Graduation awards

Med students recognized at Graduation Awards Ceremony

Students in the graduating Class of 2013 were recognized for their achievements in medical school during a Graduation Awards Ceremony at WVSOM on May 23.

President Michael Adelman, D.O., J.D., said that this year’s class represented 36 different states, with 48 students from West Virginia. There are 126 graduates going into a primary care residency.

“Our school is grateful to be associated with a class like this,” Adelman told the graduates.

The ceremony recognized 17 students who graduated with honors along with students who received Psi Sigma Alpha recognition. Psi Sigma Alpha is a National Osteopathic Scholastic Honor Society. Individuals were also recognized with the American Medical Women Association Glasgow-Rubin Achievement Award and Sigma Sigma Phi, a national osteopathic medicine fraternity that supports medical scholastic excellence as well as community service. Twenty-three seniors were recognized with special coins for their service to the military.

Among the annual awards presented, the

NEWELL FAMILY MEMORIAL AWARD for an Outstanding Graduate was presented to

Mark Messmer.

THE OLEN E. JONES WVSOM FOUNDATION ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD is given to a fourth-year student graduating in the top 10 percent of the class. The WVSOM Foundation Board of Directors selected:

William Fredericks Cody Honl was the recipient of the

OPAL PRICE SHARP MEMORIAL AWARD for his dedication to osteopathic medicine.

THE WVSOM ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

ROLAND P. SHARP GRADUATE AWARD was created to honor the vision and values of WVSOM’s first president. The award is given to a fourth-year student who exemplifies Dr. Sharp’s ideals of holistic care and humanitarian service. The WVSOM Alumni Association selected:

Jeremy Hampton

THE DR. WILLIAM R. HOLMES SCHOLARSHIP is awarded to a graduating student who has shown great determination, persistence and commitment in pursuing a medical education.

This year it was presented to Erin Kalan.

THE GWEN CLINGMAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP is granted to a graduating student who has demonstrated a commitment to community service. Gwen Clingman’s daughter, Alice Hollingsworth, presented the award to

Isaac Hardoon

THE STEPHANIE DAWN BARRAGY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP was formed to honor Charles and Jean Cornell’s daughter who took her own life. The scholarship is given to a student committed to working on behalf of mental health issues and with a strong focus on patient care and intervention.

Emily Boothe was the recipient this year.

THE DR. CATHERINE A. BISHOP SCHOLARSHIP AWARD is given to a fourthyear student committed to a residency program in West Virginia.

This year’s recipient was Kelly Lopez.

THE WEST VIRGINIA CHAPTER OF THE

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY

PHYSICIANS AWARD

was presented to Christopher Webb.

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

Two recipients, William Fredericks and Rebecca McConnell,

were given the RAMS HEAD AWARD. The award is granted to the seniors who served as graduate teaching assistants in the Osteopathic Medical Education department.

THE ORDER OF THE VESALIUS AWARD is presented to seniors who served as graduate teaching assistants in the biomedical sciences department.

Kevin Evans was presented the award.

THE SPECIAL FAMILY MEDICINE AWARD was given to

Saskia Thompson and Katherine Skurski.

The award is granted to seniors who served as graduate teaching assistants in clinical sciences or family medicine.

THE DONNA JONES MORITSUGU AWARD highlights an osteopathic medical student’s spouse or partner. The recipient exemplifies the role of a professional’s partner by providing support to their family and the osteopathic profession.

This year’s recipient was Eugene Belenitsky.

STATEWIDE CAMPUS AWARDS

Two students from each of the six statewide campus regions received awards along with preceptors from each region who have assisted the medical students during their third- and fourth-year clinical rotations.

Ebrahim Sabbagh and Jaschar Shakuri-Rad received recognition for the central region; Margaret Green and Michael Hoks received recognition for the eastern region; Adam Lewno and Cory Mathias received recognition for the northern region; Stephen Hypes and Andrea Wurzer (Clarke) received recognition for the south central region; Jennifer Cornwell (Jones) and William Fredericks received recognition for the southeast region; and Derrick Wagoner and Ashley Zawodniak (Trador) received recognition for the southwest region.