The Graduate School

Previous Keynote Speakers

The Graduate School is proud to continue our tradition of inviting a distinguished speaker each year to deliver the keynote speech. Honored guests have included Nobel Laureates and other highly esteemed researchers whose contributions have revolutionized science and medicine. Attendees are afforded the opportunity to learn from pioneers in their field as they navigate the ever-changing landscape of health and disease. 

photo of Nanette K. Wenger, MD

Nanette K. Wenger, MD

  • 2024
Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at Emory University School of Medicine|Founding Consultant, Emory Women's Heart Center|Gold Heart Award, Highest Award of the American Heart Association|Georgia Woman of the Year 2010|Lifetime Achievement Award American College of Cardiology|Lifetime Achievement Award World Heart Federation
Keynote Address: "Cardiovascular Disease in Women: Epidemiology, Awareness, Access, and Delivery of Equitable Health Care
photo of Eric Olson, PhD

Eric Olson, PhD

  • 2023
Annie and Willie Nelson Professor of Stem Cell Research|Pogue Distinguished Chair in Research on Cardiac Birth Defects |Robert A. Welch Distinguished Chair in Science at Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Keynote Address: "CRISPR Correction of Muscle and Heart Disease"
photo of Max Dale Cooper, MD

Max Dale Cooper, MD

  • 2022

Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar|Professor of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine|Winner of the 2019 Lasker Award
Keynote Address: "Evolution of our Immune System"

photo of Bruce Beutler, MD

Bruce Beutler, MD

  • 2021

Regental Professor|Director, Center for the Genetics of Host Defense |Raymond & Ellen Willie Distinguished Chair in Cancer Research,  University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Winner of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
Keynote Address: “Creating New Diseases and Suppressing Old Ones with Random Germline Mutagenesis"

photo of Vishva M. Dixit, MD

Vishva M. Dixit, MD

  • 2019
Vice President of Early Discovery Research, Genentech
Keynote Address: “Why so many ways to die? The Non-canonical Inflammasome Pathway”
photo of Bruce D. Hammock, PhD

Bruce D. Hammock, PhD

  • 2018
Distinguished Professor Department of Entomology & UCD Comprehensive Cancer Center |Director, NIEHS-UCD Superfund Research Program, University of California – Davis
Keynote Address: “Development of a Non Addictive Analgesic: The Painful Path from Basic Science to Treating Diabetic Pain”
photo of J. Merchant, MD/PhD

J. Merchant, MD/PhD

  • 2017
Professor, Departments of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Integrative and Molecular Physiology, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Member: Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences
Keynote Address:  "Helicobacter, Hedgehog and Gastric Cancer"
photo of Dora Angelaki, PhD

Dora Angelaki, PhD

  • 2016
Professor & Chair of Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine | Member: American Academy of Arts and Sciences and National Academy of Sciences
Keynote Address: "Merging of Our Senses: A Brain Challenge for Perceptual Reality”
photo of Leroy Hood, PhD

Leroy Hood, PhD

  • 2015
President, The Institute of Systems and Biology 
Keynote Address: "System Medicine and Proactive P4 Medicine: Catalyzing a Revolution in Healthcare”
photo of Shu Chien, MD/PhD

Shu Chien, MD/PhD

  • 2013
Professor of Bioengineering & Medicine | Director of Institute of Engineering in Medicine Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California, San Diego
Keynote Address: "Career Development: A Case History and General Thoughts”
photo of Carl Wu, PhD

Carl Wu, PhD

  • 2012
Senior Fellow, HHMI Janelia Farm Research Campus  | NIH Distinguished Investigator, Emeritus, Laboratory of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute
Keynote Address: "Chromatin Remodeling and the Regulation of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes”

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