Upstate Medical University to award honorary degrees at graduation

Upstate Medical University is planning to award two honorary degrees at its commencement on May 22, according to The Post-Standard. Recipients include Mary Ann Shaw, a community leader who spearheaded the fund-raising campaign for the Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, and David Botstein, a renowned geneticist and pioneer of the Human Genome Project.

Shaw will receive a doctor of humane letters honorary degree for her record of service in education, fund development, children’s health and community development.

Previously, Shaw founded the Literacy Corps at Syracuse University to deploy college tutors to disadvantaged schools and led the steering committee to develop and raise funds for the Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital.

Botstein will receive a doctor of science honorary degree for his contributions to modern genetics.

In 1980, Botstein and his colleagues proposed the first molecular method for mapping genes that was used in subsequent years to identify several human disease genes such as Huntington’s.