University Hosts the 2024 Millennium Society Recognition Event Celebrating 25 Years of Impact and a Decade of the Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center
On October 25, Bay Path University welcomed over 90 guests to the Millennium Society Recognition Event, celebrating both the 25th anniversary of the Millennium Society and the 10th anniversary of the Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center. Wayne Webster, Vice Chair of the Bay Path University Board of Trustees, began the evening with a warm welcome.
The event honored this year’s new Millennium Society members for their meaningful contributions to Bay Path University. Among them, Mitchell and Judy Cohen were recognized for their generous donation to the Sullivan Career & Life Planning Center in memory of Mitchell’s mother, a longtime Bay Path career services professional. Neil R. Pocai, a retired Bay Path facilities staff member, endowed the Neil R. Pocai Scholarship to support current students, leaving a legacy that will continue through a significant bequest. Diane Troderman’s gift to the Internship Fund will enable students to pursue meaningful work experiences while maintaining their studies, ensuring future Bay Path graduates are well-prepared for their careers.
This year’s Millennium Society inductees include:
- Trustee Daniel Bishop and Terri Bishop
- Dr. Natalia & David Blank
- Carol Walz Carpenter, Class of ’55
- Trustee Lamont Clemons and Linda Clemons
- Mitchell & Judy Cohen
- Lisa Davis
- Karin Lee George
- Paul & Anna Mancinone
- Trustee Kathleen Schuster and John Schuster
- Diane Troderman
- Neil R. Pocai
- The Estate of Marian Brooks Waleryszak, Class of '51
- Trustee Wayne Webster and Deon Webster
A highlight of the evening was the celebration of the Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center’s 10th anniversary. Established as the first new academic building at Bay Path since 1963, the Center began by housing programs in Occupational Therapy and Physician Assistant Studies and has since expanded to support 12 graduate programs within the School of Health & Natural Sciences. Roberta Bolduc, Chair Emerita of the Board, reflected on the journey: “We believed in the mission of Bay Path, and, more importantly, in this bold new direction in healthcare education. This University is bold and innovative, and I am honored to have played a part in making this dream a reality.”
To mark the Center’s impact, President Doran recognized key benefactors who were present and whose gifts have named significant spaces in the building, including Dr. Grace Makari Judson and Dr. Peter Judson, who named the faculty lounge in memory of their fathers, Jack G. Makari, MD, and Harry E. Judson, MD; Carol Quinn, Class of ’63, who named a treatment bay in the Physician Assistant Assessment Lab; Pat Pierce, who named a group study room; and Roberta and Bob Bolduc, who gifted the Center Hall Atrium.
The evening also featured alumni speakers Peter Colleran, Physician Assistant Program, Class of 2016, now making an impact in medicine and education at UMass Memorial Medical Center, and Kacie Klee, Master of Occupational Therapy, Class of 2016, who serves as the Director of Rehabilitation Services at Preferred Therapy Solutions. In a full circle moment, these alumni speakers were the students who spoke at the ribbon cutting for the Center.
For the keynote address, President Doran introduced Dr. Susanne Churchill. A distinguished leader in biomedical informatics, Dr. Churchill has contributed significantly to healthcare research and academic administration. Her presentation, “AI and Healthcare,” discussed how this new innovation is shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals.
A touch of innovation was woven throughout the event, highlighting Bay Path’s exploration of AI in and out of the classroom. From the invitation to the menu to the hands-on AI workshops presented by faculty, the evening showed how AI is transforming our lives in real time.