Graduation

  • Commencement 2025

    Medical students from the Class of 2025 were recognized and celebrated for their academic, clinical, research, and community-centered achievements at this year's Honors Convocation event May 2.

    Honors Convocation Lauds Class of 2025 MD Candidates

    By Keith Gillogly

    Published May 8, 2025

    Distinguished members of the Class of 2025 received special recognition during the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences annual Honors Convocation, which took place May 2 at UB’s Center for the Arts.

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

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    Departmental Awards

    Department of Anesthesiology

    Lieberman Award
    Interest in and aptitude for the study of anesthesiology
    Adam Abbas
    Madison Ballacchino
    Emily MacDonald

    Department of Emergency Medicine

    Department of Emergency Medicine Scholastic Award
    Outstanding academic record in emergency medicine
    Kaylee Hausrath

    Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Award
    Excellence in emergency medicine
    Mary Kneer

    Department of Family Medicine

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

    Charles Bauda Award
    Academic excellence during third year

    Madeline Champagne-Shafer
    Alejandro Falca-Jimenez
    Rebecca Hartling
    Noor Khechen 

    G. Norris Miner Memorial Award
    Demonstration of outstanding clinical competence in family medicine
    Sasha Kogan

    Mark A. Petrino Award
    Demonstrated interest and aptitude for the general practice of family medicine
    Sasha Joseph

    Department of Medicine

    Bukowski Award
    Characteristics of high integrity, loyalty, thoughtfulness and thoroughness
    Clayton Brady

    Patrick Costello Award
    Achieved highest grade on the written exam for internal medicine
    Jared Gurba

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

    Stephen J. Paolini Award
    Best exemplified the qualities of dedication and compassion that Dr. Paolini personified
    Lily McGovern

    Emilie Davis Rodenberg Memorial Award
    Demonstrated strong interest in the study of diabetes
    Dominick Calavano
    Madeline Champagne-Shafer

    Harry E. and Loretta A. Jordan Award
    Recognizes a student for noteworthy investigation of cancer and neoplastic disease
    Michelle Qiu

    Department of Medicine — Pediatrics

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

    Department of Neurology

    American Academy of Neurology Student Prize for Excellence
    Sustained interest and excellence in neurology
    Lindsey Dressler

    Bernard H. Smith Memorial Award in Clinical Neurology
    Most outstanding performance in the neurology clerkship
    Connor Ullery

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

    Hans J. Lowenstein Award in Obstetrics
    Most outstanding clinical work
    Katelyn Donnolly
    Rose Durnell
    Hannah Lane

    Clyde L. Randall Society Award
    Demonstrates diligence, integrity, scholarship and leadership
    Mackenzie Cronin

    Department of Ophthalmology

    Dr. Thomas J. Guttuso Award
    Academic excellence in ophthalmology
    Daniel Lai

    Harry E. and Loretta A. Jordan Award
    Proficiency in ophthalmology
    Paul Schiffmacher

    E. J. Weisenheimer Award
    Excellence in scholarship and patient care in ophthalmology
    Gretchen Weiss

    Department of Orthopaedics

    Dr. Benjamin E. and Lila Obletz Prize
    Academic achievement and interest in orthopaedic surgery
    Maxwell Scott

    Department of Otolaryngology

    Department of Otolaryngology Chairman’s Award
    Demonstrated outstanding achievement in otolaryngology
    Beatrice Bacon

    Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences

    Morris and Sadie Stein Award
    Excellence in neuroanatomy
    Natalie Guzelak
    Connor Ullery

    Department of Pediatrics

    Children’s Hospital Prize
    Excellence in understanding childhood diseases
    Caitlin Chunco

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

    Frederick B. Wilkes Pediatric Award
    Dedication to patients and the field of pediatrics
    Lindsey Euscher

    Department of Psychiatry

    Gilbert M. Beck Memorial Prize in Psychiatry
    Academic excellence in psychiatry
    Nicholas Young

    S. Mouchly Small, MD Award
    Ability to relate well to patients, faculty and staff
    Jamie Haggerty

    Farney R. Wurlitzer Prize
    Outstanding work in psychiatry
    Arianna Hughes

    Department of Radiology

    Dr. George Alker Award
    Excellence in radiology
    Natalie Guzelak

    Department of Surgery

    Buffalo Surgical Society Prize in Surgery
    Academic excellence in the clinical years
    Joseph Iskander

    Department of Surgery Chair’s Award
    Superior clinical performance and the highest score on the surgery exam
    Connor Ullery

    Dr. Heinrich Leonhardt Prize in Surgery
    Academic excellence 
    Lindsey Nitsche

    Research Awards

    Bacelli Award
    Most outstanding research by a medical student
    Lindsey Nitsche

    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
    Maxwell Scott

    Erika Bruck Award
    Research or thesis based on concepts of the basic sciences as applied to a clinical problem
    Sarah Choudhury 

    Research Honors Awards
    A commitment to excellence in research during medical school
    Adam Hesham Abbas
    Kelvin Anderson
    Eylon Jonathan Arbel
    Beatrice Rose Bacon
    Daniel James Baetzhold
    Ascharya K. Balaji
    Madison MacKay Ballacchino
    Dominique Rachel Betterbed
    Kwaku Bonsu
    Jamie Joe Bousleiman
    Alexandra Nicole DiVasta
    Ifeoma Nneoma Ezeilo
    Benjamin Christopher Graham
    Justin Im
    Nathaniel Iskhakov
    Joseph Samir Iskander
    Arsh Issany
    Marissa D. Kruk
    Catherine Lawton
    Paul Mercado
    Lindsay Joyce Nitsche
    Courtney Lynn Olbrich
    Dominique Faye Revan
    Paul Joseph Schiffmacher
    Maxwell Martin Scott
    Olivia Virginia Waldman

    Thesis Honors Awards
    Outstanding research supported by a written thesis satisfying the school’s highest standard
    Sarah H. Choudhury
    Regina M. Cooper
    Emily Maroun Hannah
    Cathleen Chenyu Kuo
    Bernard Klortia Okai
    Shefalika Prasad

    Association Awards and Memorials

    Dr. Avery Ellis Memorial Award
    For work advancing the curriculum or implementing a new and lasting school initiative
    Danielle Falkenstein

    Dr. James Goldinger Curriculum Leadership Award
    Leadership, enthusiasm and a dedication to teaching
    Mackenzie Cronin

    National Medical Association Award
    Excellence in scholarship, leadership and commitment to community service
    Nathaniel Graves

    John Paroski, MD Memorial Award
    Compassion and excellence in patient care
    Patrick Forrestel

    Philip P. Sang Memorial Award
    Ability to relate well to patients, faculty and staff
    Shefalika Prasad

    Dr. Karen Schupak Memorial Medical Student Award
    Demonstrates a high degree of empathy when working with patients
    Sarah Choudhury
    Courtney Olbrich

    Medical School Awards and Dean’s Awards

    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
    Madeline Champagne-Shafer

    Elizabeth Award
    Unusual compassion and a noteworthy personal and professional sense of integrity and ethics
    Sasha Joseph

    Bernhardt and Sophie Gottlieb Award
    Expertise in areas outside medicine
    Iryna Dovirak

    Colonel and Mrs. Robert C. M. Liu Award
    Demonstrated commitment to the US military through family or personal service
    Scott Anderson

    Medical Alumni Association Award
    Outstanding community service and commitment
    Justin Im

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

    Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award
    Exemplary compassion and sensitivity in the delivery of care
    Lily McGovern

    Merck Academic Excellence Award
    Outstanding academics coupled with noteworthy humanism and leadership
    Colleen Barrientos
    Kathryn Hobika
    Arsh Issany
    Catherine Lawton

    James Platt White Society Award
    Intellectual vigor and moral courage
    John Etter
    Nathaniel Graves

    Harold J. Levy Award in Psychophysiological Medicine
    Worked to make a positive difference on the well-being of fellow medical students
    Ifeoma Ezeilo 

    Roy E. Seibel Sr., MD, Medical School Award
    Academic excellence and outstanding character
    Amanda Szarzanowicz 

    Wendel Award in Wellness and Inclusion
    Presented to a student who has worked to advocate for their peers' inclusivity or wellness
    Shady Albakry 

    Carosella Award
    Strength of character, personal integrity, academic achievement
    Alex Reardon

    Medical Honor Societies

    Richard Sarkin/Emeritus Faculty Chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society

    Ademola Adegbemigun
    Michelle Amankwah
    Michael S. Augustin
    Daniel James Baetzhold
    Ascharya K. Balaji
    Kwaku Bonsu
    Cameron Paul DeMott
    Katelyn Christine Donnelly
    Sabrina Renee Dunn
    Dominique Faye Revan
    Nathaniel Gregory Graves
    Kathryn A. Hobika

    Nathaniel Iskhakov
    Joseph Samir Iskander
    Arsh Issany
    Sasha Rachel Pavlovna Kogan
    Catherine Lawton
    Lily Ann McGovern
    Paul Mercado
    Courtney Lynn Olbrich
    Clayton Michienzi Shanahan
    Amanda M. Szarzanowicz
    Lauren Dianne Todoro
    Mary Jia-Hsing Yeh

    Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society

    Adam Hesham Abbas
    Michelle Amankwah
    Kelvin Anderson
    Beatrice Rose Bacon
    Daniel James Baetzhold
    Madison MacKay Ballacchino
    Surjo Bandyopadhyay
    Clayton Timothy Brady
    Joseph A. Brazzo III
    Evan James Burns
    Paige Frances Carson
    Kanita A. Chaudhry
    Lauren Davidson Chavanne
    Caitlin Chunco
    James JM Cooper
    Regina M. Cooper
    Brian Milo Cornell
    Mackenzie Cronin
    John Lewis Etter
    Ifeoma Nneoma Ezeilo

    Danielle Falkenstein
    Patrick Leo Forrestel
    Katherine Ann Frustaci
    Benjamin Christopher Graham
    Jared Edward Gurba
    Victoria M. Haak
    Jamie E. Hagerty
    Justin Im
    Naomi Joseph
    Marissa D. Kruk
    Julia Montemage
    Seth M. Moore
    Allen R. Murphy
    Michelle L. Qiu
    Harneet Kaur Sandhu
    Maxwell Martin Scott
    Amanda M. Szarzanowicz
    Lauren Dianne Todoro
    Nathaniel Victor Walker
    Zachary Louis Weinstock

    Latin Honors

    Adam Hesham Abbas
    Michelle Amankwah
    Kelvin Anderson
    Eylon Jonathan Arbel
    Beatrice Rose Bacon
    Daniel James Baetzhold
    Madison MacKay Ballacchino
    Surjo Bandyopadhyay
    Colleen Brady Barrientos
    Clayton Timothy Brady
    Evan James Burns
    Dominic Alberto Carrillo
    Paige Frances Carson
    Lauren Davidson Chavanne
    Caitlin Chunco
    Megan Elizabeth Conrow-Graham
    James JM Cooper
    Regina M. Cooper
    Brian Milo Cornell
    Mackenzie Cronin
    Kristina Kalpana Deonaraine
    Lindsey Dressler
    John Lewis Etter
    Danielle Falkenstein
    Patrick Leo Forrestel
    Katherine Ann Frustaci
    Joseph Gallardo Alzate
    Benjamin Christopher Graham
    Valeria Grajales Estrada
    Kaley Ann Grooms
    Jared Edward Gurba
    Natalie Anne Guzelak
    Victoria M. Haak

    Jamie E. Hagerty
    Sophia Huang
    Justin Im
    Brady Jensen
    Naomi Joseph
    Marissa D. Kruk
    Cathleen Chenyu Kuo
    Daniel Alexander Sey Young Lai
    Hannah Christine Lane
    Ming Xia Lian
    Jenna Evelyn Lutfy
    Emily Elizabeth MacDonald
    Lily Ann McGovern
    Julia Montemage
    Seth M. Moore
    Allen R. Murphy
    Nina Marie Mustico
    Lindsay Joyce Nitsche
    Courtney Lynn Olbrich
    Charles Palka
    Michelle L. Qiu
    Harneet Kaur Sandhu
    Paul Joseph Schiffmacher
    Maxwell Martin Scott
    Anna Min Stokolosa
    MacKenzie Lilan Swanson
    Amanda M. Szarzanowicz
    Lauren Dianne Todoro
    Connor Ullery
    Anjali Vejendla
    Olivia Virginia Waldman
    Nathaniel Victor Walker
    Zachary Louis Weinstock
    Matthew J. Zahn

Earlier Graduations