Commencement 2017 Awards

Faculty Awards

P&S Distinguished Service Awards were presented to David Figurski, PhD, professor emeritus of microbiology & immunology, and Gerard M. Turino, MD, the John H. Keating Professor Emeritus of Medicine.

Charles W. Bohmfalk Awards were presented to Salila Kurra, MD, assistant professor of medicine at CUMC, for pre-clinical years, and Angela Lignelli-Dipple, MD, associate professor of radiology at CUMC, for clinical years.

The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation was given to James Spears, MD, special lecturer in medicine (in the Center for Family and Community Medicine).

The Dr. Harold and Golden Lamport Research Award in basic sciences was given to Harris Wang, PhD, assistant professor of systems biology (in pathology & cell biology). The Dr. Harold and Golden Lamport Research Award in clinical sciences was given to Ai Yamamoto, PhD, assistant professor of neurology and of pathology & cell biology.

The Class of 2016 gave its Distinguished Teacher Award to Michael J. Devlin, MD, professor of psychiatry at CUMC.

Student Awards and Prizes

Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at P&S

Rory T. Coleman

Kara Marshall

Titus M. Coan Prize for Excellence in Research

            Basic cell and molecular biology: Chenshu Liu

            Translational biology: Lisa Cole Burnett

Doctor Harry S. Altman Award (outstanding achievement in pediatric ambulatory care)

Pliceliany Perez

Alumni Association Award (in recognition of interest in and devotion to the College of Physicians and Surgeons and its Alumni Association)

Ryan W. England

AAN Medical Student Prize for Excellence in Neurology

Jonah P. Zuflacht

The Virginia P. Apgar Award (excellence in anesthesiology)

Lucy T. Li

Michael H. Aranow Memorial Prize (best exemplifies the caring and humane qualities of the practicing physician)

Marla D. Lipsyc

Herbert J. Bartelstone Award (exceptional accomplishments in pharmacology)

Tiffany Y. Sia

The Behrens Memorial Prize in Ophthalmology (outstanding graduate entering ophthalmology) 

Noam D. Rudnick

The Edward T. Bello, MD, Listening Award (best portrays the art of listening to patients, colleagues, and self in practicing the chosen field of medicine)

Nicholas A. Rozon

Robert G. Bertsch Prize (emulates Dr. Bertsch’s ideals of the humane surgeon)

P. Joseph Tobias

The Campbell Award (given to a graduating student at each school who demonstrates exceptional leadership and an exemplary job building spirit at Columbia)

Dylan E. O’Connor

Chair of Medicine Award (given by the Barasch Family to a graduating senior medical student who best exemplifies the vision, intellectual clarity, and moral compass that characterize the work of the leadership of the Department of Medicine)

Andrew Anzalone

Coakley Memorial Prize (outstanding achievement in otolaryngology)

Yi Cai

Titus Munson Coan Prize (best essay in biological sciences)

Jalal K. Baruni

Joseph M. Bixby

Thomas F. Cock Prize (excellence in obstetrics and gynecology)

Tiffany Y. Sia

Rosamond Kane Cummins’52 Award (graduate entering orthopedics with academic excellence, sensitivity, kindness, devotion to patients, and the fine human qualities that she exemplified)

Elise C. Bixby

The Endocrine Society’s Medical Student Achievement Award

Sarah K. Sherwood

Dean’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to P&S

Jessica B. Calihan

Nikita Consul

Kely E. Diaz

Akyl S. Hughes

Ifeanyi C. Onyeji

Lauren R. Pollack

Hannah J. Roberts

Dane A. Saksa

Zoe Sansted

Jonathan J. Urena

Patrick H. van Nieuwenhuizen

Robert S. Zilinyi

Excellence in Public Health Award

Lauren A. Bell

Family Medicine Student Research Scholarship Award

Jenna T. Reece

Marie C. Smithgall

Daniel J. Fink, MD, Memorial Prize (best exemplifies Dr. Fink’s enthusiasm for the study and practice of medicine)

Jenna T. Reece

Christina C. Smithgall

Glasgow-Rubin Achievement Award (presented to women students graduating in the top 10 percent of their class)

Alexandra S. Bercow

Jia Jennifer Ding

Emma V. Gilmore

Caely A. Hambro

Allison S. Letica

Erin M. Mamuyac

Christina S. Miles

Kerry A. Morrison

Subha Perni

Sarah K. Sherwood

Joanna H. Tu

Hannah M. Ware

The Grodman Prize in Global Health (awarded to a graduating medical student who, through participation in research, education or patient care, has demonstrated leadership and exemplified the highest ideals of global health)

Dylan E. O’Connor

Doctor Charles E. Hamilton Award (excellence in pulmonary disease)

Dawn A. Maldonado

Lauren R. Pollack

The Izard Prize in Cardiology (excellence in cardiology)

Jessica B. Calihan

The Jerry Jacobs Prize in Pediatrics (excellence in the differential diagnosis and treatment of disorders in children)

Kevin J. Klembczyk

Janeway Prize (highest achievement and abilities in the graduating class)

Sarah K. Sherwood

Albert B. Knapp Scholarship (awarded at the conclusion of the third year to the medical student with the highest scholarship in the first three years)

Jia Jennifer Ding

Denis J. Donovan

Allison S. Letica

Marcos M. Lopez

Subha Perni

Sarah K. Sherwood

Joanna H. Tu

John K. Lattimer Prize in Urology (outstanding essay in urology)

Wilson Sui

The Samuel and Beatrice Leib Memorial Prize in Ophthalmology (outstanding graduate entering ophthalmology)

Kevin K. Ma

The Stephanie Liem Azar Memorial Award (presented to a graduating student who has demonstrated commitment to harm reduction and providing compassionate care to drug users)

Daniel T. Hoesterey

Donald A.B. Lindberg, MD, (P&S’58) Award for Excellence in Biomedical Informatics

Zoe Sansted

Andrew Mark Lippard Memorial Research Award in Neuroscience (excellence in research in neuroscience by an MD/PhD student)

Alana I. Mendelsohn

Barbara Liskin Memorial Award in Psychiatry (exemplifies the empathy, scholarship, and excellence exhibited by Dr. Barbara Liskin)

Hana K. Ali

The Robert F. Loeb Award (excellence in clinical medicine)

Gabrielle K. Bromberg

F. Lowenfish Prize in Dermatology (creative research in dermatology)

Lei-Wei Chang

Sophie A. Greenberg

Alfred M. Markowitz Endowment for Scholars (exemplifies Dr. Markowitz’s dedication to patient care, teaching, and scholarship) 

Allison S. Letica

Doctor Cecil G. Marquez B.A.L.S.O. Student Award (outstanding contribution to the Black and Latino Student Organization and the minority community)

Elvis J. Camacho

David M. McDowell, MD ’89, School Spirit Award (a student who embodies the P&S school spirit)

Ifeanyi C. Onyeji

Edith and Denton McKane Memorial Award (outstanding research in ophthalmology)

Travis Nanda

James M. McKiernan, MD, Prize for Compassionate Care (exemplifies Dr. James McKiernan’s high level of medical knowledge, humanism, and compassion for patients’ well-being)

Ezra J. Margolin

Medical Society of the State of New York Community Service Award

Dane A. Saksa

Doctor Harold Lee Meirhof Memorial Prize (excellence in pathology over four years in medical school)

Rachel A. Kolster

Doctors William Nastuk, Beatrice Seegal, and Konrad Hsu Award (demonstrated successful laboratory collaboration between student and faculty)

YoungJung Kim

Benjamin W. Lee

Marie Nercessian Memorial Award (exhibiting care, unusual concern and dedication to helping sick people)

Marla D. Lipsyc

New York Orthopedic Hospital Award (outstanding performance in research and clinical work)

Nicholas C. Danford

The Daniel Noyes Brown Primary Care Scholar Award (recognizes the recipients’ commitment to primary care and community service)

Lauren A. Bell

Giselle D. Jaconia

Nicholas A. Rozon

The Office of Student Affairs Outstanding Service to P&S Award (outstanding contribution to improving the quality of life of his or her peers while at P&S)

Alexandra S. Bercow

Timothy G. Dyster

P&S Student Research Day Outstanding Poster Presentation Award

            Scholarly Project:       Marla D. Lypsyc

                                                Priya D. Purushothaman

                                                Jonah P. Zulfacht

             MD/PhD:                    Alana I. Mendelsohn

Outstanding Student in Family Medicine Award (demonstrates academic achievement in the area of family medicine, has shown initiative in community health service and an understanding and commitment to the principles of family medicine)

Christina S. Miles

Donald M. Palatucci Prize (awarded to the student in the fall of his or her fourth year who is in the upper one-third of the class, who exemplifies through activities in art, music, and literature that living and learning go together, and who exemplifies compassion, candor, and zest for life)

Stephen G. Bowden

Yi Cai

Joseph M. Villarin

Joseph Garrison Parker Award (exemplifying through activities in art, music and literature, and the public interest the fact that living and learning go together)

Jenna Reece

The Drs. Robert A. Savitt and George H. McCormack Award (exemplifies Dr. George McCormack’s medical skill, consideration, understanding, and compassion)

Jessica B. Calihan

Griffith M. Curtis

Timothy G. Dyster

The Rebecca A. Schwarz Memorial Prize (achievement in pediatric cardiology)

Denis J. Donovan

The Helen M. Sciarra Prize in Neurology (outstanding achievement in neurology)

Fernanda Carvalho Poyraz

Aura E. Severinghaus Scholar (superior academic achievement)

Erin M. Mamuyac

The Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Award (excellence in the specialty of emergency medicine)

Anna L. Condella

The Miriam Berkman Spotnitz Award (excellence in research of neoplastic diseases)

Stephen G. Bowden

Ryan W. England

The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award (excellence in science and compassion in patient care)

Gabrielle K. Bromberg

William Perry Watson Prize in Pediatrics (excellence in pediatrics)

Jessica B. Calihan

Doctor William Raynor Watson Memorial Award (excellence in psychiatry throughout the four years of medical school) 

Ruth F. McCann

Doctor Allen O. Whipple Memorial Prize (outstanding performance in surgery)

Kerry A. Morrison

Sigmund L. Wilens Prize (excellence in pathology)

Jiajie Lu