Dr. Sally Kornbluth, president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is set to deliver the John E. Whitmore Lecture at Baylor College of Medicine's commencement ceremony in May. Kornbluth will also be among the honorees receiving honorary degrees. Joining her are Dr. Rochelle Walensky, a senior fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, and Charles Hall, a senior tax practitioner at Norton Rose Fulbright.
“This year’s honorary degree recipients are leaders in science, medicine and philanthropy, and we are pleased to recognize their contributions to the advancement of their fields,” stated Dr. Paul Klotman, the president, CEO, and executive dean of Baylor College of Medicine. He added, “I look forward to hearing their advice for our graduates at the ceremony in May.”
The commencement, covering the School of Medicine, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and the School of Health Professions Genetic Counseling Program, will take place on May 27 at Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land.
Serving as the 18th president of MIT since January 2023, Kornbluth has overseen various initiatives such as the Climate Project at MIT, the MIT Human Insight Collaborative, and the MIT Health and Life Sciences Collaborative. Her academic background includes a B.A. in political science from Williams College, a B.A. in genetics from Cambridge University, and a Ph.D. in molecular oncology from Rockefeller University. Before serving at MIT, she was a faculty member at Duke University and held various leadership positions, including provost.
Walensky, who was the 19th director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic, is known for her contributions to infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS research. Her career includes being a professor at Harvard Medical School and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital. At Baylor, she will receive the Doctor of Letters in Medicine, recognizing her academic achievements.
Hall, recognized for his experience in taxation and long-standing support of Baylor College of Medicine, will receive the Doctor of Humanities in Medicine. Involved deeply with the M.D. Anderson Foundation, he has contributed to Baylor’s progress, notably its historic relocation to Houston.
Kornbluth and Walensky’s honorary degrees mark them as leaders whose work has elevated their fields and brought recognition to Baylor College of Medicine.
