Columbia University Honored Dr. Zhu Chen Doctor of Science Degree

Dr. Zhu Chen received honorary degree and the University Medal for Excellence at the annual Commencement of Columbia University on May 18, 2016. President Lee Bollinger spoke highly of Dr. CHEN for being a tireless public servant responsbile for the health and well-being of 1.3 billion people as Chinese Minister of Health by expanding medical insurance coverage and increasing funding to cope with unprecedented public health challenges.

June 07, 2016

Dr. Zhu Chen received honorary degree and the University Medal for Excellence at the annual Commencement of Columbia University on May 18, 2016. President Lee Bollinger spoke highly of Dr. CHEN for being a tireless public servant responsbile for the health and well-being of 1.3 billion people as Chinese Minister of Health by expanding medical insurance coverage and increasing funding to cope with unprecedented public health challenges.

A leading scientist in leukemia translational studies, Zhu CHEN has made critical contributions to the development of a paradigm-shifting therapy for acute promyelocytic leukemia, turning this fatal disease into one that is clinically curable. He served as China’s Minister of Health from 2007 to 2013, and now the Vice Chair of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China and a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, among many other prominent positions.

Original Text

2016 HONORARY DEGREES & MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE

Honorary Degrees are awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to research, publication, law, science, government, education and literature. Honorary degrees were first awarded by Columbia in 1758. Honorees do not need to be graduates of Columbia University. Columbia University confered seven honorary degrees at its University Comme​ncement ceremony on Wednesday, May 18, 2016:

  • Amanda M. Burden, Doctor of Laws
  • Susan Meiselas, Doctor of Humane Letters
  • Zhu CHEN, Doctor of Science
  • Arthur Mitchell, Doctor of Humane Letters
  • Robert Darnton, Doctor of Letters
  • Robert Owen Paxton, Doctor of Letters
  • H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Doctor of Laws
  • Tracy K. Smith, University Medal for Excellence