The 36th class of the UC Davis School of Medicine was welcomed during the school's annual Induction Ceremony Sept. 23 on the Health Sciences Quad on campus.

This year's incoming class of 93 students was selected from a pool of 4,043 applicants. The class is 60 percent women, and the average age is 25 years old. The class includes a student who has worked as a clown, another who played for the U.S. national Ultimate Frisbee team, and a free-lance musician who has done studio work for Steven Spielberg, John Kerry and Chinese pop star Faye Wong.

The students received stethoscopes and were welcomed by Joseph Silva, Jr., dean of the School of Medicine; Michael Wilkes, vice dean of medical education; Claire Pomeroy, executive associate dean; and Amerish Bera, assistant dean of admissions and outreach. Speakers at the ceremony were Faith Fitzgerald, professor of medicine and assistant dean of humanities and ethics; and Jorge Garcia, associate professor of medicine.

Frank Sousa, Class of 1974, received the Golden Stethoscope Award for conducting the most medical school applicant interviews (34) during the 2003-04 admission cycle.

The Davis High School Jazz Band Combo provided background music before the ceremony.