Morehouse School of Medicine's 42nd Commencement

We are pleased to announce that Rich McCormick, M.D., MBA will serve as the keynote speaker for our 42nd Commencement Exercises, taking place on Saturday, May 16, 2026. He is a decorated veteran and emergency room physician serving Georgia’s 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. A proud MSM graduate, Dr. McCormick returns to campus as the first and only alumnus elected to the United States Congress—an extraordinary milestone that reflects the caliber of leadership cultivated within our institution. During his time at MSM in 2010, he was elected student body president by his peers, demonstrating an early commitment to leadership, advocacy and service that continues to define his career. He has spent most of his life in service to his country as a Marine Corps helicopter pilot deployed to combat zones in Africa, the Persian Gulf and in the Navy as the head of Emergency Medicine in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Between deployments, he earned an MBA from National University, served as a Marine Officer Instructor at Georgia Tech and Morehouse College. Dr. McCormick’s journey—from MSM medical student to emergency physician, United States Marine and national leader—embodies our mission to develop physician-leaders committed to advancing health equity and serving communities. His career spans high-impact clinical care and leadership across both military and civilian settings, grounded in excellence, resilience and purpose. His story reflects the very best of our institution and will serve as a powerful source of inspiration for our graduating class as they prepare to lead and serve. Please join us in welcoming our distinguished alumnus home and celebrating the achievements of our graduates at this year’s Commencement.