Twenty-eight new doctors were presented with their respective medical degrees earned as the inaugural class of The Medical School of Temple University/St. Luke's University Health Network at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia last Wednesday.

After four years of intense study and clinical experience, class members will begin residencies where they will learn specialty medicine in their chosen area of interest."I am so proud of each and every one of these students as they receive their medical degrees. The honor of educating the physicians of tomorrow right here in Bethlehem is a dream come true for me personally and professionally," said Dr. Joel Rosenfeld, chief academic officer, St. Luke's University Health Network, and senior associate dean, Temple University School of Medicine.There were local ties for the graduates, which includes a Tamaqua native, Matt Zuber, son of Stephen and Wanda Zuber.Temple University School of Medicine's Annual Awards Day Ceremony was held before the commencement ceremony.Nominated faculty were acknowledged for special contributions to student education, and selected students in the class were awarded for meritorious academic achievements and services to the school.They include: Lea Jancic, Bedford, New Hampshire; Melissa Yacur, Bristow, Virginia; and Zuber.They were recognized for being elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha National Honor Medical Society.Seven students were recognized for being elected to the Gold Humanism Honor Society: Victoria Gilbert, Bethlehem; Nicholas Julius, Mountaintop; Sumit Patel, Floral Park, New York; Yuan Stevenson, Allentown; Julia Tolentino, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey; Jessica Wagner, Littleton, Colorado; and Zuber.Zuber was awarded the John Franklin Huber Award for excellence in the field of gross anatomy. He also received the Dr. Charles Schnall Alumni Award for Clinical Excellence for having the most outstanding performance in the clinical years.Mark Fegley, North Wales, received The Edell Family Endowed Prize in Community Medicine awarded for commitment to community service.