Penn State College of Medicine presents Commencement 2023 Awards
As part of its Commencement 2023 celebration, Penn State College of Medicine recognizes several graduates from the medical student, physician assistant, MD/PhD and graduate programs who did outstanding work in their academic and clinical careers.
Honored students are listed below.
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2023 Commencement Awards
Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) is the first and most-recognized medical honor society in the world. Its purpose is to recognize and perpetuate excellence in the medical profession. The letters Alpha-Omega-Alpha are derived from the Greek form of the society’s motto: “Be Worthy to Serve the Suffering.” AOA was founded in 1902 by William Webster Root and five other medical students in Chicago and now has 135 chapters.
AOA is a nonprofit organization whose mission statement embodies “the belief that in the profession of medicine we will improve care for all by recognizing high educational achievement, honoring gifted teaching, encouraging the development of leaders in academia and the community, supporting the ideals of humanism and promoting service to others.”
AOA’s programs are available to all medical students and physicians, and include visiting professorships, support of student research projects, funding of service activities, recognition of resident physician excellence and national awards for both professionalism and gifted teaching. AOA publishes The Pharos, a quarterly compilation of essays, poetry, photography and other works related to humanistic medicine.
Class of 2023 members of Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society, Pennsylvania Eta Chapter
Catherine Caldwell
Joseph Dao
Neha Gupta
Sarah Hershberger
Maria Holstrom Mercader
Katherine Julian
Alma Jusufagic
Spencer Katz
Charles Keith
Steven King
Bronson Kunzler
F. Jeffrey Lorenz
Brandon Martinazzi
Rea Mittal
Frederick Mun
Megha Patel
Olga Prokunina
Nina Razavi
Savreen Saran
Natasha Sood
Valerie Urban
Abigail Washington
Carson Wills
Megan Wood
Emma Wu
Patricia Yee
Lisa Yoder
Zahra Zhu
Jane-Frances Aruma
Elizabeth Drda
Stephanie Golub
Neha Gupta
Sarah Hershberger
Alma Jusufagic
Bronson Kunzler
Charles Lee
Jasmine Lee
F. Jeffrey Lorenz
Megha Patel
Chandat Phan
Savreen Saran
Mariam Shalaby
Melody Wang
Carson Wills
| Award | Student Name |
|---|---|
| Dean’s Award for Scholarly Achievement | Ashna Dhoonmoon |
| Dean’s Award for Scholarly Achievement | Xupeng Hong |
| Dean’s Award for Scholarly Achievement | Xingyan Wang |
| Dean’s Award for Scholarly Achievement | Patricia Yee |
| Dean’s Award for Scholarly Achievement | Alice Zhang |
| Biomedical Sciences Graduate Award | Christine Hehnly |
| Biomedical Sciences Graduate Award | Ryan Hylton |
| Biomedical Sciences Graduate Award | Tanay Thakar |
| Moskowitz Family Endowment Award for Graduate Research Excellence | Greer McKendrick |
| D. Eugene Rannels Award for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation in Cellular and Molecular Physiology | David Rasicci |
| Department of Microbiology and Immunology John F. Enders Commencement Award | Adam Fike |
| Department of Microbiology and Immunology John F. Enders Commencement Award | Xupeng Hong |
| Bernard Brodie Pharmacology Graduate Award for Outstanding Scholarly and Research Achievement | Rebecca Fleeman |
| Bernard Brodie Pharmacology Graduate Award for Outstanding Scholarly and Research Achievement | Asvelt Nduwumwami |
| Bernard Brodie Pharmacology Graduate Award for Outstanding Scholarly and Research Achievement | Brandon LaFever |
| Neuroscience Graduate Program Commencement Award | Brandon LaFever |
| Neural and Behavioral Sciences Department Commencement Award | Darren Mehay |
| Anatomy Graduate Program Commencement Award | Natalie Yoshioka |
| Gary Chase Award for Excellence in the Master of Public Health Graduate Program | Victoria Francois |
| Carol S. Weisman Award for Excellence in the Doctor of Public Health Graduate Program | Savanna Ledford |
| The Master of Professional Studies in Homeland Security (Public Health Prepardness Option) Student Excellence Award | Garciella McBrearty |
| The Master of Professional Studies in Homeland Security (Public Health Prepardness Option) Student Excellence Award | Jeffrey Toony |
| Award | Student Name |
|---|---|
| Sylvia and Gilbert Nurick Medical Student Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence | Noa Farou |
| Sylvia and Gilbert Nurick Medical Student Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence | Neha Gupta |
| Sylvia and Gilbert Nurick Medical Student Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence | Natasha Sood |
| Dr. Irwin L. Baird Memorial Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement | Jane-Frances Aruma |
| Dr. Irwin L. Baird Memorial Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement | Daniel Berger |
| Dr. Irwin L. Baird Memorial Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement | Noor Kawmi |
| Dr. Irwin L. Baird Memorial Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement | Mariam Shalaby |
| Alphonse E. Leure-Dupree Exemplary Medical Student Award | Maria Holstrom Mercader |
| Alphonse E. Leure-Dupree Exemplary Medical Student Award | Don Hoang |
| Alphonse E. Leure-Dupree Exemplary Medical Student Award | Olga Prokunina |
| Alphonse E. Leure-Dupree Exemplary Medical Student Award | Stephen Sekoulopoulos |
| Dean’s Award | Catherine Caldwell |
| Dean’s Award | Kathryn Carlisle |
| Dean’s Award | F. Jeffrey Lorenz |
| Dean’s Award | Mallory Peterson |
| Dean’s Award | Jacqueline Tucker |
| Dean’s Award | Ashley Wong |
| Andrew Creasy and Savino Family Award | Brooke Lichak |
| Andrew Creasy and Savino Family Award | Megha Patel |
| Andrew Creasy and Savino Family Award | Zahra Zhu |
| Sir Frederick Hewitt Award for Excellence in Anesthesiology | Denali Davis |
| The Howard E. Morgan Award for Outstanding Achievement in Basic Science Research | Sarah Weber |
| Department of Emergency Medicine Award for Excellence | Daniel Berger |
| The Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Award for Excellence | Maria Holstrom Mercader |
| The American College of Emergency Physicians Medical Student Professionalism and Service Award | Neha Gupta |
| Timothy ’74, Brenda and Brian ’21 Drury Scholarship for Emergency Medicine | Robert Nordell |
| Family Medicine Achievement Award | Kimberly Jayne |
| Humanism in Family Medicine Award | Sarah Hershberger |
| Primary Care Scholars Award in Family Medicine | Morris Taylor |
| Thomas L. Leaman, MD, Award in Family and Community Medicine | Makayla Lagerman |
| Ted and Millie Kantner Family Practice Award | Makenna Brezitski |
| Ted and Millie Kantner Family Practice Award | Zakary Newberry |
| The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award for Graduating Medical Students | F. Jeffrey Lorenz |
| J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Medicine Award for Excellence in Medicine | Lisa Witmer |
| Satish A. Shah, MD, and Robin Shah Cardiology Medical Student Scholarship | Muhammed Rahim |
| Satish A. Shah, MD, Oncology Medical Student Scholarship | Carson Wills |
| Robert B. Spieth Scholarship Award in Oncology | Steven King |
| American Academy of Neurology Award for Excellence in Neurology | Alyson Rich |
| The Kothari Family Award for Excellence in Neurology | Wendy Osei-Bonsu |
| Tarik F. Ibrahim, MS, MD, ’10 Neurosurgery Award | Mallory Peterson |
| Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Award | Kelly Kons |
| Ann E. Seward Memorial Scholarship in Women’s Health | Megan Wood |
| Edwards P. Schwentker Outstanding Orthopaedic Student Award | Brandon Martinazzi |
| Department of Pediatrics Award for Excellence in Pediatrics | Elizabeth Drda |
| Department of Pediatrics Award for Excellence in Pediatrics | Brooke Lichak |
| Department of Pediatrics Award for Excellence in Pediatrics | Rebecca Morgis |
| Department of Pediatrics Award for Excellence in Pediatrics | Megha Patel |
| Department of Psychiatry Award for Clinical Excellence in Psychiatry | Rutu Patel |
| Department of Psychiatry Award for Excellence in Psychiatry Research | Michael Larsen |
| Susann Schetter Memorial Scholarship in Radiology | Lisa Ho |
| Department of Surgery Award for Excellence in Surgery | Carolina Alvarez |
| Department of Surgery Award for Excellence in Surgery | Charles Lee |
| Thomas J. Rohner Jr, MD, Award for Excellence In Urology | Jennifer Kane |
| Judith Bond MD/PhD Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research and Clinical Training | Martin Johnson |
| Judith Bond MD/PhD Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research and Clinical Training | Spencer Katz |
| Judith Bond MD/PhD Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research and Clinical Training | Mallory Peterson |
Medical Student Research Award Devon Ackerman
Medical Student Research Award Shavini Athukorala
Medical Student Research Award Joshua Chen
Medical Student Research Award Mckenzee Chiam
Medical Student Research Award Katherine Julian
Medical Student Research Award Steven King
Medical Student Research Award Kelly Kons
Medical Student Research Award Shelby Labe
Medical Student Research Award Michael Larsen
Medical Student Research Award Christine Lin
Medical Student Research Award F. Jeffrey Lorenz
Medical Student Research Award Frederick Mun
Medical Student Research Award Blaine Prichard
Medical Student Research Award Savreen Saran
Medical Student Research Award Alyssa Scott
Medical Student Research Award Natasha Sood
Medical Student Research Award Lilly Su
Medical Student Research Award Jacqueline Tucker
Medical Student Research Award Sarah Weber
Medical Student Research Award Monica Zukowski
| Award | Student Name |
|---|---|
| Dean’s PA Program Academic Excellence Award | Julia Frye |
| Dean’s PA Program Clinical Excellence Award | Catherine Meyerhoff |
| The Art of Primary Care Award | Sarah Lombel |
| PA Student Award for Leadership and Service | Alison Bean |
| Pi Alpha Honor Society Inductees | Alison Bean |
| Pi Alpha Honor Society Inductees | Sarah Lombel |
| Pi Alpha Honor Society Inductees | Eli Weiner |
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