We are extremely proud to be graduating MDs who embody our faculty’s tenets of compassion, professionalism and social accountability. As Manitoba’s only medical school, we take our responsibility seriously to educate and train physicians who will serve our communities around the province. My sincere congratulations to the graduates, their families and friends on this momentous day.

Convocation also includes the presentation of an Honorary Doctorate degree to University of Manitoba alumnus Allan Ronald O.C.; F.R.S.C; B.Sc. (Med.), M.D. (Man.);Dr. Allan R. Ronald, a pioneer of the University of Manitoba’s world-renowned infectious disease research program in Africa, is recognized for his tireless working HIV/AIDS research. IN 2002 he retired from a 35-year career at the University of Manitoba but continued to foster the HIV/AIDS Care and Prevention Program in Uganda. He is now Professor Emeritus in the Department of Medical Microbiology and was recently inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.

Born in Portage la Prairie, Dr. Ronald trained in Manitoba, Maryland, Washington and Pakistan before returning to the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Medicine in 1968 to head its infectious disease unit. IN 1978 he established one of the first clinical investigation units studying a new disseat that would eventually be known as HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Congratulations to Drs Klaus Wrogemann, Douglas Craig and Frank Labella. They will be appointed Professors Emereti at a ceremony at a later date recognizing their many years of service to the University of Manitoba.