Commencement 2026

Victor J. Dzau, MD, is an internationally recognized physician-scientist and health leader whose career has shaped the future of medicine, research and global health policy. He serves as President of the National Academy of Medicine, Vice Chair of the National Research Council and Chancellor Emeritus and James B. Duke Distinguished Professor at Duke University. He is also the former CEO of Duke Health.

A pioneering researcher in cardiovascular medicine, Dr. Dzau’s work helped lay the foundation for the development of ACE inhibitors – lifesaving therapies used worldwide to treat hypertension and heart failure. He also advanced the fields of gene therapy and cardiovascular regeneration, introducing novel approaches such as DNA decoy molecules and the Paracrine Hypothesis of stem cell action.

As a leader in academic medicine and global health, Dr. Dzau has championed a broader vision of health care – integrating science, innovation and equity to address complex societal challenges. Under his leadership, the National Academy of Medicine has launched major initiatives in pandemic preparedness, climate and health, human gene editing and healthcare system transformation.

He has advised governments and global organizations, including the National Institutes of Health, the World Health Organization, the G7 and the G20, on strategies to advance health and biomedical research.

Dr. Dzau’s many honors include the American Heart Association Distinguished Scientist Award, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and the Order of the Rising Sun from the government of Japan. 

Professor Lizbeth Goodman is an internationally recognized leader in inclusive design, creative technology and interdisciplinary education. Originally from New York and based in Europe since 1987, she holds degrees from the University of Rochester, Washington University in St. Louis and Cambridge University, where she completed both her MLitt and PhD. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, UK, and a Governor of Ravensbourne University London.

Dr. Goodman is Chair of Creative Technology Innovation and Full Professor of Inclusive Design at University College Dublin, where she directs SMARTlab — an award-winning global research center she founded more than three decades ago — as well as the Inclusive Design Research Centre of Ireland. Previously, she was Director of Research for Futurelab, Lord David Puttnam’s think tank for the Future of Education in the UK, and served in that capacity on the Prime Minister’s SHINE Panel.

Her career spans the arts, engineering, social sciences and education, with a focus on creating accessible and inclusive learning environments. She has led major international research initiatives and developed innovative models for connected, practice-based education, including early work with the BBC and Open University at the emergence of digital learning.

A global thought leader, Dr. Goodman has advised governments, the European Commission and the World Economic Forum, where she has held leadership roles in STEM and STEAM education and inclusive innovation. Her work has supported diverse communities, including individuals with disabilities, neurodivergent learners and underserved populations.

She has published 14 books and numerous scholarly articles, supervised more than 65 doctoral students and continues to lead major interdisciplinary research initiatives across Europe and North America. At Jefferson, Dr. Goodman serves as the UCD Director for the All-Island Ireland Research Centre. She collaborates on research and doctoral programs across multiple colleges and institutes. 

Elizabeth “Lisa” Hughes is Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of The Philadelphia Inquirer, where she is leading the digital transformation of one of the nation’s most historic and respected news organizations. Under her leadership, the 197-year-old, locally owned media company has advanced a strategy focused on innovation, audience growth and long-term sustainability.

In recognition of her impact, Hughes received the National Press Foundation’s 2025 Chairman’s Citation for guiding The Inquirer through a significant and successful transformation.

Prior to joining The Inquirer, Hughes served as Publisher and Chief Business Officer of The New Yorker, where she helped evolve the iconic publication into a thriving, multiplatform enterprise. She also held leadership roles as Vice President and Publisher of Condé Nast Traveler and House & Garden, building a career defined by innovation in media and publishing.

Hughes is an active civic leader, serving on the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia and The News/Media Alliance, as well as on the Board of Trustees of St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire.

The Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake is the former president of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation, where she led strategic, programmatic and operational efforts to advance sustainable solutions that improve community health and wellness. During her tenure overseeing grantmaking for the $115 million foundation, she positioned the organization as a collaborator, innovator and convener — bringing together diverse partners to address emerging health needs across southeastern Pennsylvania.

Deeply committed to service, the Rev. Dr. Marshall-Blake is an associate minister at Vine Memorial Baptist Church in Philadelphia and is affiliated with more than 30 professional and civic organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League and the United Negro College Fund. She also serves as the 28th president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Omega Omega Chapter.

Her leadership has been recognized by numerous organizations, including the NAACP, the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Tribune and the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. Her honors include the Philadelphia Region Leaders Award, the Health Care Innovator Award from the Philadelphia Business Journal and national recognition for her contributions to community health.

The Rev. Dr. Marshall-Blake serves on more than 25 nonprofit boards and committees at the local, state and national levels. She holds a bachelor’s degree in human services from Antioch College and a master’s degree in government administration from the University of Pennsylvania. She is an Honorary Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and has been appointed to the National Advisory Council on Nursing Education and Practice within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She also holds honorary doctoral degrees from Albright College, Ursinus University and Harcum College. 

Edmund Pribitkin, MD, MBA, FACS, is Executive Vice President and Chief Physician Executive at Jefferson Health, one of the nation’s fastest-growing health systems, with 33 hospitals and more than 700 outpatient and urgent care locations serving over 8 million patients annually.

In his role, Dr. Pribitkin leads enterprise-wide strategies across access, service lines, perioperative services and the Jefferson Medical Group, which includes more than 6,500 physicians and advanced practice clinicians. A collaborative and forward-thinking leader, he works closely with clinicians and affiliated physician groups to strengthen care delivery, advance clinical and translational research and support physician recruitment and retention across the system.

Over a 34-year career at Jefferson, Dr. Pribitkin has held numerous leadership roles, including residency program director, academic vice chair, President of Jefferson University Physicians and Chief Medical Officer of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. He is a professor at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, where he co-founded the Jefferson Thyroid and Parathyroid Center — the first multidisciplinary center of its kind in the region.

A nationally recognized clinician and innovator, Dr. Pribitkin has authored more than 125 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to advances in surgical techniques, medical devices and research on smell dysfunction. He has received the Jefferson Career Achievement in Medicine Award and the Dean’s Outstanding Clinician Award and is consistently recognized among Philadelphia and America’s Top Doctors.

He earned his medical degree from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and his MBA from the Wharton School. 

Peter V. Scoles, MD, MS, MA, is a graduate of the Class of 1970 Penn State/Jefferson Medical College combined program. He completed his internship at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York City and his residency in orthopedic surgery at the Ohio State University before serving in the U.S. Navy.

His distinguished career in patient care, medical education and military service spans more than five decades. In 1980, Dr. Scoles joined the faculty at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, where he was named Professor of Orthopedics in 1990.

In 1998, he joined the National Board of Medical Examiners, where he led the redesign and implementation of the computer-based U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), including the Clinical Skills examination and advanced international medical education programs. His work extended globally through consulting roles with governmental agencies and academic institutions across Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia.

In 2013, Dr. Scoles returned to Jefferson as Vice Dean for Academic Program Development at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, where he led the design and implementation of the highly regarded JeffMD curriculum.

A fellow of both the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Orthopaedic Association, Dr. Scoles has received numerous honors, including the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, the Kaiser Permanente Award for Teaching Excellence and multiple distinguished service awards. He is a recipient of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College Alumni Achievement Award and holds the rank of Captain, U.S. Navy (Ret.).

A dedicated member of the Jefferson community, Dr. Scoles previously served on the Board of Trustees and has supported future generations through the establishment of endowed scholarships. He endowed the Eleanor DePalma Sidney Kimmel Medical College Scholarship in honor of his mother.

For the past nine years, Dr. Scoles has been a visiting professor in Portugal, Italy and Brazil.