Edgar J. Curtis, president and CEO of Memorial Health System, will receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters from the University of Illinois on May 13 during commencement ceremonies for the University of Illinois Springfield.

Curtis will receive his doctorate during UIS's second ceremony for the day at Prairie Capital Convention Center. The ceremony starts at 5:30 p.m. and is for students in the College of Business and Management, College of Education and Human Services and College of Public Affairs and Administration.

Curtis has led Memorial Health System and its seven affiliates since January 2008, providing senior-level administrative leadership for the overall strategic direction of the health system. Under his leadership, the health system’s annual revenue has grown from $500 million to $1 billion.

In 2014, Memorial contributed $2 million and entered into a partnership with UIS and the University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing to bring UIC’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program to the UIS campus.