Medical School Commencement
Our 2025 commencement ceremony was Friday, May 2, 2025.
Live Stream and Accessible PDF
Live Stream
The ceremony will be live streamed so that anyone unable to attend in person may join in the celebration. The stream will begin 5 minutes prior to the ceremony start time.
For more information on the University at Buffalo's Commencement ceremonies, please visit: https://www.buffalo.edu/commencement
Accessible PDF
An accessible PDF of the commencement program for the Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences MD Ceremony, including a listing of all graduates in the class of 2025, is available at: https://www.buffalo.edu/content/dam/www/commencement/2025-accessible-pdfs/Jacobs%20SMBS%20MD%20%2725%20Program%20Book.pdf
Eligibility
All MD candidates for the class of 2025 are invited to participate in the commencement ceremony.
Latin Honor Cords
The solid gold cord is being worn by graduating students who have earned the academic distinction of Latin honors including cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude.
Alpha Omega Alpha Cords
The green and gold cord is being worn by graduating students who are members of the national Alpha Omega Alpha honor medical society.
Gold Humanism Honor Society Cords
The gold and burgundy cord is being worn by graduating students who are members of the national Gold Humanism Honor Society.
Red, White and Blue Cord
The red, white and blue cord is being worn by graduating UB students who are reservists, newly commissioned officers or veterans of the United States armed forces.
Regalia
More information forthcoming.
Accessibility
Students
If you need accommodations to enable you to participate in a commencement ceremony, please indicate on the commencement registration form.
Guests
The university is committed to providing equal access to individuals with disabilities, including physical access to events and reasonable accommodations for members of the university community.
Tickets and Guest Information
Tickets
Graduates will be required to check in at registration.
Guests Attending with Children
Children, toddlers and infants are welcome as guests at all commencement ceremonies.
BABY STROLLERS
Baby strollers are not permitted in the seats or aisles in the theater because of the safety hazards they pose. Therefore, the use of baby strollers is discouraged. If a baby stroller is necessary, it must be left in the entrance of the theater at your own risk.
Parking
The Stadium Lot, Slee A Lot and Baird A Lot are recommended for guest parking. During commencement ceremonies, guests are welcome to park in any faculty/staff and student parking lots; a UB hangtag is not required. For a map with details for parking lots; please see the UB North Campus Map.
Safety and COVID-19
The University at Buffalo’s top priority for our 2025 Commencement Weekend is the safety of everyone on our UB community. All New York State and University guidelines for a safe celebration to honor our graduates are being taken into consideration.
Health & Safety
Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 will no longer be required to attend events at UB.
Effective immediately, spectators do not need to show a vaccination card upon entering sporting events at UB Stadium or Alumni Arena, or to attend cultural events at the Center for the Arts and Slee Hall.
This also applies to students and guests attending commencement ceremonies in May.
Masks are no longer required at UB events, either, part of an earlier decision to lift that mandate for most campus settings on March 5, based on updated guidance from the state and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Safety
The following items are prohibited:
Photography
There will be a photographer present to capture the day.
Diplomas
Program Book Name
Eligible students will appear in the program book. Preferred/chosen name, as it appears in HUB, will be listed in program books. If you’d like your name listed differently from that, please communicate this to Julie Szrama by email. The program book will reflect information provided by April 3. Program book content will reflect the data available in HUB as of March 15, 2025.
Diploma Name for Medical Licensure
Before opting to print your preferred/chosen name on your diploma, please take into consideration that professional licensing requirements require you to use your legal name. For example, State Bar application and licensure and federal employment/guidelines require the use of the legal name. Using your preferred name on your diploma may result in rejection, delay, scrutiny, and/or requirements for additional proof of identification associated with any application for employment, licensure, credentialing, visa application, and/or other processes that require verification of your education records.
Printed Diploma
Students will receive their actual paper diploma (16”x20”) at the ceremony as long as they have completed all degree requirements; including having satisfactory grades in all courses and they must have a recorded passing score on both the USMLE board examination.
If you have not completed all requirements, your diploma will be mailed to your permanent address once you have met all requirements. Please contact the Registrar for more information.
Certified Electronic Diploma
Students have the option to purchase a certified electronic diploma (CeDiploma) for $15.95. An offer will be sent to your UB email, from info@credentialtrust.com, approximately 3-6 weeks after your degree conferral date.
Ceremony Contact
Director of Student and Academic Affairs
Julie Szrama
Director of Student and Academic Affairs
955 Main Street, Room 1214 Buffalo, NY 14203-1121
Phone: (716) 829-2802; Fax: (716) 829-2798
Email: juliemos@buffalo.edu