Morehouse School of Medicine Celebrates Class of 2025 During 41st Commencement Exercises
Historically Black medical school awards master and doctorate degrees in medicine, public health and biomedical sciences to 178 graduates.
ATLANTA, GA – MAY 21, 2025 – Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) conferred doctorate and master's degrees in medicine, public health and biomedical sciences to 178 students during its 41st Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 17. The emotional and uplifting ceremony was held at the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College, where MSM was founded 50 years ago before becoming an independent institution in 1981.
"You are entering your various professions at an unprecedented time. Trust in the knowledge you’ve gained and remember to always lead with compassion and humility,” MSM President and CEO Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, FACOG, told the graduates. “People will look to you for answers and guidance. They will trust you with the most vulnerable and important part of themselves – whether as a research study participant, a community partner or as a patient, they will expect you to understand the depth of trust they are extending to you and the weight of hope that rests on your shoulders.”
Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA, 18th United States Surgeon General, delivered the keynote address. Dr. Benjamin was a member of MSM’s second charter class when the institution was a two-year medical education program at Morehouse College. Dr. Benjamin earned her B.S. degree in chemistry from Xavier University of Louisiana and after completing the MSM basic medical sciences program, she went on to receive her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and completed Family Medicine Residency in Macon, GA.
During the ceremony, Dr. Montgomery Rice announced nearly $5 million in awards to eligible 2025 MD graduates who have incurred at least $100,000 in debt over the past two years and have not already received full tuition scholarships. The support has been made possible by previously announced investments from Bloomberg Philanthropies in Morehouse School of Medicine’s endowment.
By the Numbers
The historically Black medical school, one of only four in the United States, awarded a total of 178 degrees during the celebration.
- 93 Doctor of Medicine degrees
- 33 Master of Science in Medical Sciences degrees
- 18 Master of Public Health degrees
- 12 Doctor of Health Administration degrees
- Nine Master of Science in Health Informatics
- Three Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences degrees
- Three Master of Science in Neuroscience degrees
- Two Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
- Two Master of Science in Biomedical Research degrees
- Two Master of Science in Clinical Research degrees
- One Master of Administration in Justice-Involved Care degree
Additional details on Morehouse School of Medicine’s extensive academic programs, including master’s, doctorate, certificate, and pipeline initiatives, can be found at MSM.edu/Education.
For more information about Morehouse School of Medicine, please visit MSM.edu.
About Morehouse School of Medicine
Founded in 1975, Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) is among the nation’s leading educators of primary care physicians, biomedical scientists and public health professionals. An independent and private historically-Black medical school, MSM was recognized by the Annals of Internal Medicine as the nation’s number one medical school in fulfilling a social mission — the creation and advancement of health equity to achieve health justice. MSM faculty and alumni are noted for excellence in teaching, research and public policy, as well as exceptional patient care. MSM is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award doctoral and master’s degrees. To learn more about programs and donate today, please visit MSM.edu or call 404-752-1500.
Contact
Jamille Bradfield
Director, External Communications and Media Relations
Morehouse School of Medicine
jbradfield@msm.edu