Gov. McAuliffe to speak at graduation for hematology and oncology patients

By Carrie Carroll

The staff of the ASK Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University, VCU Health and the ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation will host a celebration this week honoring graduating high school students who have received care at the ASK Hematology and Oncology Clinic.

The ceremony will be held on Friday, June 3, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Hermes A. Kontos Medical Sciences Building, 1217 E. Marshall St. A luncheon will begin at 11 a.m. followed by the formal ceremony in the auditorium at 12:30 p.m. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe will give the keynote address at 12:30 p.m. The event is open to invited family, school representatives and the media.

This year, 18 students representing nine school divisions from across Virginia will be recognized for their accomplishment. The students have continued their academic studies while undergoing treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, transfusions and bone marrow aspirations. The ceremony is an annual event.

Recognition of the seniors will be made by Alma Morgan, educational consultant at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU; Seth Corey, M.D., professor and chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology and the Children’s Hospital Foundation Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cancer Research; and local school division representatives.

All graduates will be presented with scholarships provided by the ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation; the Sickle Cell Association of Richmond–OSCAR; Gregg and Lori Kalata in memory of their son, Alex; and Debbie Robertson in memory of her daughter, Melissa.