Top MD Candidates Honored

These award-winning MD candidates also were recognized during the school’s 167th commencement ceremony, held the same day.

David Alexanian
Olivia Claudia Dryjski
Ethan Gable
Kevin Hu
Laura Michelle Iafrati
Amy N. Luckenbaugh
Lauren M. Maltese
Andrea Ida Elise Matho
Steven Ives Pancio II
Ilya Rabkin
Eric Samuel Rothstein
Kevin F. Seals
Anjan S. Shah
Nishant Suneja
Huseyin H. Tunceroglu
Brian Josiah Young
Derek Y. Yuan

Richard Sung Ahn
Anthony Michael Aquino
Chantal Barbara Bartels
Travis D. Blood
Katelyn Donohue
Olivia Claudia Dryjski
Ariel Krutchick Frederick
Allen Wayne Ho
Emily L. Kraus
Jeong-Hee Ku
Lei Lei
Amy N. Luckenbaugh
Matthew Stephen Manganaro
Margaret A. Moult
Bridget M. Obzud
Kelly E. O’Hear
Steven Ives Pancio II
Stephanie D. Prozora
Kevin F. Seals
Brandon Richard Seifert
Anjan S. Shah
Amanda S. Shorette
Mirela Tuzovic
Richard J. Ward
Robb Wasserman
Kevin Michael Zeeck

Lieberman Award
Interest in and aptitude for the study of anesthesiology
Brandon Richard Seifert
Dennis B. Thapa

Department of Emergency Medicine Scholastic Award
Outstanding academic record in emergency medicine
Andrew Jonathon Eckert

Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Excellence in emergency medicine
Matthew Steele Battaglia

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

Charles Bauda Award
Academic excellence during third year
Brooke Ashley Meade

G. Norris Miner Memorial Award
Outstanding clinical competence in family medicine
Miriam Christine Olson

Mark A. Petrino Award
Interest in and aptitude for the general practice of medicine
Benjamin Huang

Patrick Costello Award
Highest grade on the written exam for internal medicine
Adam Jason Norman

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

Stephen J. Paolini Award
Dedication and compassion in patient care
Mindy P. Griffith

Emilie Davis Rodenberg Memorial Award
Unusual interest in the study of diabetes
Adam Jason Norman

Dr. Beth J. Wutz Memorial Award
Dedication to intelligent and empathic care of both children and adults
Derek Y. Yuan

American Academy of Neurology Student Prize for Excellence
Sustained interest and excellence in neurology
Brian Jeremiah Trummer, Jr.

Bernard H. Smith Memorial Award in Clinical Neurology
Most outstanding performance in the neurology clerkship
Ariel Krutchick Fredrick
Mamie Nakajima Higgins

Hans J. Lowenstein Award in Obstetrics
Most outstanding clinical work
Chantal Barbara Bartels

Clyde L. Randall Society Award in Gynecology-Obstetrics
Diligence, integrity, scholarship and leadership
Ethan Gable

Dr. Thomas J. Guttuso Award
Academic excellence in ophthalmology
Boleslav Kotlyar

Harry E. and Loretta A. Jordan Award
Proficiency in ophthalmology
Andrew Jonathon Eckert

E. J. Weisenheimer Award
Excellence in scholarship and patient care in ophthalmology
Olivia Claudia Dryjski

Dr. Benjamin and Lila Obletz Award
Academic achievement and interest in orthopaedic surgery
Steven Ives Pancio II

Association of Pathology Chair’s Award
Scholarship in pathology
Aspen M. Ainsworth
Katherine D. Amodeo
Travis D. Blood
Joshua Michael-John Hauser
Emily L. Kraus
Lauren M. Maltese

Morris & Sadie Stein Award
Excellence in neuroscience
Anthony Michael Aquino

Children’s Hospital Prize
Excellence in understanding childhood diseases
Evelyne Magali St. John Sutton

Richard T. Sarkin, MD Award/Buffalo Pediatric Society Award
Outstanding clinical skills and commitment to pediatrics
Angela Marie DiMillo Sandell

Frederick B. Wilkes Pediatric Award
Dedication to patients and the field of pediatrics
Bridget M. Obzud

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

S. Mouchly Small, MD Award
Ability to relate well to patients, faculty and staff
Justin Scott Piershalski
Jonathan Michael Wai

Farney R. Wurlitzer Prize
Outstanding work in psychiatry
Aspen M. Ainsworth

Dr. George Alker Award
Excellence in radiology
Anthony Michael Aquino
Matthew Stephen Manganaro

Buffalo Surgical Society Prize in Surgery
Academic excellence in the clinical years
Jennifer A. Cirino

Department of Surgery Chair's Award
Superior clinical performance and the highest score on the surgery exam
Adam E. Stright

Dr. Heinrich Leonhardt Prize in Surgery
Academic excellence and potential interest in colorectal surgery
Danielle Marie Thesier

Bacelli Award
Most outstanding research by a medical student
Katelyn Donohue

Robin M. Bannerman Memorial Research Award
Most meritorious research in biomedical science initiated in the summer fellowship program
Mirela Tuzovic

Harry E. and Loretta A. Jordan Award
Noteworthy investigation in cancer and neoplastic disease
Boleslav Kotlyar

Research Honors Awards
A commitment to excellence in research during medical school
Joshua Albert-Falk Balderman
Katelyn Donohue
Andrea Ida Elise Matho
Ilya Rabkin
Nishant Suneja
Mirela Tuzovic

Dr. James Goldinger Curriculum Leadership Award
Leadership, enthusiasm and dedication to teaching
Benjamin Huang
Pawan Rastogi

Ester Ponce Grimaldi, MD Memorial Award
Compassion for patients in primary care
Lauren M. Maltese

American Medical Women’s Association Glasgow-Rubin Certificates of Commendation for Academic Achievement
Women graduating in top 10 percent of class
Chantal Barbara Bartels
Katelyn Donohue
Olivia Claudia Dryjski
Amy N. Luckenbaugh
Kelly E. O’Hear
Stephanie D. Prozora (graduated first in class)
Mirela Tuzovic

Medical Society of the State of New York Community Service Award
For time and effort given selflessly
Ethan Gable

Merck Manual Awards
Outstanding academics coupled with noteworthy humanism and leadership
Olivia Claudia Dryjski
Amy N. Luckenbaugh
Kevin F. Seals
Anjan S. Shah

National Medical Association Award
Excellence in scholarship, leadership and commitment to community service
Denise Dennis
Vanessa Maame Serwaa Sarfoh

John Paroski, MD Memorial Award
Compassion and excellence in patient care
Margaret A. Moult
Adam Jason Norman

Philip P. Sang Memorial Award
Ability to relate well to patients, faculty and staff
Chantal Barbara Bartels

Evan Calkins, MD, and Virginia Calkins, MD, Primary Care Achievement Award
Exceptional performance in primary care and demonstrated compassion, integrity, judgment and leadership
Paul Edward DeJac

Elizabeth Award
Unusual compassion and a noteworthy personal and professional sense of integrity and ethics
Gaurav J. Rao

Bernhardt and Sophie Gottlieb Award
Expertise in areas outside medicine
Kelly E. O’Hear

Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award
Exemplary compassion and sensitivity in the delivery of care
Leanne M. Jones

Colonel and Mrs. Robert C. M. Liu Award
Demonstrated commitment to the U.S. military through family or personal service
Robert Anthony Malizia

Maimonides Medical Society Award
Scholarship, ability to teach and efforts to make the world a better place
Boleslav Kotlyar

Medical Alumni Association Award
Outstanding community service and commitment
Joanna Christina Lim

Medical Alumni Association Dean’s Award
Participation in extracurricular activities in the medical school while maintaining a high standard of academic excellence
Steven Ives Pancio II

James Platt White Society Award
Foresight, intellectual vigor and moral courage
Joshua Albert-Falk Balderman

Chantal Barbara Bartels
Travis D. Blood
Olivia Claudia Dryjski
Allen Wayne Ho
Matthew Stephen Manganaro
Steven Ives Pancio II
Stephanie D. Prozora
Anjan S. Shah
Mirela Tuzovic

Richard Sung Ahn
Jeong-Hee Ku
Amy N. Luckenbaugh
Kelly E. O’Hear

Anthony Michael Aquino
Derek James Brown
Lorenzo J. DiGiorgio
Katelyn Donohue
Mamie Nakajima Higgins
Nathan B. Kaplan
Emily L. Kraus
Joshua David Kurtz
Lei Lei
Robert Anthony Malizia
Margaret A. Moult
Bridget M. Obzud
David Andres Rigual
Kevin F. Seals
Brandon Richard Seifert
Nishant Suneja
Richard J. Ward
Robb Aaron Wasserman
Brian Josiah Young
Kevin Michael Zeeck