Commencement 2015

Faculty Awards

P&S Distinguished Service Awards were presented to Nicole Suciu-Foca, PhD, professor emeritus of clinical pathology & cell biology (surgery) and special lecturer in pathology
& cell biology, and Kenneth A. Forde, MD, the José M. Ferrer Professor Emeritus of
Clinical Surgery.

Charles W. Bohmfalk Awards were presented to Ronald H.K. Liem, PhD, professor of pathology & cell biology, for pre-clinical teaching, and Stephen M. Canfield, MD, PhD, assistant professor of medicine at CUMC, for clinical teaching.

The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation was given to Ralph S. Blume, MD, clinical professor of medicine. 

The Dr. Harold and Golden Lamport Research Award in basic sciences was given to Attila Losonczy, MD, PhD, assistant professor of neuroscience. Lori Zeltser, PhD, assistant professor of pathology & cell biology, and Michael Yin, MD, associate professor of medicine, received the Dr. Harold and Golden Lamport Research Award in clinical sciences.

The Class of 2015 gave its Distinguished Teacher Award to Mary Johanna Fink, MD, assistant professor of medicine (in the Center for Family and Community Medicine) at CUMC. 

Student Awards and Prizes

Doctor Harry S. Altman Award (outstanding achievement in pediatric ambulatory care)

• Katherine A. Nash

Alumni Association Award (in recognition of interest in and devotion to the College of Physicians and Surgeons and its Alumni Association)

• Kathryn R. Rubowski
• Michael E. Steinhaus

AAN Medical Student Prize (for excellence in neurology)

• Anna S. Nordvig

The Virginia P. Apgar Award (excellence in anesthesiology)

• Amanda C. Widing

Michael H. Aranow Memorial Prize (best exemplifies the caring and humane qualities of the practicing physician)

• Loren G. Rabinowitz

Herbert J. Bartelstone Award (exceptional accomplishments in pharmacology) 

• Tara L. Quinn

The Behrens Memorial Prize in Ophthalmology (outstanding graduate entering ophthalmology) 

• Huy V. Nguyen

The Edward T. Bello, MD, Listening Award (best portrays the art of listening to patients, colleagues, and self in practicing the chosen field of medicine)

• Ugochi M. Nwosu

Robert G. Bertsch Prize (emulating Dr. Bertsch’s ideals of the humane surgeon)

• Naikhoba C. Munabi

Chair of Medicine Award (given by the Barasch family to a graduating senior medical student who best exemplifies the vision, intellectual clarity, and moral compass that characterizes the work of the leadership of the Department of Medicine)

• Jonathan R. Salik 

Coakley Memorial Prize (outstanding achievement in otolaryngology) 

• Andrew H. Lee

Titus Munson Coan Prize (best essay in biological sciences)

• Frederick L. Hitti
• Xiaoning Yuan

Titus M. Coan Prize for Excellence in Research
Basic cell & molecular biology: Maria D. Sallee
Translational biology: Samuel J. Vidal

Thomas F. Cock Prize (excellence in obstetrics and gynecology)

• Rosa R. Cui

Rosamond Kane Cummins’52 Award (graduate entering orthopedics with academic excellence, sensitivity, kindness, devotion to patients, and the fine human qualities that she exemplified) 

• Elizabeth R. Dennis

Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at the College of Physicians and Surgeons

• Evangelos Pefanis
• Timothy J. Spellman

The Endocrine Society’s Medical Student Achievement Award

• Mary Kathryn Hannan

Excellence in Public Health Award

• Mark J. Harris

Daniel J. Fink, MD, Memorial Prize (best exemplifies Dr. Fink’s enthusiasm for the study and practice of medicine)

• Diana M. Bryk

Louis Gibofsky Memorial Prize (research work in the areas of nephrology, renal immunology, renal physiology or transplant immunology)

• Susan E. DeWolf

Glasgow-Rubin Achievement Award (presented to women students graduating in the top 10 percent of their class)

• Aliaa H. Abdelhakim
• Alexandra J. Coromilas
• Ellie J. CoromilasSusan E. DeWolf
• Mary Kathryn Hannan
• Margo H. Lederhandler
• Rebecca J. Levy
• Lily R. Mundy
• Lauren K. Truby

Doctor Charles E. Hamilton Award (excellence in pulmonary disease)

• Alexandra J. Coromilas

The Izard Prize for Research in Cardiology (excellence in cardiology)

• Alexandra J. Coromilas

Janeway Prize (the highest achievement and abilities in the graduating class)

• Susan E. DeWolf

The Jerry Jacobs Prize in Pediatrics (excellence in the differential diagnosis and treatment of disorders in children)

• Rebecca J. Levy

Albert B. Knapp Scholarship (awarded at the conclusion of the third year to the medical students with highest scholarship in the first three years)

• Aliaa H. Abdelhakim
• David B. Chapel
• Alexandra J. Coromilas
• Ellie J. Coromilas
• Susan E. DeWolf
• Benjamin D. Gallagher
• Zachary L. Gitlin
• Mary Kathryn Hannan
• Margo H. Lederhandler
• Lucas X. Marinacci
• Lily R. Mundy
• Michael E. Steinhaus
• Lauren K. Truby

John K. Lattimer Prize in Urology (outstanding essay in urology)

• Alexa R. Meyer

The Stephanie Liem Azar Memorial Award (presented to a graduating student who has demonstrated commitment to harm reduction and providing compassionate care to drug users)

• Susan E. DeWolf 

Donald A.B. Lindberg, MD, (P&S’58) Award for Excellence in Biomedical Informatics

• John Angiolillo

Andrew Mark Lippard Memorial Research Award in Neuroscience (excellence in research in neuroscience by an MD/PhD student)

• Alejandro Ramirez-Vallejo

The Samuel and Beatrice Leib Memorial Prize in Ophthalmology (outstanding graduate entering ophthalmology)

• Julia E. Mallory

Barbara Liskin Memorial Award in Psychiatry (exemplifies the empathy, scholarship, and excellence exhibited by Dr. Barbara Liskin)

• Katharine K. Brewster

The Robert F. Loeb Award (excellence in clinical medicine)

• Benjamin D. Gallagher
• Lauren K. Truby

F. Lowenfish Prize in Dermatology (creative research in dermatology)

• Nina K. Antonov
• Chante Karimkhani

Alfred M. Markowitz Endowment for Scholars (exemplifies Dr. Markowitz’s dedication to patient care, teaching, and scholarship) 

• Justin A. Neira

Doctor Cecil G. Marquez B.A.L.S.O. Student Award (outstanding contribution to the Black and Latino Student Organization and the minority community)

• Brittney K. Hills

Edith and Denton McKane Memorial Award (outstanding research in ophthalmology)

• Aliaa H. Abdelhakim

James M. McKiernan, MD, Prize for Compassionate Care (exemplifies Dr. James McKiernan’s high level of medical knowledge, humanism, and compassion for patients’ well-being)

• Matthew S. Lee

Medical Society of the State of New York Community Service Award

• Nicole D. Edison

Doctor Harold Lee Meirhof Memorial Prize (excellence in pathology over the four years in medical school)

• Kelly A. Devereaux

Doctors William Nastuk, Beatrice Seegal, and Konrad Hsu Award (demonstrated successful laboratory collaboration between student and faculty)

• Eugene Jang
• Rebecca J. Levy

Marie Nercessian Memorial Award (exhibits care, unusual concern and dedication to helping sick people)

• Charles P. Scott

New York Orthopedic Hospital Award (outstanding performance in research and clinical work)

• Eugene Jang

The Daniel Noyes Brown Primary Care Scholar Award (recognizes the recipients’ commitment to primary care and community service)

• Benjamin D. Gallagher
• Sarah A. Johnson
• Katherine A. Nash
• Matthew E. Wingo

The Office of Student Affairs Outstanding Service to P&S Award (outstanding contribution to improving the quality of life of his or her peers while at P&S)

• Jonathan R. Salik
• Zahrah M. Taufique

Outstanding Student in Family Medicine Award (demonstrates academic achievement in the area of family medicine, has shown initiative in community health service and an understanding and commitment to the principles of family medicine)

• Seth A. Mathern

Donald M. Palatucci Prize (awarded to the student in the fall of his or her fourth year who is in the upper one-third of the class, who exemplifies through activities in art, music, and literature that living and learning go together, and who exemplifies compassion, candor, and zest for life)

• Jesse J. Koskey

Joseph Garrison Parker Award (exemplifies through activities in art, music and literature, and the public interest the fact that living and learning go together)

• Hanjay Wang 

The Drs. Robert A. Savitt and George H. McCormack Award  (exemplifies Dr. George McCormack’s medical skill, consideration, understanding, and compassion)

• Alexandra J. Coromilas
• Ellie J. Coromilas
• Lucas X. Marinacci

The Rebecca A. Schwarz Memorial Prize (achievement in pediatric cardiology)

• Ezinne N. Emeruwa

The Helen M. Sciarra Prize in Neurology (outstanding achievement in neurology)

• Rebecca J. Levy

Aura E. Severinghaus Scholar (superior academic achievement)

• Naikhoba C. Munabi

The Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Award (excellence in the specialty of emergency medicine)

• Lynn G. Jiang

The Miriam Berkman Spotnitz Award (excellence in research of neoplastic diseases)

• Kelly A. Devereaux
• Eli T. Sayegh

The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award (excellence in science and compassion in patient care)

• Eugene Jang

William Perry Watson Prize in Pediatrics (excellence in pediatrics)

• Amanda R. Gomez

Doctor William Raynor Watson Memorial Award (excellence in psychiatry throughout the four years of medical school) 

• Matthew C.K. Pieh

Doctor Allen O. Whipple Memorial Prize (outstanding performance in surgery)

• Lauren K. Truby

Sigmund L. Wilens Prize (excellence in pathology)

• David B. Chapel
• Raza S. Hoda 

David McDowell Class of ’89 School Spirit Award

• Hayley Born