Del Mar College Announces Spring 2022 Commencement Speaker … CHRISTUS Spohn Health System CEO Dr. Osbert Blow
May 20 ceremony is first in-person graduation in over two years; DMC “prospective” graduates waling the stage at American Bank Center, including grads who completed studies during worst of pandemic
Article by DMC College Relations Office
It’s been more than two years since Del Mar College (DMC) has held an in-person graduation. The last time the College’s “prospective” graduates walked the stage was December 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This Friday, May 20, DMC will hold its Spring 2022 Commencement Ceremony at the American Bank Center beginning at 7 p.m. with 786 out of 1,022 individuals participating during the event. Out of those participants, 236 are May 2020 through December 2021 graduates who have taken the College’s offer to “walk the stage” as part of this spring’s “in-person” event.
Starting in May 2020, ceremonies have strictly been a “virtual” experience and aired on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and the College’s own streaming channel. Friday will mark a milestone as DMC moves forward during the current phase of the pandemic.
Before College officials confer approximately 1,256 associate’s degrees and certificates, the potential graduates and pre-Spring 2022 graduates will hear a keynote address given by CHRISTUS Spohn Health System Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Osbert Blow.
As the CEO for the CHRISTUS Spohn Health System, Dr. Blow is responsible for leading a comprehensive health care system that includes six hospital campuses, a Level II Trauma Center, six family health centers, a nationally-recognized cancer center, a certified comprehensive stroke center, a provider network for self-insured employer groups, residency programs, and a host of community outreach programs.
Dr. Blow joined the CHRISTUS Spohn family in 2006 as Chair of the Department of Acute Care Surgery, Trauma and Surgical Critical Care and Medical Director for CHRISTUS Spohn’s Trauma and Surgical Critical Care Services. Under his leadership, the CHRISTUS Spohn Corpus Christi – Memorial/Shoreline achieved Level II Trauma Center designation, which Shoreline continues to hold today and is the only one in the Coastal Bend.
In 2015, Dr. Blow was appointed as Chief Medical Officer (CMO); and under his leadership, the Spohn ministry has achieved outstanding quality results consistently year after year. His role expanded in March 2019 to include President, followed by becoming CEO in November 2021. During the last two-and-a-half-years with Dr. Blow serving in the dual roles as President and CMO, behavioral health, critical care, and stroke care have reached higher levels of excellence. And, under his leadership, the Spohn ministry has come through two pandemic surges, hurricanes, and a historic freeze.
Dr. Blow earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in French Studies from Columbia University and his medical and graduate degrees from Duke University. He completed his general surgical training at the University of Virginia and trauma and surgical critical training at the R.A. Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Md. Dr. Blow is Board Certified in General Surgery and in Surgical Critical Care.
He has served in many leadership roles in academia, too, including the University of Texas, Texas A&M University and University of North Texas Systems. He is a member of many national organizations and has authored several chapters in textbooks and numerous manuscripts as well as presented at many national and international scientific congresses.
Active in the community, Dr. Blow serves as President of the American Heart Association, Vice Chair of the Coastal Bend Blood Center, Vice Chair of the Coastal Bend Regional Advisory Council and as an Emeritus member of the CHRISTUS Spohn Foundation. He is also a member of the Texas State Aquarium, United Chamber of Commerce and American Heart Southwest Region Boards.
A few things about the CHRISTUS Spohn Health System:
• Cardiac Rehabilitation Program is recognized by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation,
• Part of an elite group of hospitals the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association have recognized for quality care of heart attacks, earning the Gold Stroke Plus and Mission Lifeline Awards,
• CHRISTUS Spohn Cancer Center is region’s only cancer program nationally accredited by the American College of Surgeon’s Commission on Cancer,
• Birthing services are recognized as Texas 10 Step facilities,
• Joint Commission has recognized CHRISTUS Spohn as a certified Chest Pain Center, and
• CHRISTUS Spohn hospitals are consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as high-performing and best in the region.
Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.