OTR mural centerpiece of 'big' celebration of UC alumni

The University of Cincinnati Alumni Association (UCAA) marked its annual Alumni Celebration during the annual Alumni Week, April 8-13, with a community art project commemorating the slate of alumni honorees receiving the organization’s top awards. The 18 honorees were also recognized at the UC Alumni Celebration on April 11 at The Westin Cincinnati, with over 450 alumni and friends gathering to hear inspiring stories of Bearcat alumni success.

The group is headlined by William Howard Taft Medal recipient Dean J. Kereiakes, MD, PhD, ’75, ’78, Hon ’14. One of the leading interventional cardiologists in the U.S., Kereiakes was founder and CEO of the largest cardiology subspecialty group in Ohio, which became the cardiovascular service line of The Christ Hospital, and was also founder and Medical Director of The Carl & Edyth Lindner Center for Research and Education, one of the nation’s top clinical research sites. The author of more than 1,200 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles, abstracts and book chapters, Dr. Kereiakes has performed more than 30,000 catheterization laboratory procedures, including First in Human and First in U.S. use of novel medical devices. He has been the national/international Principal Investigator in trials for FDA approval of more than 26 novel drugs and medical devices.

As a tribute to Kereiakes and his fellow alumni honorees, the mural was unveiled during Alumni Week and will remain on display through March 2025. UCAA commissioned Chroma Projects to design and illustrate the mural, which is painted on the side of a building at 1430 Vine Street in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. With more than 300 street murals in the city — 55 in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood alone — Cincinnati has earned the No. 1 spot on USA Today’s 2024 list of cities for best street art, giving this group of distinguished honorees a prominent place on the world’s public art stage.

“Through their accomplishments, our 18 alumni honorees represent the big impact made by our 340,000-plus alumni worldwide,” said Jennifer Heisey, chief alumni officer. “We are pleased to see them depicted on this amazing mural that serves as a focal point in highlighting UC’s innovative spirit and alumni excellence.”

For more information, visit alumni.uc.edu or call 513-556-4344.

Featured image at top of 2024 Alumni Celebration mural. Photo/UC Alumni Association.