Scott Parazynski
May 8, 2026, 9:30 a.m., Rick Case Arena
Graduate/Professional Ceremony: Dental, Optometry, Pharmacy
Scott Parazynski, M.D., is an explorer whose career spans the frontiers of space, medicine, and innovation. A physician, inventor, best-selling author, and former NASA astronaut, he has operated at the edge of human performance in some of the most demanding environments on Earth and beyond.
During his 17-year NASA career, Parazynski flew five Space Shuttle missions and conducted seven spacewalks, including a high-risk repair of the International Space Station, performed on a solar array from a 90-foot robotic boom and widely described as the “Apollo 13 moment” of the shuttle era. He also served as crewmate, personal physician, and research partner to Senator John Glenn on the STS-95 mission and led the first joint U.S.–Russian spacewalk. Trained at Stanford University and Stanford’s School of Medicine, he brings an interdisciplinary perspective to problem-solving through his background in emergency and aerospace medicine. In 2009, he became the first person to both walk in space and stand atop the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, demonstrating resilience following an injury that halted his initial attempt.
After leaving NASA, Parazynski brought his experience into entrepreneurship and innovation, serving as a chief executive officer and advancing technologies in aerospace, healthcare, and surgical robotics. He was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2016 and released his autobiography, “The Sky Below,” in 2017. He continues to inspire future explorers through scientific expeditions to extreme environments—from high-altitude lakes in the Andes to active volcanoes in Central America—and expand access to STEM education, emphasizing resilience, teamwork, and ethical leadership.