Penn State College of Medicine presents Commencement 2024 Awards
As part of its Commencement 2024 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.
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Message from the Dean
To our honorees,
Congratulations on the remarkable success you have had as students at Penn State College of Medicine. Your pursuit of knowledge, empathy in patient care and unwavering support of your peers will, without a doubt, make a difference in your field.
This celebratory weekend marks the culmination of years of hard work, dedication and perseverance. As you step into the next chapter of your life, continue to dream big, follow your passion, be courageous and always trust your abilities, because the entire Penn State College of Medicine faculty and staff believe in you.
Remember, as newly minted alumnae, you will always be cherished members of the Penn State College of Medicine community – one filled with lifelong mentors, colleagues and friends. Congratulations again on your tremendous accomplishments – WE ARE proud of you!
Warm regards,
Karen Kim, MD, MS
2024 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 125 chapters.
Alpha Omega Alpha is a nonprofit organization whose mission statement embodies “the belief that in the profession of medicine we will improve care for all patients 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 they 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 2024 members of Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society, Pennsylvania Eta Chapter
Debarati Bhanja
Rucha Borkhetaria
Robert Bower
Justin Ceasar
Annika Daya
Lauren Dennis
Kelly Dopke
Caroline Eisele
Jacob Feiertag
Adam Finkelstein
Nicole Fye
Kira Garry
Destin Groff
Chachrit Khunsriraksakul
Hailey Kindt
Madison Kist
Marc Levine
Kristen Manto
Lauren Mazur
Ryan Murphy
Krishna Patel
Lauren Pomerantz
Deniz Siso
Sarah Strausser
Mara Trifoi
Tuan Vu
Ernest Wang
Amy Zheng
The Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) is dedicated to recognizing medical and nursing students who are “role models of the human connection in health care.” Established by pediatrician Dr. Arnold Gold in 2002, GHHS now has more than 180 chapters in medical schools and residency programs nationwide and is expanding to reach a global audience of health care providers. Each year, rising third-year medical students nominate their peers to GHHS based on clinical and classroom interactions with patients, staff and each other. The top 10% of those nominees are inducted into the cohort.
At Penn State, the home for GHHS is the Department of Humanities, whose motto is “Advancing humanism in medicine and society.” Fourth-year medical students work with a humanities faculty advisor to carry out activities during their final year of medical school, including Thank a Resident Day, Solidarity Day/Week, and a capstone service project. Penn State College of Medicine also has a thriving residency chapter that engages in humanistic outreach each year.
Members of the Gold Humanism Honor Society
Samual Ajamu
Zachary Corey
Gianna Dafflisio
Alaina Demalis
Caroline Eisele
Kira Garry
Tilicea Henry
Zachary High
Sweta Joshi
Hailey Kindt
Kristen Manto
Madeline Mattzelle-Zybicki
Kyle Mausteller
Clevel Nguyen
Cecelia Richardson
Hannah Spotts
| Award | Student Name |
|---|---|
| Dean’s Award for Scholarly Achievement | Stephanie Baringer |
| Dean’s Award for Scholarly Achievement | Austin Cohrs |
| Dean’s Award for Scholarly Achievement | Kara Negrini |
| Dean’s Award for Scholarly Achievement | Luke Urbanik |
| Anatomy Graduate Program Commencement Award | Gregory Kincheloe |
| Anatomy Graduate Program Commencement Award | Luke Urbanik |
| Biomedical Sciences Graduate Award | Kristen Bricker |
| Biomedical Sciences Graduate Award | Lataijah Crawford |
| Biomedical Sciences Graduate Award | Mary Elizabeth Stein |
| Mark J. Young Award For Outstanding Scholarship In Public Health | Gaytari Karadkhedkar |
| Moskowitz Family Endowment Award for Graduate Research Excellence | Kyra Newmaster |
| D. Eugene Rannels Award for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation in Cellular and Molecular Physiology | Joseph Cirilo |
| Neural and Behavioral Sciences Department Commencement Award | Mariam Melkumyan |
| Neuroscience Graduate Program Commencement Award | Mariam Melkumyan |
| Gary Chase Award for Excellence in the Master of Public Health Graduate Program | Katharine Noss |
| Carol S. Weisman Award for Excellence in the Doctor of Public Health Graduate Program | Gail D’Souza |
| The Master of Professional Studies in Homeland Security (Public Health Prepardness Option) Student Excellence Award | Samantha Berman |
| The Master of Professional Studies in Homeland Security (Public Health Prepardness Option) Student Excellence Award | Logan Fox |
| Vernon M. Chinchilli, PhD, Award For Excellence in Epidemiology | Mason Breitzig |
| Award | Student Name |
|---|---|
| Sylvia and Gilbert Nurick Medical Student Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence | Annika Daya |
| Sylvia and Gilbert Nurick Medical Student Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence | Madison Kist |
| Sylvia and Gilbert Nurick Medical Student Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence | Amy Zheng |
| Dr. Irwin L. Baird Memorial Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement | Nathan Cannon |
| Dr. Irwin L. Baird Memorial Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement | Justin Ceasar |
| Dr. Irwin L. Baird Memorial Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement | Destin Groff |
| Dr. Irwin L. Baird Memorial Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement | Meloria Hoskins |
| Alphonse E. Leure-Dupree Exemplary Medical Student Award | Rucha Borkhetaria |
| Alphonse E. Leure-Dupree Exemplary Medical Student Award | Hailey Kindt |
| Alphonse E. Leure-Dupree Exemplary Medical Student Award | Kushagra Kuma |
| Alphonse E. Leure-Dupree Exemplary Medical Student Award | Ernest Wang |
| Dean’s Award | Zachary High |
| Dean’s Award | Rafay Nasir |
| The Howard E. Morgan Award for Outstanding Achievement in Basic Science Research | Juliet Chung |
| Sir Frederick Hewitt Award for Excellence in Anesthesiology | Cara Pearson |
| Department of Emergency Medicine Award for Excellence | Zachary Jensen |
| The Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Award for Excellence | Cecilia Richardsen |
| The American College of Emergency Physicians Medical Student Professionalism and Service Award | Pierce Curran |
| Timothy ’74, Brenda and Brian ’21 Drury Scholarship for Emergency Medicine | Hunter Hughes |
| Award for Excellence in Research | Radhika Sood |
| Ted and Millie Kantner Family Practice Award | Rafay Nasir |
| Ted and Millie Kantner Family Practice Award | Maria Fowler |
| Thomas L. Leaman, MD, Award in Family and Community Medicine | Hannah Spotts |
| The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award for Graduating Medical Students | Clever Nguyen |
| J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Medicine Award for Excellence in Medicine | Tilicia Henry |
| Satish A. Shah, MD, and Robin Shah Cardiology Medical Student Scholarship | Benjamin Mancini |
| Satish A. Shah, MD, Oncology Medical Student Scholarship | Lauren Pomerantz |
| American Academy of Neurology Award for Excellence in Neurology | Annika Daya |
| The Kothari Family Award for Excellence in Neurology | Sweta Joshi |
| Tarik F. Ibrahim, MS, MD, ’10 Neurosurgery Award | Debi Bhanja |
| Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Award | Madeline Matzelle-Zywicki |
| Ann E. Seward Memorial Fund Award in Women’s Health | Emma Allen |
| Edwards P. Schwentker Outstanding Orthopaedic Student Award | Kelly Dopke |
| Christopher M. Frauenhoffer, MD, Memorial Scholarship | Maya Fares |
| Christopher M. Frauenhoffer, MD, Memorial Scholarship | Nicole Fye |
| Andrew Creasy and Savino Family Award | Lauren Mazur |
| Andrew Creasy and Savino Family Award | Estelle Green |
| Department of Pediatrics Award for Excellence in Pediatrics | Lucy Emery |
| Department of Pediatrics Award for Excellence in Pediatrics | Amanda Siedem |
| Department of Pediatrics Award for Excellence in Pediatrics | Haley Wissler |
| Department of Psychiatry Award for Clinical Excellence in Psychiatry | Jerod Avon |
| Department of Psychiatry Award for Excellence in Psychiatry Research | Hailey Kindt |
| Susann Schetter Memorial Scholarship in Radiology | Abigail Locke |
| Robert B. Spieth Scholarship Award in Oncology | Lauren Pomerantz |
| Department of Surgery Award for Excellence in Surgery | Destin Groff |
| Department of Surgery Award for Excellence in Surgery | Robert Devich |
| Judith Bond MD/PhD Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research and Clinical Training | Kristen Manto |
| Judith Bond MD/PhD Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research and Clinical Training | Ernest Wang |
| Judith Bond MD/PhD Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research and Clinical Training | Chachrit Khunsriraksakul |
Debarati Bhanja
Juliet Chung
Kelly Dopke
Natalia Eichner
Lucy Emery
Krista Hartmann
Gavin Jones
Sweta Joshi
Madison Kist
Christina La Gamma
Ryan Murphy
Hannah Nam
Krishna Patel
Lauren Pomerantz
Cecilia Richardsen
Anna Skakodub
Tuan Vu
| Award | Student Name |
|---|---|
| Dean’s PA Program Academic Excellence Award | Brayden Andrus |
| Dean’s PA Program Clinical Excellence Award | Trevor Baker |
| The Art of Primary Care Award | Tiffany Cross |
| PA Student Award for Leadership and Service | Brayden Andrus |
| PA Student Award for Leadership and Service | Bradley Connolley |
| Excellence Through Diversity Award | Kaylan Mayo |
| Distinguished PA Student Research Award | Collette Poisson |
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