Louis L. Levine, President and Chief Executive Officer of the College, presided at the commencement ceremony.  Mr. Raske addressed the 71 graduating seniors—who received their Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degrees—and an audience of nearly 1,000 faculty members, parents, family and friends.  In addition, Bradley Bakotic, D.P.M., D.O., Principal Partner, Bako Pathology Services, and Bob S. Biller, D.P.M., former Chairman of the New York State Board for Podiatry, Member of the NYCPM Board, and Chairman of the Board’s Education Committee, were also honored, both receiving the College’s honorary doctorate. 

In his keynote address, Mr. Raske spoke about the health care system in the U.S., saying he believed that this was the year marking the beginning of health care reform in America.  He told the graduates they would be traveling that road, and would be the ones to help make the reforms work.  He talked about how costs might be reduced for hospitals, practices, and individual doctors in ways that would still ensure that patients were served well and providers were paid reasonably.  He described some of the proposals discussed at the recent meeting in Washington, D.C. with the President, and touched on how reducing “defensive medicine”, malpractice insurance costs, and a persistently high readmissions rate could contribute to reform of the health care system.  Mr. Raske concluded his keynote address by reminding the graduates they were at the beginning of their careers of healing, and beginning a lifetime of new learning.  He said service to the community was the only measure of their success.

 NYCPM President and CEO Louis L. Levine said, “The three leaders whom we are honoring today are all exceptional individuals who, in their respective fields, are dedicated to improving the human condition.  We are honoring each of them to applaud their service and their dedication, and for exemplifying the ideals that the New York College of Podiatric Medicine encourages in each of its students.”