Graduation Awards - College of Medicine and Life Sciences

Graduation Awards – Class of 2024

Please join us in recognizing these outstanding students, faculty, residents and staff who receive awards ahead of graduation. The Class of 2024 Graduation Awards will be held on Thursday, May 16, at 3:30 p.m. in Collier Building, Room 1000A.

Outstanding Graduate Student Awards

Doctor of Medicine/Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences Program Outstanding Student: Justin Creeden
Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences Program Outstanding Student: Abdul-Rizaq Hamoud
Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences Basic Science Research Outstanding Student: Emily Crossley
Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences Physician Assistant Program Outstanding Student: Philip McQuillin
Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences Transplantation and Donation Sciences Program Outstanding Student: Nkiruka Okeke Ojiudu
Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences Pathology Assistant Program Outstanding Student: Alexis Brewster
Emergency Medical Services Outstanding Student: Michael Dobrosky

Medical Student Awards

The Glidden L. Brooks Award

The Glidden L. Brooks Award, named in honor of the first president of the former Medical College of Ohio, is presented annually to that graduating medical student who is distinguishable by superiority in all phases of the curriculum.

Tyler Canova
Neejad Chidiac
David Chu
Zachary Cox
Taylor Gonzalez

Jenna Gunn
Sean Halloran
Caroline Kraft
Michelle Leahy
Alexander Luna

Kassidy Rejent
Samantha Walkin
Janet Wang
Miranda Westrick

Dean’s Award

The Dean's Award is awarded to that graduating medical student who, in the eyes of fellow students, shows the greatest promise as a practitioner of medicine.

Brian Hibbard

Dr. Sam Schaeffer Award: Jean Llenos
Office of Student Affairs Award for Excellence in Career Advising: Madison Feeley
Lucien E. Morris, M.D., Anesthesiology Award: Brian Newyear
Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Excellence in Emergency Medicine Award: Miriam Grasso
Jerri Nielsen FitzGerald Award: Vanessa Pasadyn
Harry E. Mayhew, M.D. Department of Family Medicine Award: Jacob Wexler
Toledo/Lucas County Academy of Family Physicians Award: Hedyeh Elahinia
Diversity and Inclusion Award: Alaina Durden
American College of Physicians Ohio Chapter Outstanding Medical Student of the Year: Conner Lombardi
George D. Ludwig Prize in Medicine: Audrey Ballard
Patrick J. Mulrow Prize in Medicine: Amanda Fahoury
Excellence in Infectious Diseases: Sabrina Khuder and Neejad Chidiac
Excellence in Immunity: Taylor Gonzalez and Neejad Chidiac
Earl H. Freimer Scholarship Award: Sara Moore
Mark Rayport M.D., Ph.D. Award in Neurological Surgery: Kathryn Becker
American Academy of Neurology Medical Student Prize for Excellence in Neurology: Ganiru Anunike
Outstanding Neurology Student Award: Ganiru Anunike
Outstanding Student in Obstetrics and Gynecology Award: Kassidy Rejent
Philip T. Nelsen Award for Excellence in Ophthalmology: John Jackson
Outstanding Orthopaedic Student of the Year: Jenna Gunn
Pathology Award for Most Outstanding Student: Stephne Rasiah and Amanda Fahoury
Marian M. Rejent, M.D. Award in Pediatrics: Samantha Walkin
Eleanore Coghlin Award for Excellence in Rehabilitation Medicine: Brian Hibbard
Psychiatry Excellence Award: Neejad Chidiac and Benjamin Record
Theordore P. and Evelyn H. Chengelis Memorial Award in Psychiatry: Sabrina Khuder
Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Physicians Association Medical Student Award: Eric Reinhart
2024 United States Public Health Service Excellence Award: Brooke Buckingham
Outstanding Students in Radiology: David Liu
Marion C. Anderson Award for Excellence in Surgery: Sean Halloran
Toledo Surgical Society Medical Center Student Recognition Award: Jacob Radabaugh

Humanism in Medicine Award

The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Awards presented by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation are bestowed on one graduating medical student and one faculty member who embody outstanding humanistic traits in the delivery of care to patients and their families and in their interactions with students, faculty, and staff. The recipients are selected by the graduating class.

Prajwal Hegde

Medical Student

Coral Matus, M.D.

Faculty Member

Distinction in Research Awards

The College of Medicine and Life Sciences has an annual Distinction in Research Award for students in the M.D. program. Research conducted by M.D. students is very often a major driving force of a lab’s success, and in turn makes a significant contribution to the success of research at the UToledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences. The COMLS Medical Student Research Committee has been instrumental in assuring quality research opportunities for students in the M.D. program. Students who are awarded the status of Distinction of Research will have that listed on their diploma and receive a certificate.

Tyler Canova
Zachary Cox
Matthew Geiger
Connor Gifford
Sean Halloran
Konrad Katterle

Joshua Kim
David Liu
Conner Lombardi
Mohamad Nawras
Matthew Niedoba
Vanessa Pasadyn

Brian Rao
Victoria Starnes
Janet Wang
Kelsee Zajac

Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society

Logo for Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society

The Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society was founded in Chicago in 1902 by medical students to formulate higher ideals of scholastic achievement and to foster the scientific and philosophical features of the medical profession. The Delta of Ohio chapter at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences was installed in 1974. Election to membership is extended to junior and senior medical students whose academic excellence places them in the upper sixth of their class and who show promise of leadership in medicine. Induction in the junior year is extended to the top 8% of the class.

Molly Adams
Travis Brege
Tyler Canova
Neejad Chidiac
Julia Evans
Caleb Gerber
Adam Girmann
Taylor Gonzalez
Miriam Grasso
Allison Grim

Jenna Gunn
Sean Halloran
Brian Hibbard
Lenae House
Jonathan Hunyadi
Chad Jaenke
Julia Kalbus
Michelle Leahy
Conner Lombardi
Alexander Luna

Travis Lysaght
Kassidy Rejent
Adam Pasquinelly
Vanessa Pasadyn
Andrew Slembarski
Samantha Walkin
Janet Wang
Diane Wei
Miranda Westrick
Kelsee Zajac

Gold Humanism Honor Society

Logo for Gold Humanism Honor Society

The Gold Humanism Honor Society is a national honor society initiated in 2001 by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation to recognize individuals who have demonstrated exemplary attitudes and behaviors characteristic of the most humanistic physicians, including integrity, excellence, compassion, altruism, respect, empathy and service. The University of Toledo chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society was founded in 2005. The members are selected by peer nomination and endorsed by the College of Medicine and Life Sciences Senior Leadership Team.

Oreoluwa Afon
Harsh Agrawal
Rebecca Asher
Audrey Ballard
Marilee Clunk
Justin Creeden
Madison Feeley
Caleb Gerber

Monik Gupta
Prajwal Hegde
Chad Jaenke
Jean Llenos
Conner Lombardi
Paige Matijasich
Matthew Miller
Sara Moore

Kashvi Patel
Victoria Starnes
Steven Waites
Samantha Walkin
Diane Wei
Kada Williams
Vahid Yazdi
Kelsee Zajac

Teaching Awards

Please join us in recognizing these outstanding faculty members who receive awards ahead of graduation:

Robert T. Tidrick Golden Apple Awards

The Robert T. Tidrick Golden Apple Awards for teaching excellence are named in honor of Dr. Tidrick, a surgeon and outstanding educator on the faculty of the former Medical College of Ohio from 1969 until his death in June 1983, at the age of 73. Faculty, both basic scientists and clinicians, are selected for the honor each year by members of the graduating class of medical students.