Published May 6, 2011 This content is archived.
The School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences’ Awards Convocation was held at 9 a.m. on April 29, 2011, at the Center for the Arts. Students receiving awards also were recognized at the school’s 165th commencement ceremony, held at 2 p.m. the same day.
Medical Alumni Association Dean’s Award
Community service and commitment
Rachel Meredith Flink
Anjum Faruk Koreishi
Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award
Demonstrates the Arnold Gold Foundation’s ideals of outstanding compassion in the delivery of care, respect for patients, their families and health care colleagues, along with clinical excellence
Craig Edward Keller
Maimonides Medical Society Award
Outstanding academic performance coupled with wisdom and compassion
Erica Colligan
Olga Leykekhman
Medical Alumni Association Award
Community service and commitment
Elizabeth Siegel Abram
Evan Calkins, MD, and Virginia Calkins, MD, Primary Care Achievement Award
Exceptional performance in primary care and outstanding personal characteristics, including compassion, integrity, judgment and leadership
Grace Elizabeth Black
Elizabeth Medical Award
Unusual compassion and a noteworthy personal and professional sense of integrity and ethics
Jillian M. Connors
Dr. James Goldinger Curriculum Leadership Award
Leadership and the enthusiasm to teach during medical school, potential for developing into a leader in the medical profession and a dedication to teaching future medical students
Stephan A. Munich
Bernhardt and Sophie Gottlieb Award
Expertise in areas outside medicine
Jae Young Kim
Harry E. and Loretta A. Jordan Award
Investigation in neoplastic disease
Mendel Goldfinger
James Platt White Society Award
Leadership qualities that personify those of Dr. White’s—foresight, intellectual rigor and moral courage
Jaclyn Erin Morrison
Lieberman Award
Interest in and aptitude for the study of anesthesiology
Francis Louis Kirk, III
Department of Emergency Medicine Scholastic Award
Outstanding academic record in emergency medicine
Sarah Rich
Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Excellence in emergency medicine
Katherine L. Fredlund
American Academy of Family Physicians President’s Award
Excellence in family practice
Allana M. Krolikowski
Charles Bauda Award
Academic excellence in family medicine
Anthony Sarnfou Saetern
Erie County Chapter of the New York State Academy of Family Physicians Award
Dedication to the underserved
Saira George
Erie County Chapter of the New York State Academy of Family Physicians Award
Excellence in primary care
Michael Robert Dlugosz
G. Norris Miner Memorial Award
Outstanding clinical competence in family medicine
Adam D. Voelckers
Mark A. Petrino Award
Interest in and aptitude for the general practice of medicine
Jonathan David Kessler
Hans J. Lowenstein Award in Obstetrics
Academic excellence
Kristen E. Burhans
Jaclyn Erin Morrison
Clyde L. Randall Society Award in Gynecology-Obstetrics
Academic excellence
Jamie L. Benway
Patrick Costello Award
Highest grade on the written exam for internal medicine
Arsalan Q. Shabbir
David K. Miller Prize in Medicine
Demonstration of Dr. Miller's approach to caring for the sick: competence, humility and humanity
Craig Edward Keller
Stephen J. Paolini Award
Exemplifying the qualities of dedication and compassion that Dr. Paolini personified
Xiao X. Wei
Emilie Davis Rodenberg Memorial Award
Academic excellence in the study of diabetes and its complications
Vathani Sharon Packianathan
American Academy of Neurology Student Prize for Excellence
Excellence in neurology
Allie Marie Massaro
Bernard H. Smith Memorial Award in Clinical Neurology
Academic excellence in clinical neurology
Nicole Jean Grocky
Dr. Thomas J. Guttuso Award
Academic excellence in ophthalmology
Andrew Lindell Reynolds
Harry E. and Loretta A. Jordan Award
Proficiency in ophthalmology
Aman Sharma
E. J. Weisenheimer Award
Excellence in scholarship and patient care in ophthalmology
Anjum Faruk Koreishi
Dr. Benjamin and Lila Obletz Award
Outstanding performance in orthopaedic surgery
Samantha M. Chase
Norman Haber Award
Excellence in otolaryngology
Mirabelle Blysma Sajisevi
Morris & Sadie Stein Neuroanatomy Award
Excellence in neuroanatomy
Allana M. Krolikowski
Richard T. Sarkin, MD Award/Buffalo Pediatric Society Award
Demonstrating Dr. Sarkin’s passion for life, commitment to teaching and dedication to medical humanism
Anna Friedland Hays
Children’s Hospital Prize
Excellence in understanding disease in childhood
Matthew Furlong Pizzuto
Frederick B. Wilkes Pediatric Award
Exemplifying Dr. Wilkes’ skills and dedication to patients
Nicole Jean Grocky
Gilbert M. Beck Memorial Prize in Psychiatry
Academic excellence in psychiatry
Mehak Sharma
S. Mouchly Small, M.D. Award
Ability to relate well to patients, faculty, and staff
Ryan Patrick Bochacki
Farney R. Wurlitzer Prize
Academic excellence in psychiatry
Gina L. Matteson
Dr. George Alker Award
Excellence in radiology
Andrey Sergeyevich Sinelnikov
Buffalo Surgical Society Prize in Surgery
Academic excellence—junior and senior years
Eric M. Jablonka
Department of Surgery Chairs’ Award
Academic excellence in surgery
Stephanie A. Wong
Dr. Heinrich Leonhardt Prize in Surgery
Academic excellence in surgery and interest in proctology
Daniella Asch
Dr. Beth J. Wutz Memorial Award
Dedication to intelligent and empathic care of children and young adults
Brian Joseph Schneider
Ester Ponce Grimaldi, M.D. Memorial Award
Compassion for patients in primary care
Heidi Margarete Beintrexler
John Paroski, M.D. Memorial
Compassion and excellence in patient care
Arsalan Q. Shabbir
Philip P. Sang Memorial Award
Ability to relate well to patients, faculty, and staff
Julie Ann Phan
American Medical Women’s Association Glasgow-Rubin Certificates of Commendation for Academic Achievement
Academic excellence—women in the top 10 percent of the class
Daniella Asch
Jamie L. Benway
Joyce Meng-tin Chang
Samantha M. Chase
Rachel Meredith Flink
Allana M. Krolikowski
Gina L. Matteson
Jaclyn Erin Morrison
Janel Ann Smietana
Medical Society of the State of New York Community Service Award
Special commitment to community service
Stephanie Gabrielle Berger
Medical Society of the County of Erie Community Service Award
Exemplary service to the local community
Michael Robert Tiso
Merck Manual Awards
Combination of leadership, service and humanism
Katina Marie Foster
David H. Nguyen
Michael J. Schreck
National Medical Association Award
Excellence in scholarship, leadership and commitment to community service
Adefris Yared Adal
Eva M. Lewin
Bacelli Award
Most outstanding research by a medical student
Christopher N. Hein
Robin M. Bannerman Memorial Research Award
Most meritorious research in biomedical science initiated in the summer fellowship program
Xiao X. Wei
Research Honors Awards
A commitment to excellence in research during medical school
Katherine L. Fredlund
Mirabelle Blysma Sajisevi
Joel P. Thompson
Xiao X. Wei
Thesis Honors Awards
Outstanding research supported by a written thesis satisfying the school’s highest standards
Duc Minh Chung
Christopher N. Hein
Craig Edward Keller
Francis Louis Kirk, III
Daniella Asch
Jamie L. Benway
Joyce Meng-tin Chang
Samantha M. Chase
Rachel Meredith Flink
Eric M. Jablonka
Craig Edward Keller
Anjum Faruk Koreishi
Allana M. Krolikowski
Gina L. Matteson
Jaclyn Erin Morrison
Andrew Lindell Reynolds
Arsalan Q. Shabbir
Janel Ann Smietana
Joseph Thomas Andrews
Jessica Badlam
Philip J. Brondon
Allie Marie Massaro
David H. Nguyen
Llana Pootrakul
Andrey Sergeyevich Sinelnikov
Nicholas McKenzie Venci
Stephanie Gabrielle Berger
Thomas Andrew Bevilacqua
Christina W. Cheng
Katherine L. Fredlund
Sara A. Hylwa
Soo Chon Kim
Adam Scott Kornicki
Olga Leykekhman
Christopher M. Mallow
Stephan A. Munich
Julie Ann Phan
Mirabelle Blysma Sajisevi
Aman Sharma
Joel P. Thompson
Adam D. Voelkers
Students who had previously been inducted into medical honor societies were also recognized at commencement.
Joseph Thomas Andrews
Daniella Asch
Jessica B. Badlam
Jamie Benway
Philip J. Brondon
Joyce Meng-tin Chang
Samantha Chase
Kurt Joseph Duncan
Rachel Flink
Sara A. Hylwa
Eric M. Jablonka
Craig Keller
Anjum Faruk Koreishi
Allana M. Krolikowski
Olga I.eykekhman
Alicia Anne Lieberman
Christopher Michael Mallow
Allie Marie Massaro
Gina Matteson
Jaclyn Erin Morrison
Stephan A. Munich
David H. Nguyen
Andrew Charles Pellet
Julie Ann Phan
Andrew Lindell Reynolds
Mirabelle Blysma Sajisevi
Arsalan Q. Shabbir
Audrey S. Sinelnikov
Janel A. Smietana
Elizabeth Siegel Abram
Stephanie Gabrielle Berger
Cassandra Lynn Cardarelli
Joyce Meng-tin Chang
Erica Colligan
Amita Sonya De Souza
Meghana A. Gadgil
Nicole Jean Grocky
Anna Friedland Hays
Ivana Vojislav Kalanovic
Marianna Karavolias
Jonathan David Kessler
Anjum Frank Koreishi
Allana M. Krolikowski
Margot A. Martino
Anthony Sarnfou Saetern
Brian Joseph Schneider
Gregory William Sherman
Congratulations to all our graduates, and best wishes for your future endeavors!