This year’s graduates of UT Southwestern’s School of Health Professions are starting their careers at a time when their skills are urgently needed. According to the Bureau of Health Workforce, the U.S. is projected to face a shortage of tens of thousands of allied health professionals by 2037, making every new graduate essential to the health of our communities. And in a world of rapidly changing medicine, the school aims to stay at the forefront of compassionate, patient-centered care, ensuring these graduates are prepared for their new roles.

On Saturday, Dec. 13, the achievements of 128 School of Health Professions graduates will be celebrated at a commencement ceremony in the Tom and Lula Gooch Auditorium on South Campus. Surrounded by proud family, friends, faculty, and staff, these future health leaders will begin a new chapter of personal growth and community impact, becoming physician assistants, physical therapists, prosthetists, clinical researchers, and other allied health professionals.

The school will award the following degrees: Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Clinical Research, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Master of Clinical Nutrition, Master of Physician Assistant Studies, and Master of Prosthetics-Orthotics.

Jon Williamson, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Health Professions and a Distinguished Teaching Professor, will preside over the ceremony. In advance of the event, he offered a motivating message to honor the dedication and accomplishments of the graduating class.

“To our graduates, we know you have worked hard because the learning environment at UT Southwestern is designed to be challenging. However, this level of rigor is required to ensure you receive the high-quality training that you will need to be successful in a complex health care environment,” Dr. Williamson said. “Further, this knowledge will provide a solid foundation for ongoing professional growth. We will gather one last time for your graduation, not as faculty and students, but as professional colleagues, to recognize your accomplishments and to wish you much success in your future endeavors.”

Jonathan Efron, M.D., Executive Vice President for Health System Affairs, will deliver the commencement address. Dr. Efron said he admires the distinctive combination of intellectual curiosity and empathy that defines UTSW students – individuals who combine scientific rigor with a heartfelt commitment to strengthening community health.

“UT Southwestern students embody the true call to serve,” Dr. Efron said. “Our students are committed in purpose, compassionate in care, motivated to improve lives, curious in the pursuit of knowledge, and intelligent in both thought and action. They exemplify diversity in background, experience, and skill set, and they all make an impact in different ways. Each student brings a unique perspective, and in the collaborative world of health care, those varied skills and perspectives are what make real, meaningful progress possible for all communities.”

Carolyn Bradley-Guidry, Dr.P.H., M.P.A.S., PA-C, Associate Dean for Student Affairs – School of Health Professions and a Distinguished Teaching Professor, who will highlight the programs, said the graduates have shown exceptional perseverance, compassion, and commitment to excellence.

“We are immensely proud of this year’s health professions graduates. Their journey has been one of growth, discovery, and purpose, and it has been inspiring to witness their transformation into qualified and caring health professionals,” Dr. Bradley-Guidry said. “As they embark on their careers, we are confident they will serve their communities with integrity, embody cultural humility, and bring excellence to every facet of patient care, education, and research.”

Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D., President of UT Southwestern, will confer degrees and present diplomas. Sherry C. Huang, M.D., Vice Provost and Senior Associate Dean for Education, will share insights for students to live their purpose.

“Graduation marks not only the culmination of years of study, but the beginning of a lifelong commitment to curiosity, compassion, and service. Our graduates stand at the intersection of discovery and humanity – prepared to advance science, transform care, and advocate for equity in health,” Dr. Huang said. “The lessons they have learned at UT Southwestern will guide them through uncertainty and change, reminding them that excellence in medicine is not just about what we know but how we use that knowledge to uplift others and improve the world around us.”

UTSW’s School of Health Professions – founded in 1969 as the School of Allied Health Professions – emerged during a period of rapid medical advancement and rising demand for talented clinical professionals. In September 1970, the school welcomed its first 57 students, and today it offers a wide range of innovative programs, supported by more than 60 full-time faculty and hundreds of adjunct instructors and clinical preceptors across the DFW metroplex.

Over the past five decades, thousands of graduates have delivered advanced clinical counseling, restorative movement and rehabilitation expertise, healthy eating guidance, and precision design and fabrication skills, becoming leaders in their fields and making a meaningful impact in their communities.

The campus community can watch the live commencement online at 11 a.m. Dec. 13. A recording of the ceremony will also be available for future viewing on the Student Life website.