When OU's administration asked the College of Osteopathic Medicine to select a speaker for this year's graduate student commencement, the college decided that an encouraging, informative and entertaining speaker should send graduates off into the real world.

The department selected Norman Gevitz, professor and chairman of social medicine, to address graduates in June, OU-COM's Director of Advocacy Chip Rogers said. Rogers was involved in the selection process along with OU-COM Dean Barbara Ross-Lee and the college's department chairpersons.

Although Gevitz is new to OU this academic year, he is not new to speaking at graduations. He has spoken at four other ceremonies at different universities, Gevitz said.

But Gevitz said he is looking forward to the opportunity to speak at OU.

"I like the idea of sending a message to the graduating class," Gevitz said.

That motivational message is just what the college wants to provide to the graduates, Rogers said.

A solemn moment, graduation instills a sense of pride within the graduates and their families, Rogers said. Combined with a sending forth message that can motivate students to do well, speakers also must be brief and succinct, he said. And Gevitz has that ability.

"I personally felt he was an excellent choice," Rogers said.

The department also attempted to select a speaker based on the college's prevailing themes for the year.

This year's themes are distinctiveness in medical service, academic and clinical quality and patient values, which were selected at the College's State of the University address earlier this year, Ross-Lee said.

In his speech, Gevitz will focus on distinctiveness and the importance of it in everything graduates do, she said.

Although used throughout the year as a focus for the college, distinctiveness is a topic that is appropriate for all of OU's educational programs, Ross-Lee said.

"(Gevitz) is comfortable with that theme and will do an excellent job speaking," she said.

Gevitz, who received his doctorate in sociology from the University of Chicago, taught at the University of Illinois' College of Medicine for six years before coming to OU, and he is the author of numerous books, articles and chapters.