Honors and Prizes
Commencement Awards, May 2009
Cum laude The degree of Doctor of Medicine cum laude will be conferred on students whose academic performance shows unusual merit. Carolyn Avery, Margaret Ann Baumbusch, Brittany Craiglow, Mallika L Mendu, Christopher Ryan Spock, Jennifer Renee Voorhees, Rachel Lynn Wattier
ACP-ASIM 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. Aviva J. Romm
American Academy of Neurology Award Awarded to recognize a graduating medical student for excellence in clinical Neurology. Eyal Yaacov Kimchi
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, in the judgment of the faculty, give promise of best exemplifying the disciplines and precepts of the Oath of Hippocrates and Maimonides’s Prayer. Jason Elihu Frangos, Christopher James Gibson, Shane Lloyd
The Campbell Prize Founded in 1900 by bequest from James Campbell, honorary M.A. 1891, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology 1886 to 1899. Awarded to the graduating students who secure the highest rank on Step Two of the National Board examinations. Rachel Lynn Wattier
Connecticut Academy of Family Physicians Award Established in 1994 to recognize outstanding students entering a career in Family Practice. Erica Rose Menkel Mintzer
Connecticut Chapter of American College of Surgeons Prize Awarded to graduating students for excellence in the surgical sciences. Aaron Kyle Remenschneider
The Cortlandt Van Rensselaer Creed Award Established in 1999 in honor of Cortlandt Van Rensselaer Creed, M.D. 1857, the first African American graduate of Yale University School of Medicine. 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. Sara Whetstone
Miriam Kathleen Dasey Award Established in 1950 in honor of Miriam Kathleen Dasey, Registrar from 1921 to 1950. To be presented annually to students who by strength of character, personal integrity, and academic achievement give promise of fulfilling the ideal of the compassionate physician. Jalal Abou, Carolyn Avery, Sanjay Basu, Laura Elisabeth Dichtel, Janet Caleb Bosler Korngold, Mallika L. Mendu, Anup Patel, Amanda Mondoñedo Silverio, Rachel Solomon
The Dean’s Prize for Community Service This annual award recognizes the graduating students who, by leadership and service, have made major contributions to the School of Medicine, to the New Haven community, or to the community at large. Susan K. Mathai, Mallika L Mendu, Rachel Solomon, Sara Whetstone
Selma and Karl Folkers Prize in Biomedical Research This prize is awarded to graduating M.D./Ph.D. students whose thesis research has demonstrated excellence in basic cell and molecular biology. . Eyal Yaacov Kimchi, Arjun Vijay Masurkar, James H. Park, Mary Catherine Whitman
The Peter A. T. Grannum Prize Established in 1990. Awarded to outstanding African American graduates. This annual award is supported by the Shirley, Maggie and Hugh Comer Fund. Johnathan Alexander Bernard, Alicia Velean Lee
The Marguerite Rush Lerner Award This award is offered to a graduating student for outstanding creative writing. Anne Kathryn Merritt
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. Ayal Aaron Aizer, Matthew Christian McRae
The Perkins Prize Awarded to the student who achieves the highest rank on Step One of the National Board examinations. of Medical Examiners. Rachel Lynn Wattier
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. Rebecca Elaine Bruccoleri
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 his or her academic excellence and contributions to the Connecticut Academy of Family Physicians and other organizations that promote understanding of the specialty of family medicine. Jennifer Renee Voorhees
The Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Award Awarded to the student who has demonstrated excellence in the specialty of emergency medicine. Sundeep Ram Bhat
The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award Presented by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation Established to honor a graduating student who demonstrates the highest standard of compassion and sensitivity in his or her interaction with patients. Sara Whetstone
Lauren Weinstein Award Established in 1992 in memory of Lauren Weinstein (Yale medical student 1988–1989). Given to a student who displays courage, perseverance, and compassion and has dared to reach for the best in herself or himself. Michael Joel Martinez
Thesis Prizes, May 2009
The American Cancer Society Prize Given by the Connecticut Chapter of the American Cancer Society and awarded to a graduating student for an outstanding thesis in the area of cancer. James C. Lee
The Association for Academic Surgery–Novartis Research Award Awarded to the senior medical student entering a surgical field, who has done outstanding research during medical school. Wendy A. Ciovacco
The Peter F. Curran Prize Established in 1976. To be presented to a graduating medical student for an outstanding thesis. Peter F. Curran was Professor of Physiology at Yale, 1967 to 1974. Sarah Angeline Lee
Wilber G. Downs, M.D., M.P.H., Prize for the Outstanding Thesis in International Health Established in 1988 for the bet thesis in the area of international health. Jennifer Renee Voorhees
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. Susan K. Mathai
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. Christopher Ryan Spock
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. Fabienne Christine Meier-Abt
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. Anne Kathryn Merritt
The Laboratory Medicine Award Established in 1988 for the best thesis in the area of laboratory medicine. Sponsored by the Department of Laboratory Medicine. Rachel Lynn Wattier
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. Mallika L. Mendu
The Lidz Prize in Psychiatry Awarded to a graduating student for an outstanding thesis in the field of psychiatry. Brittany Craiglow
The M.D./Ph.D. Thesis Prize Awarded to the graduating M.D./Ph.D. student with the most outstanding dissertation. Adam Frost
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 School of Medicine, who merits such award by virtue of the excellence of the thesis which the student has written as required for the medical degree. Kudakwashe Portia Mutyambizi
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. Carolyn Avery
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 to 1974. Margaret Ann Baumbusch
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. Adam Frost
Student Research Day Oral Presentations, May 12, 2009
Margaret Ann Baumbusch. A Role for RAGE System Activation in Preterm Birth (Dr. Irina Buhimschi, Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences)
James C. Lee. Genetically Targeted Adoptive T Cell Therapy for Cancer (Dr. Thomas Duffy, Internal Medicine)
Christopher Ryan Spock. Novel Insights into Hemangioma Pathogenesis (Dr. Deepak Narayan, Surgery)
Jennifer Renee Voorhees. Discussing Physician-Assisted Dying: A Qualitative Study of Doctors’ Experiences in the U.S. and the Netherlands (Dr. Margaret Drickamer, Internal Medicine)
Adam Frost. Membrane-Molding Macro-Molecules of the BAR Domain Superfamily (Dr. Vinzenz M. Unger, Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, and Dr. Pietro De Camilli, Cell Biology)
Awards to Faculty and House Staff, May 2009
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 of the medical sciences. Karen J. Jubanyik, M.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery (Emergency Medicine)
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 Science: Michael L. Schwartz, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neurobiology. Clinical Sciences: Frederick Haeseler, M.D., Associate Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine
The Alvan R. Feinstein Award Presented to a Yale University School of Medicine faculty member chosen as the outstanding teacher of the year of clinical skills by chairs of the clinical departments, associate chairs, faculty, and students. Robert M. Rohrbaugh, M.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry
The Leah M. Lowenstein Award Presented annually by the Office for Women in Medicine to members of the faculty who most clearly represent the highest degree of excellence in the promotion of humane and egalitarian medical education. Laura R. Ment, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics (Neurology) and Neurology
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 his or her interaction with patients. Grace Y. Jenq, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine (Geriatrics)
The Betsy Winters House Staff Award Established in 1972 by the Fourth-Year Class and 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. Joshua Silverstein, M.D., Resident, Internal Medicine Education
