Nearly two decades after he graduated from the Universitys medical school, Sanjay Gupta will return to his home state to deliver this years Spring Commencement speech on April 28 at the Big House.

Gupta, a native of Novi, currently serves as CNNs chief medical correspondent, where he contributes to various CNN shows and is the anchor of the self-titled show, Sanjay Gupta M.D., which airs on weekends. He is also a practicing neurosurgeon at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta and authored two books about medicine, and his first novel will be released tomorrow.

In an exclusive interview with The Michigan Daily on Friday, University President Mary Sue Coleman said Gupta serves as an influential example of what University graduates can aspire to become.

We thought he so represents Michigan alums and the impact that they can have on the world, Coleman said. In so many areas, he has really become a spokesperson who has tremendous influence in the country so I think for young people he really does represent a terrific role model.

Gupta was on vacation last weekend and unable to be reached for comment, according to his assistant.

Gupta started school at the University as an undergraduate in 1986, and then continued on to the Universitys Medical School, specializing in neurosurgery through Inteflex a program no longer offered at the University that granted high-school students admission to the University for their undergraduate studies and medical school.

At the request of medical school students, Gupta returned to the medical school in 2009 to deliver their commencement speech. Medical School Dean James Woolliscroft said he was pleased with Guptas 2009 address, and expects Guptas upcoming commencement speech to showcase his commitment to humanity.

He did a superb job then, and I fully expect hell do a superb job for commencement this spring as well, Woolliscroft said.

Woolliscroft said he remembers Guptas impressive academic work as a student.

He certainly was very, very capable, Wooliscroft said. He excelled as a medical student, and he also excelled as a neurosurgical resident. He has a very broad interest for many years going back to the time of training.

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Dr. Sanjay Gupta to speak at graduation