Honors Convocation Fetes Awardees, Honors Daniels

By Bill Bruton

Silvestri, master of ceremonies for the event, honored Daniels by wearing distinctive retro Air Jordan shoes based off the original Jordans released in the 1980s. At last year’s Honors Convocation, he was sitting with Daniels, and commented to his friend on the excellent footwear all the inductees were wearing.

“I said to Jonathan, ‘next year, let’s wear Jordans.’ He’s like ‘you’re not going to wear Jordans?’ And I said ‘Jonathan, I will wear Jordans!”

Daniels didn’t get to see the tribute. He died tragically in an early morning fire last July 4 at his North Buffalo home, along with two of his adult daughters: Jordan, a 2022 graduate of the UB School of Management; and Jensen, a 2021 graduate of Buffalo State College.

Silvestri found out about Daniels’ death from David A. Milling, MD, executive director of the Office of Medical Education and senior associate dean for medical education.

“When I received the call from Dr. Milling that Dr. Daniels had passed away, I went right out and bought these shoes and I said ‘man I am wearing those to graduation for JD,’” Silvestri said.

“Rather than lament his loss, let’s celebrate his life, and let’s remember him today. He’d be so proud of you,” Silvestri added.

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

Lieberman Award
Interest in and aptitude for the study of anesthesiology
Camille Taylor Applegate

Department of Emergency Medicine Scholastic Award
Outstanding academic record in emergency medicine
Shawn Alexander Gibson

Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Award
Excellence in emergency medicine
Erin Elizabeth Clough

American Academy of Family Physicians President’s Award
Outstanding academic record and a commitment to practice family medicine
Gregory Thomas Brown

Charles Bauda Award
Academic excellence during third year
Gabrielle Capone

G. Norris Miner Memorial Award
Demonstration of outstanding clinical competence in family medicine
Jiyun Christina Yoon

Mark A. Petrino Award
Demonstrated interest and aptitude for the general practice of family medicine
Aisha Amir Townes

Bukowski Award
High integrity, loyalty, thoughtfulness and thoroughness in treatment of patients
Jessie Anne Caprino
Charlotte Clare Starling

Patrick Costello Award
Achieved highest grade on the written exam for internal medicine
Nat Davis Voos

David K. Miller Prize in Medicine
Competence, humility and humanity in caring for the sick
Brian Richard Unruh

Stephen J. Paolini Award
Dedication and compassion in patient care
Sara Ann Armstrong

Emilie Davis Rodenberg Memorial Award
Strong interest in the study of diabetes
Chaitya Rajesh Joshi
Rebecca Sarang Lee

Harry E. and Loretta A. Jordan Award
Recognizes a student for noteworthy investigation of cancer and neoplastic disease
James Wesley Hill

Dr. Beth J. Wutz Memorial Award
A student who demonstrates a dedication to both intelligent and empathetic care of both children and young adults
Alexe Leah Wodowski

American Academy of Neurology Student Prize for Excellence
Sustained interest and excellence in neurology
John Joseph Stocking

Bernard H. Smith Memorial Award in Clinical Neurology
Most outstanding performance in the neurology clerkship
Caroline Diana Lojacono

Hans J. Lowenstein Award in Obstetrics
Most outstanding clinical work
Elliana Markella Gianacopoulos
Ariel Joy Kent
Katarina Gabrielle Krajacic

Clyde L. Randall Society Award in Gynecology-Obstetrics
Diligence, integrity, scholarship and leadership
Victoria Kirilov Lazarov

Dr. Thomas J. Guttuso Award
Academic excellence in ophthalmology
Dmitriy Belous

Harry E. and Loretta A. Jordan Award
Proficiency in ophthalmology
Adetayo Olufemi Oladele-Ajose

E. J. Weisenheimer Award
Excellence in scholarship and patient care in ophthalmology
Christian Mueller

Dr. Benjamin E. and Lila Obletz Prize
Academic achievement and interest in orthopaedic surgery
Joshua James Slowinski

Department of Otolaryngology Chairman’s Award
Demonstrated outstanding achievement in otolaryngology
Nicole Marie Favre

Association of Pathology Chairs Award
Scholarship in pathology
Ellie Trafford Camanzo
Jarrett Weston White
Alexe Leah Wodowski

Morris and Sadie Stein Award
Excellence in neuroscience
Ian Kevin Christman
Taylor Shea Goodman
Mychaela Marie Lauria
Kristina Francesca Powers
Nat Davis Voos

Children’s Hospital Prize
Excellence in understanding childhood diseases
Nat Davis Voos

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

Frederick B. Wilkes Pediatric Award
Dedication to patients and the field of pediatrics
Taylor Shea Goodman

Gilbert M. Beck Memorial Prize in Psychiatry
Academic excellence in psychiatry
Madeline Haase Carver

S. Mouchly Small, MD Award
Ability to relate well to patients, faculty and staff
Austin Orion Ainsworth

Farney R. Wurlitzer Prize
Outstanding work in psychiatry
Brandon Lewis Mariotti

Dr. George Alker Award
Excellence in radiology
Tyler Dylan Mack

Buffalo Surgical Society Prize in Surgery
Academic excellence in the clinical years
Austin Michael Barrett

Department of Surgery Chair’s Award
Superior clinical performance and the highest score on the surgery exam
Cortnie Rae Vaughn

Dr. Heinrich Leonhardt Prize in Surgery
Academic excellence 
Brielle Elisabeth Emily Raine

Bacelli Award
Most outstanding research by a medical student
Jeff Fang Zhang

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
Victoria Kirilov Lazarov

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

Research Honors Awards
A commitment to excellence in research during medical school
John David Baker III
Jordan Andre Bauer
Geoffrey Andrew Bocobo
Weilin Chan
Nicole Marie Favre
Alex Michael Hollenberg
Mark Anthony Maraschiello
Mary Margaret O'Hehir
Adetayo Olufemi Oladele-Ajose
Karen Sophia Park
Daniel Oluwagbemileke Popoola
Kristina Francesca Powers
Brielle Elisabeth Emily Raine
Andrew Harris Schwartz
Joshua James Slowinski
Kyle Robert Wiatrowski
Brian Minghan Yu

Thesis Honors Awards
Outstanding research supported by a written thesis satisfying the school’s highest standard
Gary James Iacobucci
Victoria Kirilov Lazarov
Jeff Fang Zhang

Dr. Avery Ellis Memorial Award
For work advancing the curriculum or implementing a new and lasting school initiative
Brielle Elisabeth Emily Raine
Nat Davis Voos

Dr. James Goldinger Curriculum Leadership Award
Leadership, enthusiasm and a dedication to teaching
Daniel Oluwagbemileke Popoola

National Medical Association Award
Excellence in scholarship, leadership and commitment to community service
Shawn Alexander Gibson

John Paroski, MD Memorial Award
Compassion and excellence in patient care
Isaac Matthew Swartzman
Henry James Towery

Philip P. Sang Memorial Award
Ability to relate well to patients, faculty and staff
Christine Marie Hoo

Dr. Karen Schupak Memorial Medical Student Award
Demonstrates a high degree of empathy when working with patients
Gabrielle Capone

Dr. Louis Sklarow Award
An outstanding graduate of Jewish faith
Joanna Kiperman

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, judgment and leadership
Tanya Verma Jimerson

Elizabeth Award
Unusual compassion and a noteworthy personal and professional sense of integrity and ethics
Paul Brian Hart

Bernhardt and Sophie Gottlieb Award
Expertise in areas outside medicine
Karen Sophia Park

Colonel and Mrs. Robert C. M. Liu Award
Demonstrated commitment to the U.S. military through family or personal service
Dilpreet Kaur-Spencer

Medical Alumni Association Award
Outstanding community service and commitment
Sarah Catherine Andrews

Medical Alumni Association Dean’s Award
Participation in extracurricular activities in the medical school while maintaining a high standard of academic excellence
Shawn Alexander Gibson

Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award
Exemplary compassion and sensitivity in the delivery of care
Victoria Kirilov Lazarov

Merck Academic Excellence Award
Outstanding academics coupled with noteworthy humanism and leadership
Madeline Haase Carver
Patrick Francis Durkin
Nicole Marie Favre
Lauren Alyssa Smith

James Platt White Society Award
Intellectual vigor and moral courage
Shawn Alexander Gibson
Nat Davis Voos

Harold J. Levy Award in Psychophysiological Medicine
Presented to a student who worked to make a positive difference on the well-being of fellow medical students
Elliana Markella Gianacopoulos

Roy E. Seibel Sr., MD, Medical School Award
Presented to a student who demonstrated academic excellence and outstanding character
Matthew Joseph McGuire

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

Carosella Award
Strength of character, personal integrity, academic achievement
Caroline Diana Lojacono

Nina Patricia Alcasid
Kassidy Nicole Amburgey
Mark Rogers Andrews
Sarah Catherine Andrews
Camille Taylor Applegate
Sara Ann Armstrong
Ajay Baindur
John David Baker III
Austin Michael Barrett
Dmitriy Belous
Ellie Trafford Camanzo
Gabrielle Capone
Jessie Anne Caprino
Madeline Haase Carver
Ivonne Elizabeth Cedillos
Weilin Chan
Renee Luo Chen
Ian Kevin Christman
Erin Elizabeth Clough
Kelly Ann Connolly
Anna Erin Davis
Lillian Jane Dixon
Patrick Francis Durkin
Sofia Elizabeth Espinosa Marazita
Nicole Marie Favre
Thomas John Fretz
James Joseph Ghosen
Elliana Markella Gianacopoulos
Taylor Shea Goodman
James Wesley Hill
Din Hoxha
Tanya Verma Jimerson
Colin Michael Johnson Jr.
Elaine Margarite Jonas
Chaitya Rajesh Joshi
Dana Kapeller-Libermann
Ariel Joy Kent
Joanna Kiperman
Alexander Robert Kovacs
Katarina Gabrielle Krajacic
Mark Jon Lauria
Mychaela Marie Lauria
Victoria Kirilov Lazarov
Rebecca Sarang Lee
Joseph Jude Lesh
Julia Diane Liberto
Caroline Diana Lojacono
Tyler Dylan Mack
Quinn Francis Magiera
Ainsley Catherine Mann
Mark Anthony Maraschiello
Matthew Joseph McGuire
Andrew Philip Monte
Christian Mueller
Heidi Anne Mueller
Ayman Mustafa
Jenna Lynn Neumaier
Jocelyn Clare Neveu
Joseph Quinn Ortolani
Karen Sophia Park
Grant Alexander Parrelli
Noah Matthew Petti
Kristina Francesca Powers
Brielle Elisabeth Emily Raine
Michael Joseph Romano
Siobhan Ashley Rueda
Margaux Marie Ruh
Tara Daly Russell
Alexander Ryan Schafer
Andrew Harris Schwartz
Alicia Marie Skowronski
Joshua James Slowinski
Lauren Alyssa Smith
Charlotte Clare Starling
John Joseph Stocking
Christopher Mark Sullivan
Meagan Elizabeth Sullivan
Isaac Matthew Swartzman
Grace Margaret Tomczak
Henry James Towery
Douglas Seyram Tsahey
Joshua Uffer
Janet Ngozi Umenta
Brian Richard Unruh
Cortnie Rae Vaughn
Nat Davis Voos
Audrey Elaine Wagner
Alexe Leah Wodowski
Song Yao
Brian Minghan Yu
Ash Nicholas Zawerton