U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, MD, representing parts of suburban Dallas and Fort Worth, will speak at the UNT Health Science Center commencement ceremonies on May 16. 

The ceremonies will take place at 3 p.m. at the Fort Worth Convention Center Arena. Tickets are not required for admission to the commencement ceremony, and there is no limit to the number of people a student may invite.

Commissioning ceremonies for students who will be joining the military will take place immediately following the commencement ceremony.

Burgess spent nearly three decades practicing medicine in North Texas before he was first elected to Congress in 2002, then re-elected in 2004, 2006, and most recently in 2008. 

He serves on the prestigious House Energy and Commerce Committee and three of its subcommittees: Health Care, Energy & Environment, and Oversight & Investigations; and he recently founded and is Chairman of the House Health Care Caucus.  During his six years in Congress, Dr. Burgess has been a strong advocate for health care legislation aimed at reducing health care costs, improving choices, reforming liability laws to put the needs of patients first, and ensuring there are enough doctors in the public and private sector to care for America's patients.

While in the House of Representatives, Dr. Burgess has received several awards, including the 2008 House Legislator of the Year from the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the 2005 Legislator of the Year by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, among others.

For more information about the commencement ceremony, visit the Web site at http://www.hsc.unt.edu/departments/registrar/CommencementInformation.htm or contact the registrar's office at 817-735-2201. The Fort Worth Convention Center is located at 1201 Houston St. in Fort Worth.

If you are with the media and need additional information or would like to arrange an interview, please contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at 817-735-2446.