Published May 7, 2021
By Dirk Hoffman
Leading members of the Class of 2021 received special recognition during the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences’ Honors Convocation, which took place online April 29.
These award-winning MD candidates also were recognized during the school’s 175th commencement ceremony.
Lieberman Award
Interest in and aptitude for the study of anesthesiology
Jonathan Matthew Goc
Amber Marie Repasky
Ralph T. Behling Award
Demonstrated outstanding diligence, integrity and scholarly achievement in the field of dermatology
Casey L. Cabrinha
Department of Emergency Medicine Scholastic Award
Outstanding academic record in emergency medicine
Mackenzie Elizabeth Loesing
Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Excellence in emergency medicine
Jacob Daniel Canavan
American Academy of Family Physicians President’s Award
Outstanding academic record and a commitment to practice family medicine
Mark R. Lawler
Mark Pryshlak
Charles Bauda Award
Academic excellence during third year
Sara Diletti-Swenson
Samantha Hassan
The Erie County Chapter of the New York State Academy of Family Physicians Family Medicine Scholarship Award
Dedication to caring for the underserved
Carlos Iván Martínez
The Erie County Chapter of the New York State Academy of Family Physicians Family Medicine Scholarship Award
Family Medicine Interest Group Leadership Award
Sneha Dilip
The Erie County Chapter of the New York State Academy of Family Physicians Family Medicine Scholarship Award
Erie County Chapter NYSAFP Leadership Award
Lewis Alexander Wong
G. Norris Miner Memorial Award
Demonstration of outstanding clinical competence in family medicine
Jesse Cole
Anna Mathur Jacquinot
Mark A. Petrino Award
Demonstrated interest and aptitude for the general practice of medicine
Taylor Ann Jacobs
Patrick Costello Award
Achieved highest grade on the written exam for internal medicine
Kyle Matthew Patterson
Phien Tang
David K. Miller Prize in Medicine
Competence, humility and humanity in caring for the sick
Ryan R. Salemme
Stephen J. Paolini Award
Dedication and compassion in patient care
Iain J. Thompson
Emilie Davis Rodenberg Memorial Award
Unusual interest in the study of diabetes
Clare Hurley Martin
Anjali Sood
Dr. Beth J. Wutz Memorial Award
For demonstrating a dedication to both intelligent and empathic care of both children and adults
Korinne A. Barnett
Joshua J. Owczarczak
American Academy of Neurology Student Prize for Excellence
Sustained interest and excellence in neurology
Geetha Vasudevan
Bernard H. Smith Memorial Award in Clinical Neurology
Most outstanding performance in the neurology clerkship
Stephanie Rose Denzler
Hans J. Lowenstein Award in Obstetrics
Most outstanding clinical work
Maria Elizabeth Brzozowski
Alexandra Christine Alfiero
Natalia Anna Alexandridi
Clyde L. Randall Society Award in Gynecology-Obstetrics
Diligence, integrity, scholarship and leadership
Jenna Heath
Dr. Thomas J. Guttuso Award
Academic excellence in ophthalmology
Adam Renard Siedlecki
Harry E. and Loretta A. Jordan Award
Proficiency in ophthalmology
Andrew P. Beiter
E. J. Weisenheimer Award
Excellence in scholarship and patient care in ophthalmology
Andrew James Fink
Dr. Benjamin E. and Lila Obletz Prize
Academic achievement and interest in orthopaedic surgery
Bradley J. Hawayek
Department of Otolaryngology Chairman’s Award
Demonstrated outstanding achievement in otolaryngology
Chelsea Nicole Cleveland
Association of Pathology Chairs Award
Scholarship in pathology
Max Kohen
Morris and Sadie Stein Award
Excellence in neuroscience
Andrew James Fink
Children’s Hospital Prize
Excellence in understanding childhood diseases
Elizabeth Leigh Kaufman
Richard T. Sarkin, MD Award/Buffalo Pediatric Society Award
Outstanding clinical skills and commitment to primary care pediatrics
Jacob R. Coene
Frederick B. Wilkes Pediatric Award
Dedication to patients and the field of pediatrics
Richard DeStefano
Gilbert M. Beck Memorial Prize in Psychiatry
Academic excellence in psychiatry
Olivia Plante
S. Mouchly Small, MD Award
Ability to relate well to patients, faculty and staff
Lauren N. Lucente
Emily Kathleen Slominski
Farney R. Wurlitzer Prize
Outstanding work in psychiatry
Austin E. Milbrand
Dr. George Alker Award
Excellence in radiology
Max F. Crinnin
Buffalo Surgical Society Prize in Surgery
Academic excellence in the clinical years
Alexandra Claudia Sima
Department of Surgery Chair’s Award
Superior clinical performance and the highest score on the surgery exam
Kyle Matthew Patterson
Dr. Heinrich Leonhardt Prize in Surgery
Academic excellence
Victoria N. Cranwell
Bacelli Award
Most outstanding research by a medical student
Esha Chebolu
Robert M. Bannerman Memorial Research Award
Most notable research in biomedical science initiated during the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences’ Summer Research Fellowship Program
Lester Ernesto Bayona Chuye
Research Honors Awards
A commitment to excellence in research during medical school
Lester Ernesto Bayona Chuye
Robert Bruce
Esha Chebolu
Andrew John Claffey
Michael David Cobler-Lichter
Maria Coluccio
Victoria N. Cranwell
Timothy Felong
Andrew Douglas Gong
Adrienne Hezghia
Anthony Mitchell
Benjamin Lawrence Pastwik
Pramod Mohan Rao
Kyungduk Rho
Jordan Cook Serotte
Lucas M. Serra
Saarang Pratap Singh
Kaity Han-Yung Tung
Aaron M. van Dyne
Thesis Honors Awards
Outstanding research supported by a written thesis satisfying the school’s highest standard
Lauren M. Harte
Dr. Avery Ellis Memorial Award
For work advancing the curriculum or implementing a new and lasting school initiative
Karole T. Collier
Dr. James Goldinger Curriculum Leadership Award
Leadership, enthusiasm and a dedication to teaching
Maria Coluccio
Mackenzie Elizabeth Loesing
National Medical Association Award
Excellence in scholarship, leadership and commitment to community service
Karole T. Collier
John Paroski, MD Memorial Award
Compassion and excellence in patient care
Timothy Felong
Philip P. Sang Memorial Award
Ability to relate well to patients, faculty and staff
Mackenzie Elizabeth Loesing
The Dr. Karen Schupak Memorial Medical Student Award
Demonstrates a high degree of empathy when working with patients
Mark R. Lawler
Elizabeth Award
Unusual compassion and a noteworthy personal and professional sense of integrity and ethics
Mark R. Lawler
Bernhardt and Sophie Gottlieb Award
Expertise in areas outside medicine
Sara Xu
Colonel and Mrs. Robert C. M. Liu Award
Demonstrated commitment to the U.S. military through family or personal service
Jonathan Matthew Goc
Medical Alumni Association Award
Outstanding community service and commitment
Jacob Blum
Richard DeStefano
Medical Alumni Association Dean’s Award
Participation in extracurricular activities in the medical school while maintaining a high standard of academic excellence
Christine Alexandra Toufexis
Merck Academic Excellence Award
Outstanding academics coupled with noteworthy humanism and leadership
Claudia Iyla Aghaie
Natalia A. Crenesse-Cozien
Jenna Heath
Alexandra Marrone
Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award
Exemplary compassion and sensitivity in the delivery of care
Ryan R. Salemme
James Platt White Society Award
Intellectual vigor and moral courage
Angela Rosanna Grassi
Marc Daniel Ruszaj
Harold J. Levy Award in Psychophysiological Medicine
Worked to make a positive difference on the well-being of fellow medical students
Ray Pak
Dean’s Transformational Award
Recognize any individual, group or organization that develops a policy, program, document or research finding that has changed the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences community or world in a unique and impactful manner
Karole T. Collier
Edward L. Curvish
Biochemistry — year 1
Angela Rosanna Grassi
Michael David Musteric
Zachary J. Zimmer
Ernest Witebsky Award
Proficiency in microbiology — year 2
Michael David Cobler-Lichter
Sarah Quinn
Nico Shary
Marek Zaleski Award
Academic achievement with outstanding community service — year 2
Alexandra Marrone
Gibson Atwell Jones Award
Excellence in anatomy – year 1
Eric Edward Irons
Zachary J. Zimmer
John B. Sheffer Award
Highest performance in pathology laboratory — year 2
Jenna Heath
Kornel Terplan Award
Most outstanding performance in pathology — year 2
Andrew James Fink
Carl R. Hashem
Douglas S. Riggs Award
Most outstanding performance in pharmacology — year 2
Aberlee J. Milliron
The Donald W. Rennie Physiology Award
Physiology
Steven J. Avino
Medical Student Research Forum Honors
First Honors
Kaity Han-Yung Tung (2019)
Second Honors
Alexandra Claudia Sima (2019)
Third Honors
Abigail W. McLaughlin (2021)