2022 Commencement Update: Former U.S. Surgeon General to Deliver Keynote Address

The university’s Commencement Committee announces that Dr. Richard Carmona, MD, MPH, FACS, the 17th Surgeon General of the United States, will deliver this year’s keynote address during CGU’s 95th Annual Commencement Ceremony, which will take place on campus on May 14.

This year’s ceremony will mark a return to an in-person event with degrees conferred on several hundred master’s and doctoral candidates during a morning ceremony held in the Mudd Quadrangle on the north side of the Honnold-Mudd Library. The university’s commencement ceremonies in 2020 and 2021 were held online.

For more information about this year’s ceremony, see the link below.

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Carmona, who was nominated in 2002 by President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the US Senate, will also be the recipient of an honorary doctorate during this year’s ceremony.

As Surgeon General, Dr. Carmona focused on prevention, preparedness, health disparities, health literacy, and global health to include health diplomacy. He also issued many landmark Surgeon General communications during his tenure, including the definitive Surgeon General’s Report about the dangers of second-hand smoke. In 2006, Dr. Carmona completed his four-year term as US Surgeon General and returned to the University of Arizona, where he is a professor of surgery and pharmacy practice and a distinguished laureate professor of public health.

He has also held many positions of senior leadership that include directorships of several public and private boards, CEO of a hospital and health care system, and vice-chair of Canyon Ranch, and president of the non-profit Canyon Ranch Institute.

• Get more information on schedules, times, location, parking, and more for the 95th Annual Commencement at CGU.