College Celebrates Achievements and Leadership of Students and Faculty at Phoenix Med Awards

The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix hosted its second annual Phoenix Med Awards (pictures from the event), where students and faculty were recognized for their outstanding dedication to practicing medicine, as well as their excellence in leadership, teaching, mentorship and humanism across the college’s educational spectrum. 

Following opening remarks by Ranita Sharma, MD, executive vice dean of the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix, students who participated and completed their Certificates of Distinction (CODs) were honored. CODs are offered to students as optional opportunities to participate in advanced medical preparation specializing in specific areas such as Global Health, Primary Care, Health Humanities, Service of Community, Rural Health and Research. 

Students may pursue one COD during their undergraduate medical education and those who successfully meet the program’s requirements will receive a Certificate, a "Distinction in [area of service]" notation on their transcript and medical student performance evaluations (Dean’s Letters).

Pillar Awards 

The Pillar Awards recognize students who have demonstrated exemplary performance in areas that are considered part of the foundational pillars at the College of Medicine – Phoenix. The recipients are selected by the Senior Celebration Honors and Awards Committee.

• The Robert E. Kravetz Pillar of Scholarship Award was awarded to Trenton House, MD, Class of 2026. 
• The Stuart D. Flynn Pillar of Leadership Award was awarded to Olivia Triplett, MD, Class of 2026.
• The Gearld L. Wissink Pillar of Community Award was awarded to Ellie Pitcher, MD, Class of 2026. 
• The Leonard Tow Pillar of Humanism was awarded to Erika Yasuda, MD, Class of 2026.

Clerkship Awards

• Pediatrics – Presented by Jorge Masuello, MD, director of the Pediatrics Clerkship: 
  • Lauren Ondrejka, MD, Class of 2026.
  • Dylan Langland, Class of 2027.
• Psychiatry – Presented by Scott Grogan, MD, director of the Psychiatry Clerkship:
  • Lena Naser, MD, Class of 2026.
  • Valentyna Larchenko, Class of 2027.
• Internal Medicine – Presented by Nathanael Adjei-Kyeremeh, MD, co-director of the Internal Medicine Clerkship:
  • Anngela Adams, MD, Class of 2026.
  • Emily Marine, Class of 2027.
• Neurology – Presented by Dr. Grogan:
  • Michael Stickerls, MD, Class of 2026.
  • Nina Cherian, Class of 2027.
• Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship – Presented by Jonathan Cartsonis, MD, director of the Rural Health Professions Program:
  • Benson Lagusis, MD, Class of 2026.
  • Blessing Atanmo, Class of 2027.

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  Obstetrics and Gynecology – Presented by James Prister, MD, associate dean of Clinical Curriculum:
  • Ellie Pitcher, MD, Class of 2026.
  • Anna Abraham, Class of 2027.
• Surgery – Presented by Priya Rajdev, MD, director of the Surgery Clerkship and Dr. Prister:
  • Raj Shah, MD, Class of 2026.
  • Christian Godina, Class of 2027.
• Family, Community and Preventive Medicine – Presented by Ana Gonzales, MD, assistant clinical professor, and Dr. Prister:
  • Lauren Schulz, MD, Class of 2026.
  • Van Dexter Calo, Class of 2027.

Educator of the Year Awards

• Class of 2029 – Anne Titelbaum, PhD – Presented by Lisa Grimaldi, MD, FAAP, associate dean of Foundational Curriculum. 
• Class of 2028 – Sheetal Shah, DO – Presented by Dr. Grimaldi.
• Class of 2027 – Jorge Masuello, MD – Presented by Dr. Prister. 
• Class of 2026 – Eric Petersen, MD – Presented by Dr. Prister. 
• Best Block or Course – Gastrointestinal System, Metabolism, Diabetes and Nutritional Science (GIMDN) – Presented by Dr. Grimaldi. 

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  Best Clerkship – Emergency Medicine – Presented by Dr. Prister.
• Rural Educator of the Year – H. Evren Kaynak, MD – Presented by Kathleen Brite Hillis, MD, associate dean of Community Engagement

Faculty Mentor Awards

• Andrew Adamczyk, MD, assistant clinical professor in Orthopedics.
• Ali Al-Yaqoobi, MD, assistant clinical professor in Internal Medicine and Biomedical Informatics, theme director of Biomedical Informatics.
• George Nguyen, MD, assistant clinical professor in Internal Medicine.
• Andrew Wong, MD, associate clinical professor in Community, Family & Preventive Medicine.

Office of the Dean Volunteer Faculty Awards

• UME Research – Presented by J. Stephan Stapczynski, MD, director of Scholarly Projects, UME.
• Brandon Minzer, MD, assistant clinical professor of Anesthesiology – Presented by Dr. Stapczynski.

Foundational Curriculum

Presented by Dr. Grimaldi:

• Hillary Hunsinger, MD, assistant clinical professor, Internal Medicine, division of infectious diseases.
• Paul Lorentsen, MD, assistant clinical professor, Internal Medicine.
• Eric Ossowski, MD, assistant clinical professor, Family, Community & Preventive Medicine.
• J. Michael Powers, MD, assistant clinical professor, Neurology.
• Matthew Ulrickson, MD, assistant clinical professor, Internal Medicine.
• Michael Zawaneh, MD, assistant clinical professor, Internal Medicine, division of Cardiology.

Clinical Curriculum

Presented by Dr. Prister, MD:

• Stanley Goldberg, MD, assistant clinical professor, Surgery.
• David Virgil, MD, assistant clinical professor, Family, Community & Preventive Medicine.

Faculty Leonard Tow Award

Presented by students and Executive Vice Dean Dr. Sharma, the Leonard Tow Award for Humanism honors a faculty member who not only teaches exemplary qualities of humanistic excellence but embodies such qualities. Demonstrating compassion in the delivery of care and showing respect for patients, their families and health care colleagues is the fundamental lesson that David Beyda, MD, instills in all students at the College of Medicine – Phoenix.

• David Beyda, MD, chair of the Department of Bioethics and Medical Humanism.

The award honors a faculty member that teaches what students describe as “something far more important” than just clinical medicine. Dr. Beyda, “imbued in us that the very essence and origin of medicine is not just to heal, but to help.” 

The student speaker conveyed the importance of restoring agency and humanity to a patient is of the utmost importance, and that Dr. Beyda effortlessly embodies this message. The student then quoted Dr. Beyda by saying, “The most important thing we bring to a patient’s room is ourselves.” Dr. Beyda encourages students to face difficult situations with honesty and integrity.

Attendees cheered and honored Dr. Beyda with a standing ovation.  

Stuart D. Flynn Master Educator Award

The final and most distinguished college award — the Master Educator Award — was presented by Dean Fred Wondisford, MD, MS, MBA. It recognizes extraordinary accomplishments in all aspects of education over all four years of medical school. 

• Katharine Dahl, MD, assistant clinical professor, Internal Medicine, division of Nephrology.

Dean Wondisford presented the award to Dr. Dahl and said, “Dr. Dahl is an Arizona native, received her undergraduate degree in education at Duke University and earned her medical degree, residency and nephrology fellowship training at Columbia University.” 

Students conveyed that Dr. Dahl is a “master facilitator, provides useful feedback, introduces social context in clinical examples when teaching nephrology and models humanism in every patient interaction.”

A provided statement from Dr. Dahl read, “While I love almost every aspect of my job, teaching U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix students is the highlight and I’m grateful to have this opportunity.” 

Dr. Dahl was also honored with a much-deserved, joyful standing ovation.