Commencement 2018 Awards

Faculty Awards

VP&S Distinguished Service Awards were presented to Marianne Wolff, MD, professor emeritus of clinical surgical pathology & cell biology, and Peter Puchner, MD, professor emeritus of clinical urology.

Charles W. Bohmfalk Awards were presented to Paulette Bernd, MD, professor of pathology & cell biology at CUMC, for pre-clinical years, and Magdalena Sobieszczyk, MD, associate professor of medicine at CUMC, for clinical years.

The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation was given to Gail Williams, MD, professor of medicine at CUMC.

The Dr. Harold and Golden Lamport Research Award in basic sciences was given to Julie Canman, MD, assistant professor of pathology & cell biology. The Dr. Harold and Golden Lamport Research Award in clinical sciences was given to George Gallos, MD, assistant professor of anesthesiology.

The Class of 2018 gave its Distinguished Teacher Award to Marina Cattallozzi, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics and population and family health at CUMC.

Student Awards and Prizes

Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at VP&S

Brahma V. Kumar

Edward C. Twomey

Titus M. Coan Prize for Excellence in Research

Basic cell and molecular biology: Sebastian M. Weyn-Vanhentenryck

Translational biology: Radomir Kratchmarov

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

Dua A. Hassan

Martha A. Muña

Alumni Association Award (in recognition of interest in and devotion to VP&S and its alumni association)

Sarah J. Godfrey

AAN Medical Student Prize (excellence in neurology)

Johnny-Joshua U. Okonkwo

The Virginia P. Apgar Award (excellence in anesthesiology)

Taylor A. Compton

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

Nicole C. Curatola

Herbert J. Bartelstone Award (exceptional accomplishments in pharmacology)

Surbhi Agrawal

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

Juliet B. Hartford

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)

Emily M. Weidenbaum

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

Nathan R. Brand

The Campbell Award (given to a graduating student at each school who demonstrates exceptional leadership and an exemplary job building spirit at Columbia)

Ashley Paige Oliver

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)

Jessica K. Buesing

Coakley Memorial Prize (outstanding achievement in otolaryngology)

Sonam N. Dodhia

Titus Munson Coan Prize (best essay writer help in biological sciences)

Philip H. Choi

Stanislaw J. Gabryszewski

Theodora K. Karagounis

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

Logan C. Mauney

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

Stephen P. Maier

Dean’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to VP&S

Tracy C. Bank

Samuel S. Bruce

Krystle L. Collins

Sarah J. Godfrey

Oswaldo Hasban Avalos

Dua A. Hassan

Michael A. Hernandez

Shaliesha K. Hinds

Janelle S. Lambert

Manish P. Mehta

Johnathan C. Miller

Julia Ritchie

The Endocrine Society’s Medical Student Achievement Award

Mytra Haerizadeh

Excellence in Public Health Award

Morgan C. Beatty

Family Medicine Student Research Scholarship Award

Morgan C. Beatty

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

William F. Simmons

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

Jessica K. Buesing

Margaret R. Christian

Stephanie S. Colello

Mary Davies

Sophia C. Ebel

Erin E. Elbel

Mytra Haerizadeh

Athena L. Huang

Sarah J. Karinja

Vanessa L. Nieto

Katherina S. Shaw

Rebecca K. Tsevat

The Grodman Prize in Global Health (awarded to a graduating medical student who, through participation in research, education, or patient care, has demonstrated leadership and exemplified the highest ideals of global health)

Nathan R. Brand

David S. Bridgman-Packer

Rachel L. Criswell

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

Nicholas J. Hutchings

Emmett Holt Fellowship Award (awarded to a graduating student to prosecute the study of the diseases of children)

Stanislaw J. Gabryszweski

The Izard Prize in Cardiology (excellence in cardiology)

Lindsey R. Mitrani

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

William B. Booth

Mary Davies

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

Brooke K. Pfister

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

William B. Booth

Stephanie S. Colello

Mary Davies

Erin E. Elbel

Evan F. Joiner

Katharina S. Shaw

William F. Simmons

Michael T. Simpson

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

Alejandra Perez

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

Lynn Shi

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

Mary Davies

Donald A.B. Lindberg’58 Award for Excellence in Biomedical Informatics

Lindsey R. Mitrani

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

Nathan B. Danielson

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

Ariel R. Goldenthal

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

Michael S. Bohnen

Athena L. Huang

William F. Simmons

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

Christina C. Patrone

Hannah M. Singer

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

Stephen P. Maier

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

Shaliesha K. Hinds

David M. McDowell’89 School Spirit Award (awarded to the student who best embodies the VP&S school spirit)

Caleb R. McEntire

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

David J. Doobin

Ives A. Valenzuela

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

George W. Moran

Medical Society of the State of New York Community Service Award

Oswaldo Hasban Avalos

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

Fatimah Alkhunaizi

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

Michael S. Bohnen

Sarah J. Karinja

Lindsey R. Mitrani

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

Tracy C. Bank

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

Manish P. Mehta

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

Zoe L. Becker

Erin E. Elbel

Mytra Haerizadeh

Jacob S. Hartman

Logan C. Mauney

Martha A. Muña

Vanessa L. Nieto

Amit Suneja

Rebecca K. Tsevat

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

Manish P. Mehta

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

Zoe L. Becker

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)

Samuel S. Bruce

Jessica K. Buesing

Nicole C. Curatola

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

Michael A. Hernandez

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

Fatimah Alkhunaizi

Mytra Haerizadeh

Lindsey R. Mitrani

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

Margaret R. Christian

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

Rebecca L. Williamson

Severinghaus Award for Leadership (superior leadership and academic achievement)

Ashley Paige Oliver

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

Jonathan J. Kamler

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

Nicholas J. Hornstein

Christina C. Patrone

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

Sarah J. Godfrey

VP&S Clinical Research Award (research involving human subjects)

Sonam A. Dodhia

George W. Moran

William Perry Watson Prize in Pediatrics (excellence in pediatrics)

Erin E. Elbel

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

Aaron R. Slan

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

Matthew P. Vivero

Sigmund L. Wilens Prize (excellence in pathology)

Samuel Cohen-Tanugi