Commencement Awards, May 2020
Cum laude The degree of Doctor of Medicine cum laude will be conferred on students whose academic performance shows unusual merit. Sarah Barbara Abdallah, William Chen, Arash Fereydooni, Michelle Ferreira, Emily Gao, Wyatt Hong, Maria Korah, Young H. Lim, Muneeb Mohideen, Tess Ann O’Meara, Jeremy James Puthumana, Adele S. Ricciardi, Alexander Nicholas Scherer, Madison Blair Sharp, Andrew Silverman, Anuoluwapo (Anu) Sopeyin, Ram Sundaresh, Melissa M. Thomas, Rebecca Simone Treger, Jessica Faith Williams
American Academy of Neurology Award Awarded to recognize a graduating medical student for excellence in clinical neurology. Monica Ferrer Socorro
ACP Internal Medicine Award Awarded to a graduating student who will be entering a categorical or primary care internal medicine residency in Connecticut and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and community service. Ysabel Carina Malabuyo Ilagan-Ying
Norma Bailey Berniker Prize Established in 1970 by bequest of John H. Bailey, B.A. 1900, M.D. 1903. To be awarded to members of the graduating class who give promise of best exemplifying the disciplines and precepts of the Oath of Hippocrates and the Prayer of Maimonides. Eric Y. Chen, Eduardo Fleischer Peicher, Bryan Christopher Kaps, Sascha Murillo, Tara Torabi
The Campbell Prize Founded in 1900 by bequest from James Campbell, honorary M.A. 1891, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 1886 to 1899. Awarded to the graduating student who secures the highest score on Step II of the National Board Medical Examination. Jennifer Leslie Simon Hanberg
Connecticut Academy of Family Physicians Award Established in 1994 to recognize outstanding students entering a career in Family Practice. Not awarded in 2020.
Connecticut Chapter of American College of Surgeons Prize Awarded to a graduating student for excellence in surgical sciences. Thais Faggion Vinholo
The Cortlandt Van Rensselaer Creed Award Established in 1999 in honor of Cortlandt Van Rensselaer Creed, the first African American graduate of Yale School of Medicine in 1857. Awarded through peer nomination to a graduating, underrepresented, minority student in medicine and public health who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, exemplary leadership, and a significant commitment to the community at large. Nientara Anderson, Sascha Natalia Murillo
Miriam Kathleen Dasey Award Established in 1950 in honor of Miriam Kathleen Dasey, Registrar from 1921 to 1950. Awarded annually to students who by strength of character, personal integrity, and academic achievement give promise of fulfilling the ideal of the compassionate physician. Kristina Marie Kelly Brown, Shayan Cheraghlou, Arash Fereydooni, Lucy Hui, Kristina Marie Klara, Aman Mahal, Ashley Odai-Afotey, Ram Sundaresh
The Dean’s Prize for Community Service This annual award recognizes the graduating student who, by leadership and service, has made major contributions to the School of Medicine, to the New Haven community, or to the community at large. Sascha Natalia Murillo
Endocrinology Society Medical Student Achievement Award Established in 1997 to recognize a graduating student who has shown special achievement and interest in the general field of endocrinology. Not awarded in 2020.
The Selma and Karl Folkers Prize in Biomedical Research Awarded to graduating M.D./Ph.D. students whose thesis research has demonstrated excellence in basic cell and molecular biology. Young H. Lim, Alexander Nicholas Scherer, Jessica Faith Williams
The Peter Grannum Prize Established in 1990. Awarded to an outstanding African American graduate. This annual award is supported by the Shirley, Maggie and Hugh Comer Fund. Kristina Marie Kelly Brown
The Marguerite Rush Lerner Award Awarded to students for outstanding creative writing. Kristina Marie Kelly Brown, Wyatt Hong, Louisa Lu, Andrew Silverman, Tara Torabi, Yapei (Rosie) Zhang
The M.D./Ph.D. Alumni Award Awarded to graduating M.D./Ph.D. students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievements, leadership, and service. Lee Ying
The M.D./Ph.D. Award Awarded to outstanding members of the graduating M.D./Ph.D. class who have shown excellence in both research and clinical activities. Ramak Khosravi, Samuel Brady Sondalle
New England Pediatric Society Prize Awarded to that member of the graduating class entering pediatrics who in the opinion of peers and faculty best exemplifies those qualities one looks for in a pediatrician: “A competent, caring, good humored person whom I would want to take care of my children.” Eduardo Fleischer Peicher, Bonnie Hawkins
The Parker Prize Established in 1914 by bequest from Frank J. Parker, Ph.D. 1895, M.D. 1898. Awarded annually to the graduating students who, during the course, have shown the best qualifications for a successful physician. Jennifer Leslie Simon Hanberg, Patrick Huang, Tess Ann O’Meara
The Perkins Prize Awarded to the student who achieves the highest rank on Step I of the National Board Medical Examination. Jennifer Leslie Simon Hanberg
Mila Rainof Award The Mila Rainof Award will be given each year to a graduating Yale medical student entering the field of emergency medicine who, like Mila, has contagious enthusiasm for caring for patients, while bringing attention, kindness, and compassion to each interaction. Melissa M. Thomas
The Dr. David and Arthur Schuman Award of Excellence in Family Practice Awarded annually to recognize a student or resident in the State of Connecticut for academic excellence and contributions to the Connecticut Academy of Family Physicians and other organizations that promote understanding of the specialty of Family Medicine. Not awarded in 2020.
The Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Award Awarded to the student who has demonstrated excellence in the specialty of emergency medicine. Dennis Wang
The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award Supported by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Established to honor a graduating student who demonstrates the highest standard of compassion and sensitivity in interaction with patients. Dervin Junior Cunningham
Lauren Weinstein Award Established in 1992 in memory of Lauren Weinstein (Yale medical student, 1988–1989). Given to students who display courage, perseverance, and compassion and have dared to reach for the best in themselves. Melissa M. Thomas
The Milton C. Winternitz Prize in Pathology Established in 1950 in honor of Milton Charles Winternitz, honorary M.A. 1917, Professor of Pathology and Bacteriology, 1917–1925, Anthony N. Brady Professor of Pathology, 1925–1950. Zachary Avignan
Thesis Prizes, May 2020
Cancer Prize Awarded to a graduating student for an outstanding thesis in cancer. Michelle Nelson Ferreira
The Peter F. Curran Prize Established in 1976. To be presented to a graduating medical student for an outstanding thesis. Andrew Silverman
Wilber G. Downs, M.D., M.P.H., Outstanding Thesis Prize in International Health Established in 1988 for the best thesis in the area of international health. Madison Blair Sharp
The Ferris Prize Established in 1934 and endowed in 1937 by anonymous donors in honor of Harry Burr Ferris, A.A. 1887, M.D. 1890. Awarded to a graduating student for an outstanding thesis. Ram Sundaresh
The William U. Gardner Thesis Prize Established in 1989 by Dr. Gardner’s widow and awarded to the graduating student with the most outstanding thesis in the graduating class. Melissa M. Thomas
The Nicholas J. Giarman Prize Established in 1976. Nicholas Giarman was Professor of Pharmacology, 1949 to 1968. To be presented to a student for an outstanding thesis. Melissa M. Thomas
The Keese Prize Established in 1880 by bequest from Mary M. Keese in memory of her son, Hobart Keese, M.D. 1855. Awarded annually to a student who presents an outstanding thesis. Tess Ann O’Meara
The Dr. Harold H. Lamport Biomedical Research Prize Established in 1976. To be presented to a student for an outstanding thesis reporting original biomedical research. Emily Gao
The Lidz Prize in Psychiatry Awarded to a graduating student for an outstanding thesis in the field of psychiatry or neuroscience. Sarah Barbara Abdallah
The M.D./Ph.D. Prize Awarded to the graduating M.D./Ph.D. students with the most outstanding dissertation. Adele S. Ricciardi, Rebecca Simone Treger
Dr. Marvin Moser Prize Established in 2007 by Dr. Marvin Moser for a prize-winning thesis in preventive cardiology, lipid disorders, or hypertension. Anuoluwapo Eniola Sopeyin
The Dr. Louis H. Nahum Prize Founded in 1973 by bequest from Louis H. Nahum, M.D. 1916. Awarded annually to a member of the senior class of the medical school, who merits such award by virtue of the excellence of the thesis that the student has written as required for the medical degree. Wyatt Hong
The John P. Peters Prize Established in 1976. To be presented to a student for an outstanding thesis in the area of internal medicine. John P. Peters was Professor of Medicine at Yale, 1927 to 1955. Aman Mahal
David and Harriet Seligson Thesis Prize Established in 2011 in honor of Dr. David Seligson, the founder of the Department of Laboratory Medicine, for an outstanding thesis in the area of laboratory medicine. William Chen
Surgery Prize Awarded to the senior medical student entering a surgical field, who has done outstanding research during medical school. Arash Fereydooni
The Louis G. Welt Prize Established in 1976. To be presented to a student for an outstanding thesis. Louis Welt was Chairman and Professor of Medicine, 1972–1974. Jeremy James Puthumana
The Abraham White Prize Awarded yearly to a Yale medical student for outstanding student research. Established in 2010, the prize is in memory of Dr. Abraham White, who served as a distinguished teacher and scholar of Physiological Chemistry at Yale from 1931 to 1948. Maria Moozhiyil Korah
Student Research Day Oral Presentations, 2020
Due to COVID-19 Student Research Day, May 14, 2020, was canceled. The following students would have given oral presentations of their thesis research.
William Chen, Uncovering Intertumoral Heterogeneity Among Single-Cell Cancer Specimens (Dr. Smita Krishnasway, Genetics)
Emily Gao, Identification of a Novel Disorder with Cholestasis, Liver Fibrosis, and Congenital Diarrhea Due to Organic Solute Transporter Alpha Deficiency (Dr. Silvia Vilarinho, Internal Medicine)
Adele S. Ricciardi, Nanoparticles for Site-Specific Gene Editing in Utero (Dr. W. Mark Saltzman, Biomedical Engineering)
Andrew Silverman, Cerebral Autoregulation-Based Blood Pressure Management in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit: Towards Individualizing Care in Ischemic Stroke and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (Dr. Nils Petersen, Neurology)
Melissa M. Thomas, Defining Psychological Resilience and Determining Long-Term Mental and Physical Health Outcomes in Male and Female West Point Graduates (Dr. Carolyn Mazure, Psychiatry)
Rebecca Simone Treger, Control of Endogenous Retroviruses by Cell-Intrinsic and Cell-Extrinsic Defenses (Dr. Akiko Iwasaki, Immunobiology)
Awards to Faculty and House Staff, May 2020
The Francis Gilman Blake Award Established in 1952 by Nu Sigma Nu. Endowed by Dr. Robert C. Kirk, B.S. 1930, as a memorial to his twin brother, Dr. Gilman D. Kirk, B.S. 1930. Awarded annually to that member of the faculty of the School of Medicine designated by the senior class as the most outstanding teacher(s) of the medical sciences. Andrew N. Sofair, M.D., M.P.H.
Charles W. Bohmfalk Prizes Established in 1989 under the terms of the Alice Bohmfalk Charitable Trust. Prestigious teaching prizes will be awarded annually to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the teaching program, one in the basic sciences and one in the clinical sciences, as judged by the faculty and students. Basic Sciences: Lloyd G. Cantley, M.D., Clinical Sciences: Cassius Iyad Ochoa Chaar, M.D., M.S.
The Alvan R. Feinstein Award Presented to a Yale School of Medicine faculty member chosen as the outstanding teacher of the year of clinical skills by a committee of chairs of the clinical departments, associate chairs, and students. Rachel Liu, M.B.B.Ch.
The Leah M. Lowenstein Award Presented annually by the Office for Women in Medicine to faculty members who are models of a medical educator whose humane teaching reaches and influences all students regardless of gender, race, or socioeconomic background. These are the traits espoused by the late Leah Lowenstein, a medical educator and first female dean of a coeducational medical school. Anna Reisman, M.D.
The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award Presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Established in 1998 to honor the faculty member who demonstrates the highest standard of compassion and sensitivity in interaction with patients. Aniyizhai Annamalai, M.B.B.S., M.D.
The Betsy Winters House Staff Award Presented annually to that member of the House Staff of the Yale-New Haven Medical Center, designated by the graduating class, who has made the most significant contribution to the education of medical students. Sameer Kahn, M.D., and Benjamin Young, M.D.