Graduates received $69,100 at awards ceremony

Graduates received $69,100 at awards ceremony

WVSOM students in the Class of 2024 were recognized for their achievements in medical school during a Graduation Awards Ceremony on May 2. Graduation awards totaled $69,100 with students being recognized in 33 categories including awards, scholarships and membership in national organizations.

This year’s class consisted of 190 graduates, with 104 graduates entering primary care residency programs and a 100% residency placement rate for the class.

The event recognized 19 students who graduated with honors. In addition, 28 students were recognized as members of Psi Sigma Alpha, a national osteopathic scholastic honor society. Eleven students were recognized with American Medical Women’s Association Glasgow-Rubin Certificates of Commendation for Academic Achievement. Forty-one students received cords reflecting their membership in Sigma Sigma Phi - Nu Chapter, a national osteopathic medicine fraternity that supports medical scholastic excellence. Thirty students from the Class of 2024 became the first WVSOM cohort to be inducted by the Gold Humanism Honor Society, a national honor society comprising medical students, physicians and leaders who have been recognized for compassionate care. Six graduates were recognized with special coins for their military service.

Linda Boyd, D.O., WVSOM’s chief academic officer, said the awards ceremony was the perfect time to recognize graduates receiving financial assistance.

“These graduates are about to begin their medical careers and many of them have incurred tremendous debt. There is no better time than now to celebrate some of the medical students who have worked hard for four years to get to this point. Not only is graduation an electrifying time, but these graduation awards are exciting for those who will reap the financial benefits,” she said.

This was the inaugural year for the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation to recognize one graduating medical student and one faculty member who exemplify humanism in patient care. These

individuals are recognized by their peers for consistently demonstrating exceptional dedication in providing care to those in need. This year’s recipients were Skarleth Moran and Chelsea Feger, D.O.

Moran, a native of Union City, N.J., who is entering an emergency medicine residency at Rutgers-Community Medical Center, said she was honored to be the first-ever new WVSOM graduate selected for the award.

“Humanism, for me, is making sure you’re incorporating every part of the body. We all know the osteopathic philosophy of mind, body and spirit, but it’s about being able to go the extra mile,” she said. “It’s not just the medicine, it’s about making sure a patient’s well-being is all-encompassing, whether that means overcoming a language barrier, making a patient feel more comfortable with a blanket or providing emotional support. It’s making sure you have all those elements.”

Dawn Roberts, Ed.D., WVSOM’s associate dean for multicultural and student affairs, said she is pleased the school is able to present this national award at WVSOM’s ceremony.

“This prestigious award recognizes a graduating medical student and a faculty member who exemplify humanism in the care of patients. It spotlights those who are willing to go above and beyond in providing compassion but also acknowledges the recipient’s commitment to being an empathetic medical professional in the community,” she said.

The Graduation Awards Ceremony celebrates fourth-year students’ memberships in various national scholastic honor societies, but it also includes scholarships and awards specifically created for WVSOM through the school’s WVSOM Foundation and WVSOM Alumni Association. Both charitable organizations secure financial contributions of businesses, individuals and WVSOM alumni. Those who wish to become financial supporters have a variety of options to contribute and can do so online at www.wvsomfoundation.org/give-online or by calling 304-793-6852.

Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award

Presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation to recognize one graduating medical student and one faculty member who exemplify humanism in patient care. These individuals are recognized by their peers for consistently demonstrating exceptional dedication in providing care to those in need.

SKARLETH MORAN

CHELSEA FEGER, D.O.

Student Researcher of the Year

Each year, one student from each osteopathic medical school that is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine can be selected. The award recognizes students for their research accomplishments throughout medical school.

MARK HAFT

Student D.O. of the Year

Acknowledges a student’s commitment to his or her school and community and to the osteopathic profession.

DEVIN TOWNE

WVSOM Alumni Association Roland P. Sharp Graduate Award

Created to honor the values of WVSOM’s first president. The award honors graduating students who exemplify Dr. Sharp’s vision of holistic care and service.

JONA DEL RIO

STEPHEN SUTPHIN

Olen E. Jones Jr. and WVSOM Foundation Academic Achievement Award

Presented to a student graduating in the top 10 percent of the class.

CAMILLE PANAS

Opal Price Sharp Memorial Fund Award

Created in memory of the wife of WVSOM’s first president, Dr. Roland P. Sharp. Opal Price Sharp worked alongside Dr. Sharp in the early years of the school, using her journalistic skills to promote WVSOM’s mission throughout West Virginia.

TREVOR LOVELL

WVSOM’s Rural Health Initiative (RHI)

Recognized 16 graduates who participated in the program. The RHI program is designed to enhance the rural primary care curriculum at WVSOM and produce graduates uniquely qualified to practice medicine in underserved communities in rural West Virginia.

JESSICA BRUMBAUGH

JONA DEL RIO

CHEYENNE EARLE

EMILY HARRIS

ABUNDANCE HUNT

CONNOR MCKAY

SAMUEL PLASKA

KATHERINE ROACH

JOSHUA ROSENBERGER

KEIRSTON SAMPSON

HUNTER SHEARD

TRAVIS STEERMAN

STEPHEN SUTPHIN

AARRON WARD

NICHOLAS WILSON

SKYLAR WOOLMAN

MSOPTI West Virginia Primary Care Scholars Award

Aims to increase the likelihood that students from West Virginia medical schools will self-select residency programs located in the state, establish a relationship in the community and commit to practice medicine in that area.

ELIZABETH COYLE

CHRISTIAN KAFTANIC

TREVOR PRITCHETT

West Virginia Emulation Endowment Trust/Dr. Olen E. Jones Jr. Scholarship

Established in 2016 and named after Olen E. Jones Jr., Ph.D., who served as president of WVSOM from 1987 to 2009. The scholarship is awarded to West Virginia students based on literary and scholastic attainments, morality, leadership and physical vigor.

ABUNDANCE HUNT

WVSOM Foundation Scholars

Given to West Virginia residents with satisfactory academic performance who plan to stay in West Virginia after residency to practice. Preference is given to students from Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Fayette, Gilmer, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Nicholas, Roane, Summers, Wayne, Webster or Wyoming counties.

ABUNDANCE HUNT

TREVOR PRITCHETT

KAYLA VAUGHAN

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia Farson-SmithEarley Award

Presented to a graduating student who has matched to a West Virginia primary care residency with the intent to practice in a rural area.

CHEYENNE EARLE

Donald Newell Sr. Memorial Award for Outstanding Graduating Senior

Presented to a student who, in the opinion of his or her classmates, best exemplifies the qualities of scholarship, osteopathic professional interest, leadership and citizenship.

KAYLA VAUGHAN

Gwen Clingman Memorial Scholarship

Presented to a graduating student who has demonstrated a commitment to community service throughout his or her time in medical school.

KAYLEE KRINER

Drs. John and Nancy Chambers Memorial Scholarship Fund Award

Given to a student who intends to practice medicine in an underserved community and who had a strong academic performance. The scholarship honors two former WVSOM professors.

ELIZABETH COYLE

Stephanie Dawn Barragy Memorial Scholarship

Established to honor Charles and Jean Cornell’s daughter, who was a victim of suicide. The scholarship recognizes a student committed to working on behalf of mental health issues, with a focus on patient care and intervention.

BROOKE MENDELSON

Libby Kokott, D.O., Memorial Grant

Established by Kokott’s four children in 2020 to honor a woman who became a physician at the age of 50 (from WVSOM’s Class of 1993). Kokott helped hundreds of patients in her 20 years as an internist, and her hope was that others could do the same.

VENNELA PULIKANTI

Olivia Claire Obrokta Pediatric Award

Recognizes a student who is committed to serving in a pediatric specialty. Deena Obrokta, D.O., Class of 1994, established the award after losing her granddaughter shortly after her birth.

JONA DEL RIO

Dr. Catherine A. Bishop Scholarship Fund Award

Recognizes a graduating student committed to a residency program in West Virginia.

TRAVIS STEERMAN

David Hinchman, D.O., Emergency Medicine Award

Created by Brant Hinchman, D.O., Class of 2012, to honor his retired father, from WVSOM’s Class of 1982, and others who have helped medical students become emergency medicine physicians. The award is given to a graduating student who intends to enter an emergency medicine residency.

JESSICA ABOLOFF

Dr. William R. Holmes Jr. Scholarship Award

Given to a student who has shown determination, persistence and commitment in pursuing a medical education.

NICOLE NEWMAN

Eugene McClung, M.D., Family Scholarship

Created by McClung’s family to honor his service to the medical profession. McClung was a graduate of the Duke University School of Medicine and was a U.S. Army Purple Heart recipient. He practiced internal medicine in Lewisburg from 1957 until his death in 1988. The scholarship recognizes a first-generation college graduate who exhibits a strong interest in community involvement.

BROOKE MENDELSON

West Virginia Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians Award

Each year, the organization recognizes one student from each of the three medical schools in West Virginia whose performance in clinical rotations reflects an understanding of and commitment to the delivery of emergency care.

JESSICA BRUMBAUGH

Order of Vesalius Award

Presented to students who have served as graduate teaching assistants in the biomedical sciences department

KYLEE KARCZEWSKI

JOHN MICHAEL PIRTLE

RAMS Head Award

The award is given to students who served as graduate teaching assistants in the osteopathic principles and practice department.

RYAN RUSSELL

MARIA SENA

Clinical Sciences Award

Recognizes a student who served as a graduate teaching assistant in a clinical sciences or family medicine capacity.

PATRICK QUIGLEY

Donna Jones Moritsugu Memorial Award

Recognizes an osteopathic medical student’s spouse or partner. The recipient exemplifies the role of a professional’s partner in providing support to their family and the osteopathic profession.

COURTNEY SUTPHIN, SPOUSE OF STEPHEN SUTPHIN

Statewide Campus Outstanding Student Awards

Students from each of WVSOM’s seven Statewide Campus regions received Statewide Campus Outstanding Student Awards for their third- and fourth-year clinical rotations.

CENTRAL EAST REGION:

STEPHANIE GIORNO

MARK HAFT

CENTRAL WEST REGION:

HUNTER NEELY

RAYA SABA

EASTERN REGION:

DEVIN TOWNE

CARLEIGH WARD

NORTHERN REGION:

JAMES EASLER

RAFAEL HAMAWI

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION:

KALEB BOHRNSTEDT

ZUBAIRA KHAN

MARC ANTHONY PAJARILLO

NICOLE SANTOS

SOUTH EAST REGION:

MATTHEW DYER

JULIA MOORE

SOUTH WEST REGION:

TAYLOR ROUTE

RYAN RUSSELL