Class of 2022 MD Candidates Feted at Honors Convocation

Story by Bill Bruton

These award-winning MD candidates also were recognized during the school’s commencement ceremony.

• Laura Artim
• Thomas Barbaccia
• Katelyn Benson
• Mary Bridge
• Joana Filipa Coelho
• Danielle Dunn
• Brandon Ewing
• Nicolas Hill Fesser
• Tom Avraham Fuchs
• Maria Alexandra Geba
• Victoria Gosy
• David Joseph Krasinski
• Blake Kruger
• Jinx Lioi
• Thomas Robert Listopadzki
• Camilla Niedzwiedz
• Chukwunonyelum Odukwe
• Reema Panjwani
• Anjuli Shah
• Lauren Anna Sielski
• Natasha Singh
• Katherine Elizabeth Zimmerman

• Laura Artim
• Thomas Barbaccia
• Vincent Harry Bargnes III
• Austin Julius Bartl
• Joseph J. Bengart
• Katelyn Benson
• Jenna Evalyn Betz
• Nicole Curtis
• Meghan DioGuardi
• Emily Clare Ellmann
• Brandon Ewing
• Nicolas Hill Fesser
• Thomas William Fiorica
• Maria Alexandra Geba
• Alexandra Noel Gosh
• Abigail Grapes
• Timothy Hellerer
• Dhara Kadakia
• Rachel Knapp
• David Joseph Krasinski
• Thomas Robert Listopadzki
• Rebecca Joy Luterman
• Ellen E. Lutnick
• Joseph Patrick McGann
• Yasmeen Olivia Mohammad
• Shannon Ryan Oram
• John Adrian Petrie IV
• Elena Christine Pezzino
• Ellen M. Piccillo
• Kiana L. Saade
• Said Shukri
• Lauren Anna Sielski
• Jessica Lorraine Silvestri
• Andrew Christopher Skomra
• Sarah Soniwala
• Anne Stoklosa
• Nicholas A. Swain
• Eric Szczecinski
• Mary Margaret Twarog
• Kevin Zablonski
• Kate Zha

Lieberman Award
Interest in and aptitude for the study of anesthesiology
Vincent Harry Bargnes III
Peter James Natalzia

Department of Emergency Medicine Scholastic Award
Outstanding academic record in emergency medicine
Cullan Vincent Donnelly

Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Award
Excellence in emergency medicine
Karen Wong

American Academy of Family Physicians President’s Award
Outstanding academic record and a commitment to practice family medicine
Jinx Lioi

Charles Bauda Award
Academic excellence during third year
Blake Kruger

The Erie County Chapter of the New York State Academy of Family Physicians Family Medicine Scholarship Award
FMIG Leadership Award
Aswad Lemar Jackson

The Erie County Chapter of the New York State Academy of Family Physicians Family Medicine Scholarship Award
Erie County Chapter NYSAFP Leadership Award
Jordan Robert Gaston

G. Norris Miner Memorial Award
Demonstration of outstanding clinical competence in family medicine
Madelyn Sawyer

Mark A. Petrino Award
Demonstrated interest and aptitude for the general practice of medicine
Mam Deng

Bukowski Award
High integrity, loyalty, thoughtfulness and thoroughness in treatment of patients
Kelsey LaPiano

Patrick Costello Award
Achieved highest grade on the written exam for internal medicine
David Joseph Krasinski

David K. Miller Prize in Medicine
Competence, humility and humanity in caring for the sick
Anjuli Shah

Stephen J. Paolini Award
Dedication and compassion in patient care
Elena Christine Pezzino

Emilie Davis Rodenberg Memorial Award
Unusual interest in the study of diabetes
Nisha Kumari Divan
Chukwunonyelum Odukwe

Ester Ponce Grimaldi, MD, Memorial Award
Compassion toward primary care patients in the clinical setting
Yasmeen Olivia Mohammad

American Academy of Neurology Student Prize for Excellence
Sustained interest and excellence in neurology
Tom Avraham Fuchs

Bernard H. Smith Memorial Award in Clinical Neurology
Most outstanding performance in the neurology clerkship
Kevin Matthew Intrieri

Hans J. Lowenstein Award in Obstetrics
Most outstanding clinical work
Nisha Kumari Divan
Victoria Gosy
Blakeley Mae Schiffman

Clyde L. Randall Society Award in Gynecology-Obstetrics
Diligence, integrity, scholarship and leadership
Shannon Ryan Oram

Dr. Thomas J. Guttuso Award
Academic excellence in ophthalmology
Robert Finley

Harry E. and Loretta A. Jordan Award
Proficiency in ophthalmology
Michael Shi

E. J. Weisenheimer Award
Excellence in scholarship and patient care in ophthalmology
John Adrian Petrie IV

Dr. Benjamin E. and Lila Obletz Prize
Academic achievement and interest in orthopaedic surgery
Ellen E. Lutnick

Department of Otolaryngology Chairman’s Award
Demonstrated outstanding achievement in otolaryngology
Ellen M. Piccillo
Francesca C. Viola

Association of Pathology Chairs Award
Scholarship in pathology
Daniel Kreider

Morris and Sadie Stein Award
Excellence in neuroscience
Austin Julius Bartl

Children’s Hospital Prize
Excellence in understanding childhood diseases
Noah Stanco

Richard T. Sarkin, MD Award/Buffalo Pediatric Society Award
Outstanding clinical skills and commitment to primary care pediatrics
Rachel Knapp

Frederick B. Wilkes Pediatric Award
Dedication to patients and the field of pediatrics
Katelyn Benson

Gilbert M. Beck Memorial Prize in Psychiatry
Academic excellence in psychiatry
Laura Artim

S. Mouchly Small, MD Award
Ability to relate well to patients, faculty and staff
Kathleen Ann Naeher

Farney R. Wurlitzer Prize
Outstanding work in psychiatry
Madison Carlson

Dr. George Alker Award
Excellence in radiology
Daniel Damiola Olutalabi

Buffalo Surgical Society Prize in Surgery
Academic excellence in the clinical years
Abigail Grapes

Department of Surgery Chair’s Award
Superior clinical performance and the highest score on the surgery exam
Mary Margaret Twarog

Dr. Heinrich Leonhardt Prize in Surgery
Academic excellence 
JoAnna Frances Shaw

Bacelli Award
Most outstanding research by a medical student
Maria Alexandra Geba

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
Francesca C. Viola

Erika Bruck Award
Research or thesis based on concepts of the basic sciences as applied to a clinical problem
James C. Schuler

Research Honors Awards
A commitment to excellence in research during medical school
Jenna Evalyn Betz
Cullan Vincent Donnelly
Jordan Robert Gaston
Peter Frederick Jowdy
Dhara Kadakia
Thomas Robert Listopadzki
Jennifer Loo
Ellen E. Lutnick
William Murk
Peter James Natalzia
Nataliia Paone
John Adrian Petrie IV
Francesca C. Viola

Thesis Honors Awards
Outstanding research supported by a written thesis satisfying the school’s highest standard
Maria Alexandra Geba

Dr. Avery Ellis Memorial Award
For work advancing the curriculum or implementing a new and lasting school initiative
Rebecca Joy Luterman

Dr. James Goldinger Curriculum Leadership Award
Leadership, enthusiasm and a dedication to teaching
Jenna Evalyn Betz

National Medical Association Award
Excellence in scholarship, leadership and commitment to community service
Shanice Elizabeth Guerrier
Daniel Damiola Olutalabi

John Paroski, MD Memorial Award
Compassion and excellence in patient care
David Joseph Krasinski

Philip P. Sang Memorial Award
Ability to relate well to patients, faculty and staff
Rebecca Joy Luterman

The Dr. Karen Schupak Memorial Medical Student Award
Demonstrates a high degree of empathy when working with patients
Maria Alexandra Geba

Evan Calkins, MD, and Virginia Calkins, MD, Primary Care Achievement Award
Recognizes a student for exceptional performance in primary care and outstanding personal characteristics including compassion, integrity, judgement and leadership
Blake Kruger

Elizabeth Award
Unusual compassion and a noteworthy personal and professional sense of integrity and ethics
Joana Filipa Coelho

Bernhardt and Sophie Gottlieb Award
Expertise in areas outside medicine
Thomas Robert Listopadzki
Peter James Natalzia

Colonel and Mrs. Robert C. M. Liu Award
Demonstrated commitment to the U.S. military through family or personal service
Ian Patrick Marshall
Xiaolong Wang

Medical Alumni Association Award
Outstanding community service and commitment
Nicolas Hill Fesser
Sarah Soniwala

Medical Alumni Association Dean’s Award
Participation in extracurricular activities in the medical school while maintaining a high standard of academic excellence
David Joseph Krasinski

Merck Academic Excellence Award
Outstanding academics coupled with noteworthy humanism and leadership
Colleen Clarke Arnold
Thomas Barbaccia
Rachel Knapp
Ellen M. Piccillo

Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award
Exemplary compassion and sensitivity in the delivery of care
Kelsey LaPiano

James Platt White Society Award
Intellectual vigor and moral courage
Madison Carlson
Jinx Lioi

The Roy E. Seibel Sr., MD, Medical School Award
Presented to a student who demonstrated academic excellence and outstanding character
Abigail Grapes

Harold J. Levy Award in Psychophysiological Medicine
Worked to make a positive difference on the wellbeing of fellow medical students
Robert Finley

Wendel Award in Wellness and Inclusion
Presented to a student who has worked to advocate for their peer’s inclusivity or wellness
Jinx Lioi

Edward L. Curvish
Biochemistry — year 1
Emily Clare Ellman
Rachel Knapp

Ernest Witebsky Award
Proficiency in microbiology — year 2
Austin Julius Bartl

Gibson Atwell Jones Award
Excellence in anatomy – year 1
Austin Julius Bartl

Medical Student Research Forum Honors
First Honors
Thomas Robert Listopadzki (2021)
Third Honors
Maria Alexandra Geba (2021)

• Julie Rae Adams
• Colleen Clarke Arnold
• Laura Artim
• Thomas Barbaccia
• Vincent Harry Bargnes III
• Austin Julius Bartl
• Joseph J. Bengart
• Katelyn Benson
• Jenna Evalyn Betz
• Emily Susan Brunette
• Aaron Chen
• Nicole Curtis
• Meghan DioGuardi
• Nisha Kumari Divan
• Emily Clare Ellmann
• Brandon Ewing
• Karl Fenzl
• Nicolas Hill Fesser
• Robert Finley
• Thomas William Fiorica
• Alexander G. Fritz
• Maria Alexandra Geba
• Alexandra Noel Gosh
• Abigail Grapes
• Bilal Hasanspahic
• Timothy Hellerer
• Jonathon Hoffman
• Kevin Matthew Intrieri
• Dhara Kadakia
• Rachel Knapp
• David Joseph Krasinski
• Daniel Kreider
• Kelsey LaPiano
• James Lee
• Thomas Robert Listopadzki
• Rebecca Joy Luterman
• Ellen E. Lutnick
• Ian Patrick Marshall
• Joseph Patrick McGann
• Brooks Reno Melnyk
• Yasmeen Olivia Mohammad
• Brandon Myszka
• Shannon Ryan Oram
• John Adrian Petrie IV
• Elena Christine Pezzino
• Ellen M. Piccillo
• Raymond James Pominville
• Kaley Nicole Reardon
• Kiana L. Saade
• Haider Saeed
• Ian William Seward
• Anjuli Shah
• Michael Shi
• Said Shukri
• Lauren Anna Sielski
• Jessica Lorraine Silvestri
• Andrew Christopher Skomra
• Morgan Durand Smith
• Sarah Soniwala
• Noah Stanco
• Anne Stoklosa
• Nicholas A. Swain
• Eric Szczecinski
• Mary Margaret Twarog
• Kevin Zablonski
• Kate Zha