World Renowned Geneticist Speaks at UA Winter Commencement Ceremonies

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. –Speaking today at The University of Alabama’s winter commencement ceremonies, world renowned geneticist Dr. Richard M. Myers said the advances made in the field of genetics is leading to the development of personalized medicine in the not so distant future.

“In your lifetimes, you’ll take your genetic sequence on a card to your doctor and the range of treatments that he prescribes for you will be designed specifically based on your genetic makeup,” said Myers, a UA alumnus who received an honorary doctorate of humane letters during the ceremony.

“If we do this right, you’ll have the opportunity to live longer and, more importantly, healthier lives.”

Myers, a Tuscaloosa native, is professor and chair of the department of genetics at Stanford University School of Medicine as well as director of the Stanford Human Genome Center.

His laboratory was one of the major contributors to sequencing the human genome, helping to produce the sequences of three of the human chromosomes.

“I was fortunate to have a front row seat as a participant in the Human Genome Project — an endeavor started in 1990 that culminated in what I think is one of humankind’s most magnificent contributions,” said Myers.

“This project has truly revolutionized our knowledge of ourselves. We now know the causes of thousands of diseases, have a much clearer understanding of where we came from, our relationships with each other and to other organisms,” he said.

Myers received his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from UA in 1977; his doctorate in biochemistry from the University of California at Berkeley in 1982; and did his postdoctoral work at Harvard University.

Also during the ceremonies, Beverly Clarkson Phifer, president and chief executive officer of Phifer Wire Products, was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters.

Phifer, daughter of UA alumni the late J. Reese Phifer and the late Sue Clarkson Phifer, graduated from UA in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. She serves as a member of the UA President’s Cabinet, the UA Museums’ Board of Regents, and the Board of Visitors of the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration.

As a trustee with the Reese Phifer Jr. Memorial Foundation, she has worked in establishing several scholarship funds, endowed professorships, and fellowships at UA in the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Commerce and Business Administration, Communication and Information Sciences, and the School of Social Work, the School of Library and Information Studies, and the School of Law.

Today’s ceremonies, which included 1,100 degree candidates, were broadcast live over the Internet. The web cast will be archived on UA’s website, http://www.ua.edu, and will be available for viewing until Jan. 19.