandez from San Antonio and Dr. Ricardo Cigarroa from Laredo.

Thank you all for honoring us with your presence today. It means a lot to Dr. Cigarroa and to this entire campus. (Applause)

I am now pleased to introduce the members of the Platform Party. Please stand as your names are called and remain standing … and will the audience please hold your applause until the end.

• President Emeritus, Dr. Frank Harrison
• The Vice Dean of the Medical School, Dr. Celia Kaye
• The Associate Vice President for South Texas/Border Initiatives, Dr. Jaime Garza
• The Executive Vice President for Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Steve Lynch
• The Executive Vice President for Administration, Mr. James D. Kazen
• Representing the students — Mr. Arturo Portillo, one of the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Presidential Scholars
• The Dean of the School of Nursing, Dr. Janet Allan
• Representing the Dean of the Dental School, Dr. Bill Dodge, Associate Dean for Patient Care
• The Interim Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Dr. Merle Olson
• The Dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences, Dr. Marilyn Harrington
• The Vice President for Academic Administration, Dr. Deborah Greene
• The Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Mr. Jerry York
• The Chief of Staff and Executive Associate to the President, Mrs. Mary Etlinger

Thank you (applause.)

I’m very pleased to introduce the members of the Presidential Party.

• Dr. Timmy Wolff, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center and long time colleague of Dr. Cigarroa
• Dr. Glenn Halff, Interim Chairman of the Department of Surgery
• Dr. Paul Colombani, the Chief of the Division of Pediatric Surgery from Johns Hopkins Hospital
• Dr. James Guckian, The Acting Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs for the UT System
• Dr. Charles Mullins The former Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs for the UT System
• The Dean of the Bexar County Delegation to the Texas House of Representatives, the Honorable Robert Puente
• The Dean of the Bexar County Delegation to the Texas State Senate, the Honorable Judith Zaffirini
• Mrs. Jocelyn Straus, The President of the Development Board
• Dr. Steven Wartman, The Executive Vice President for Academic and Health Affairs and Dean of the Medical School
• The Honorable Cyndi Taylor Krier, Member of the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System.
• The President of the Health Science Center, Dr. Francisco Cigarroa
• Regent Patrick C.Oxford, member of the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System and Chairman of the Health Affairs Committee
• The former Governor of the great State of Texas, the Honorable Dolph Briscoe, Jr.
• The Honorable Tom Loeffler, former Chairman of the Board of Regents of the UT System
• Mr. Sam Barshop, former member of the Board of Regents
• Dr. Mario Ramirez, former member of the Board of Regents and Vice President for South Texas/Border Initiatives at the Health Science Center
• Dr. James Bauerle, former member of the Board of Regents

Thank you all very much.

(Applause.)

(At this point, the St. Mary’s Choir — which has been seated in the foyer — lines up at both aisles, ready to walk. They quietly enter the back part of the auditorium — and stand at the point where the rows of seats begin.)

Mrs. Wolf:

We have asked several people to bring greetings to Dr. Cigarroa today. I am pleased to introduce Second Year Medical Student - Mr. Arturo Portillo.

(Judy Wolf steps aside during all these greetings, but does not return to her seat.)

Mr. Portillo:

Dr. Cigarroa — and Distinguished guests:

I am honored to speak on behalf of the Health Science Center students at this wonderful and historic occasion.

Dr. Cigarroa, I want you to know that you are an inspiration to all of us — in all five schools.

Your commitment to excellence and your dedication to the health professions is legendary. I know you have set high standards for us -- and I want to assure you that we are also committed to becoming the finest physicians, dentists, nurses, scientists and allied health professionals that we can be.

You also serve as a very special role model to me. My parents were migrant farm workers and I am the proud son of a hard-working family — who always wanted the best for me. During those years I spent with the migrant farm community there were far too many times when medical care was greatly needed — and simply not available.

I decided then to set some very high goals of my own --- and try to make it to medical school so that I could return to South Texas and bring that much needed care to a region that needs it so badly.

I am able to do this because of some wonderful donors, and I am honored and grateful for their support.

Dr. Cigarroa, my pledge to you today — representing the students of this great university — is that we will not let you down. We are being given a wonderful education, and we will use it to serve the people of Texas … and in my case, the people of South Texas, specifically. I know you understand the needs of our region, and just as you were inspired by your father --- I am inspired by you and all that you represent.

Please accept the very best wishes of the students of all five schools of this great Health Science Center.

Mrs. Wolf:

The President of the Health Science Development Board, Mrs. Jocelyn Straus.

Mrs. Straus:

Dr. Cigarroa, speaking on behalf of the Development Board, we want you to know that we are excited and optimistic about the future of this great Health Science Center under your leadership.

We are pleased that so many elected officials, donors and community leaders are here with us today. This community has always understood how important this Health Science Center is to our future. Now that the biosciences are our leading economic generator, it is more important than ever that this university continues to prosper.

Your vision for bringing this academic health center to the next level of excellence is a vision that your Development Board shares.

I am also glad we have two Regents with us. I know they understand how supportive we are of the Health Science Center — and of our new president. Dr. Cigarroa, we know you need private philanthropy to continue to succeed, and I want to assure you - and your assembled campus audience - on this very special occasion — that this Development Board is here to support you.

And Governor Briscoe, your presence here today means so much to all of us. From the entire Development Board, we extend our warmest congratulations — and our assurance that we will be working with you every step of the way as you lead this fine university into some of its finest years.

Thank you.

Mrs. Wolf:

The Dean of the Bexar County delegation to the Texas House of Representatives, the Honorable Robert Puente. Representative Puente …

Rep Puente:

Brings greetings…

Mrs. Wolf:

We are also honored to have the Dean of the Bexar County delegation to the Texas Senate, the Honorable Judith Zaffirini, from Laredo — whose district also includes Bexar County. Senator Zaffirini …

Senator Zaffirini:

Brings greetings

Mrs. Wolf:

Representing The University of Texas System, the former Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, Dr. Charles Mullins — who will then turn the program over to the Acting Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, Dr. James Guckian.

Dr. Mullins:

Brings greetings and then introduces Dr. Guckian. Returns to seat.

Dr. Guckian:

Thank you, Dr. Mullins, for those kind remarks. It is a pleasure to be with this fine Health Science Center and I appreciate the opportunity to bring official greetings from The University of Texas System.

It is an exciting time for any campus when a new president is officially installed. And it is an exciting time for the UT System administration as well. On an occasion such as this, I believe we all come away with a new sense of pride in the Health Science Center, and a new understanding of how important higher education is for this great state. I know that is particularly true for this city and this region, which places such a great value on the Health Science Center.

When you consider that some health universities have been around for well more than 100 years — this is a relatively young institution. But you have made a remarkable impact on the health professions — and on this state — and we are quite proud of what you have achieved.

I realize most people immediately think of The University of Texas when they think of undergraduate education or graduate education. But perhaps most people don’t automatically think of the impact we have on the health of the citizens of this state.

Dr. Cigarroa, although you have already been leading this academic health center for some months now, today is still a celebration of new beginnings. We are proud of the job you are doing and on behalf of the entire UT System Administration, we wish you every success as together, we build a better future for this great State.

Returns to seat.

Mrs. Wolf:

And from The Board of Regents, the Honorable Cyndi Taylor Krier.

Regent Krier:

Distinguished guests, Governor Briscoe, my fellow Regent, Pat Oxford and our many elected officials …

One of the greatest things about being a Regent is that you have the opportunity to participate in truly momentous occasions. Today is one of those occasions. Ceremonies like this are important — because they remind us of how fortunate our city is to have such an institution — with such exciting new leadership at the helm.

Dr. Cigarroa, the Regents could not be more pleased with the selection of you as the president who will lead this Health Science Center to its appropriate place among the top tier of academic health centers. The way this community has embraced you has validated the very wise choice the Regents made a few months ago. Your dedication to medicine is remarkable. I know how many weekends you have ended a busy week as president — and then gone right over to the hospital to perform transplant surgery. You do this because you want to save those lives — of course — but you also do this because you want to keep in touch with front line of medicine … those physicians, nurses , those faculty and students who are tomorrow’s health care professionals.

Those are just some of the qualities that make you a great leader.

The members of the Board of Regents have the privilege of oversight of this entire System. Fifteen components. And today, the light shines very brightly on one of those components: this outstanding Health Science Center.

So on behalf of the entire Board of Regents, I am pleased to bring our warmest greetings and our heartiest congratulations.

Mrs. Wolf:

I am now delighted to present Coro Santa Maria from St. Mary’s University, under the direction of Daniel Long and accompanied by John Moore.

Mrs. Wolf takes seat with Platform Party.

Choir assembles on steps and sings. Choir retires to foyer.

Dr. Steven Wartman comes to lectern.

Dr. Wartman:

Good Morning. I am Steven Wartman, Executive Vice President for Academic and Health Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine. I want to add my welcome and express my appreciation to the many distinguished guests, faculty, staff, students and visitors who have joined us to make today such a special occasion.

We are honored to have many presidents and official delegates from other Universities, the U.S. military and representatives of the UT System joining us today.

It is my privilege to introduce them at this time. Please stand as I call your name and remain standing and I’ll ask the audience to please hold your applause until the end.

Presidents and Official Delegates from Institutions of Higher Education in the United States and Mexico

• Dr. Mario Melgar — Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
• Dr. Michael Drake — The University of California System, Oakland California
• Dr. Charles Henley — Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Tulsa

Presidents and Official Delegates from Institutions of Higher Education in Texas and the United States Military

• Dr. Charles Cotrell — St. Mary’s University
• Dr. John Brazil — Trinity University
• Dr. Terry Dicianna — University of the Incarnate Word
• Dr. Robert Gibbons — Our Lady of the Lake University
• Dr. Vern Loland — San Antonio College
• Dr. Garry Ross — Texas A&M University at Kingsville
• Dr. Richard Armenta — Del Mar College
• Dr. Ismael Sosa, Jr. — Southwest Texas Junior College
• Dr. Ramon Dovalina — Laredo Community College
• Mr. Dan Bates — Southwest Research Institute
• Major General Lee Rodgers — Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base
• Dr. Patti Patterson — Texas Tech University Health Science Center
• Dr. Ray Keck, III — Texas A&M International University
• Dr. Ana M. Guzmán — Palo Alto College
• Dr. Roberto Gonzales — Northwest Vista College

Presidents and Official Delegates from The University of Texas System Component Institutions

• Dr. Steven Leslie — The University of Texas at Austin
• Dr. Miguel Nevárez — The University of Texas — Pan American
• Dr. Joaquin Cigarroa — The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas
• Dr. Ricardo Romo — The University of Texas at San Antonio
• Dr. Geralyn Franklin — The University of Texas of the Permian Basin
• Dr. Ronald Garvey — The University of Texas at Tyler
• Dr. Juliet Garcia — The University of Texas at Brownsville

Representatives of the University of Texas System

• Mr. Armando Diaz — Vice Chancellor for Community Relations
• Mr. Budge Mabry — Director of the Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service
• Dr. Homer Pena, Jr. — Executive Director for South Texas Programs

Thank you all for joining us today. We are honored by your presence.

(Lead applause.)

Before the actual Investiture proceeds, I would like to offer a symbolic perspective on what our Health Science Center has become. Our campus has become truly regional and represents our commitment to and partnership with the entire South Texas/Border area.

Only a short time ago — barely a generation — we were chartered as the South Texas Medical School. We grew into a full-fledged Health Science Center when we added our Nursing School, Dental School, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and School of Allied Health Sciences.

Then we began to expand to other campuses — and you see the sites listed on the banners here on the wall behind us and in your programs.

I am sure you have noticed this sculpture here to my left. It has a special significance to the Health Science Center and for today’s Investiture. You are going to see the complete sculpture assembled in a few moments.

The central star in this sculpture represents our beginnings — when we consisted of only one campus. The finished sculpture will be a much larger star — just as today the Health Science Center is a much larger place. This completed star, representing our six campuses, clearly symbolizes that we are one university, with a unified mission.

We have asked representatives from each of our six campuses to set in place the piece of the sculpture that represents their part of our campus. After today, this sculpture will hold a place of permanent honor in the auditorium foyer, not just to represent this Investiture of our third president, but also to portray the relationships that exist among our six campuses.

I would like the six campus representatives to come to the stage.

(All six come from their seats in the front row and stand beside Dr. Wartman. As each person’s name is called, he or she walks over to the sculpture, takes the appropriate piece and places it in the proper location — then stands behind the sculpture and waits for the others to finish.)

• Representing the Central Campus, Mrs. Gayle Price of the Office of External Affairs. Mrs. Price has been a member of the Health Science Center family since long before our first building even existed. In fact, at that time, Dr. Brazil, the offices of our not-yet-constructed medical school were housed on the campus of Trinity University. Mrs. Price has been with the Health Science Center for an amazing 35 years!
• Representing the Texas Research Park Campus, Mrs. Diana Hottle — from the Institute of Biotechnology, which was the first building on what is now known as the Texas Research Park Campus. Working closely with Dr. Wen-Hwa Lee, Diana has brought great leadership to that important part of our campus.
• Representing the North Campus, Mr. Mike McGinley, from the Research Imaging Center in the Robert F. McDermott Clinical Science Building, the first building on what is now known as our North Campus. Mr. McGinley is Assistant Director for Administration of the Research Imaging Center and today represents all the outstanding programs located on the North Campus.
• Representing the Laredo Campus, Mr. Bryan Navarette. Mr. Navarette is originally from Laredo and has returned to work with one of the Health Science Center programs there — the Area Health Education Center. He is working on an asthma education and research program — funded through the Health Science Center - which will be located in our new Laredo Building.
• Representing the Edinburg Campus, Mr. Rene Alvarez. Mr. Alvarez will soon become Dr. Alvarez. He is a student in our Graduate School, working toward his PhD in Microbiology and is studying bacteria related to infectious diseases and pneumonia. He wants to work in our Edinburg research building and invest back in the region which has invested in him.
• Representing the Harlingen Campus, Mr. James Juarez, a second-year Medical Student. Mr. Juarez has already spent some time in Harlingen, learning about our RAHC program. His medical interests are in family medicine and international health, so our presence in this region is very important to him. It is quite appropriate that he represents the Harlingen Campus today.

(After sculpture is complete, all return to their seats in the front row.)

Dr. Cigarroa, we are pleased to present you with this permanent reminder of today’s Investiture Ceremony and the many campuses that you lead. We hope the star will always remind you and others of our great expectations for a bright future under your leadership.

Dr. Wartman:

I have one other special presentation to make. Dr. Cigarroa, as you know, the Secretary of State of the State of Texas, Henry Cuellar, is also from Laredo and greatly regrets that he could not be here today. But he did want to recognize the significance of this event and has asked us to present you with this certificate which makes you an honorary "official" of the State of Texas.

Please come forward and accept this certificate, signed by the Governor and the Secretary of State.

(Dr. Cigarroa comes forward and Dr. Wartman hands the certificate to him. Certificate will be on shelf in lectern base. Pause for photo. Dr. Cigarroa returns to seat.)

Dr. Wartman:

We have now come to the time of the official Investiture of the third president of the Health Science Center.

I am pleased to call upon the Chairman of the Health Affairs Committee of The Board of Regents -- Regent Patrick Oxford — to publicly and officially invest the powers of the office of president in Dr. Cigarroa.

(Dr. Wartman returns to his seat.)

(Dr. Cigarroa comes forward to stand by Regent Oxford.)

Regent Oxford:

By the power vested in the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System, I am pleased to officially install you as the President of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, with all the rights, privileges, and obligations pertaining to the chief executive.

Further, I charge you with the leadership of the six campuses comprising this one university, to educate the students, to inspire the faculty and staff, to provide this state with a new generation of health professionals, to encourage research that will create new knowledge, and to always represent this great state that has entrusted you with one of its highest honors.

I’d like to ask Regent Krier to join me as I present this Presidential Medallion to President Francisco Cigarroa.

(Regent steps over to Dr. Cigarroa as he steps toward Regent. Regent Krier stands with Regent Oxford for this. Regent Oxford takes Medallion out of box and places around Dr. Cigarroa’s neck. The photographer will take photos of the medallion being placed and then both Regents and Dr. Cigarroa stand for official photo.)

All but Dr. Cigarroa take seats.

Dr. Cigarroa goes to lectern.

Dr. Cigarroa: Speech

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