2024 Commencement Awards
Commencement Awards recognize members of the graduating classes of the School of Medicine and School of Health Professions, as well as faculty, staff and residents chosen by the graduates. Award winners are acknowledged in the printed Commencement program and in other forms of media related to the Commencement ceremony and promotions. They receive digital award PDFs, as well as framed award certificates.
School of Health Professions Awards
The Award for Excellence in the Pathologists’ Assistant Program is presented annually to graduating students who have distinguished themselves with the highest performance in the Pathologists’ Assistant program.
Meg Blouch
Lisa Chan
Kaylee Shook
The David E. Scott, PhD, Award honors Dr. David E. Scott, from EVMS Pathology, who as a non-Physician Assistant provided instruction and support to the program since its inception in 1999. It is awarded annually by the Master of Physician Assistant program in Dr. Scott’s memory to a non-Physician Assistant who has had an enduring impact on the growth, maturation and ongoing excellence of the PA program.
Felicia M. Toreno, PhD
The Eugene Stead Jr., MD, Award honors the founder of the Physician Assistant profession, who started the first Physician Assistant program at Duke University in 1965. It is awarded to the graduating Physician Assistant student who best exemplifies the profession’s ideals of courage, humility and wisdom when applying technical skills, scientific knowledge and human understanding to the care of the suffering.
Annika Aileen Hussey
The EVMS Alumni Association HP Student Service Award is awarded annually to the graduating health professions student who demonstrates academic achievement as well as outstanding service to the class and Eastern Virginia Medical School.
Alayna L. Roberts
The EVMS School of Health Professions Award for Community Service is presented annually by the Student Government Association and recognizes graduating health professions students who demonstrate personal commitment to community service through volunteer participation in EVMS outreach or other initiatives in Hampton Roads and beyond. The recipients of this award will have made significant contributions to benefit the community, organization or people served.
Jacqueline Ophelia Baran
Maura Grace Simokaitis
The EVMS Student Government Association HP Leadership Award is awarded annually to a graduating health professions student who has demonstrated significant achievement in leadership.
Katelyn Nicole Glover
The Gary Dean Hodgen, PhD, Award for Excellence in Reproductive Clinical Science is given to a graduating student who has demonstrated excellence in research techniques and discovery.
Luiz Fernand Amaral Colturato
The Georgeanna Seegar Jones, MD, Award for Academic Achievement in Reproductive Clinical Science is given annually to an outstanding graduating student from the Master of Reproductive Clinical Science program in recognition of academic excellence. This award was created in memory of Dr. Jones and her innumerable contributions to the diagnosis and treatment of infertility.
Michael Britt
The Mason C. Andrews Award for All-Around Excellence in the Reproductive Clinical Science Master’s Program is given to a graduating student in the Reproductive Clinical Science Master’s Program in recognition of all-around excellence in academics and research. This award was created in memory of Dr. Andrews, who died in October 2006, for his great contributions to EVMS, the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine and academic medicine.
Bailey Kathryn Morris
The PAragon Award is presented annually to a graduating Physician Assistant student who best excels in supervised clinical practice by increasing his or her knowledge base, clinical skills, competency and medical artistry.
Tyler Steven Perkins
The Paul J. Fink, MD, Outstanding Art Therapist Award is awarded annually to a member of the graduating Art Therapy and Counseling class for academic, clinical and research excellence.
Rakhshanda Rehmat
The Physician Assistant Preceptor of the Year Award is awarded by the graduating Physician Assistant class. This individual is selected for excellence in clinical teaching and mentoring.
Mark A. East, MD
The Surgical Assisting Anatomy Award is presented annually to a member of the graduating Master of Surgical Assisting class for academic performance of Clinical Oriented Anatomy.
Madeline Rosemarie Stevens
The Surgical Assisting Faculty Award is presented annually to a faculty member for outstanding service during the didactic year.
Jessica Wilhelm, MSA, LSA , CSA, F-PRS
The Surgical Assisting Preceptor Award is presented annually to a preceptor for outstanding service during the clinical year.
Lauren Budyta, LSA, CSA
The Timothy J. Bos Memorial Award in Biomedical Sciences annually recognizes a graduating student from the Master of Biomedical Sciences Program who performed their research in the fields of Microbiology and/or Cancer Biology, who demonstrated outstanding scholastic achievement and exemplified the principles of collegiality and integrity. The award was established in memory of a faculty member in EVMS Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology who dedicated his life to the training of students and research at the intersection of Microbiology and Cancer Biology.
Samantha Jo McGuire
The Virginia Association of Surgical Assistants Award is presented annually to a member of the graduating Master of Surgical Assisting class for excellence in academic and clinical training.
Elizabeth Fabiano
School of Medicine Awards
The Abraham Jacobi Award is presented annually by EVMS Pediatrics to a graduating medical student who demonstrates a genuine commitment to pediatrics and academic excellence, and who exhibits compassion, honesty and a sincere dedication to the care of children.
Virginia Peyton Evans
The Award for Excellence in Addiction Medicine is presented annually by EVMS Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences to a member of the graduating medical class who has shown outstanding achievement and interest in the field of addiction medicine.
Jason Travis Bard
The Award for Excellence in Neuroscience is presented annually by EVMS Pathology and Anatomy to a member of the graduating medical class who has shown outstanding achievement and interest in the field of neuroscience.
Irene Mary Peppiatt
The Award for Excellence in Psychiatry is presented annually by EVMS Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences to a member of the graduating medical class who has demonstrated exemplary performance in the study of psychiatry.
Kelly Marie Bryant
The Desmond R.H. Gourley Award for Excellence in Pharmacology is presented annually by EVMS Physiological Sciences to a graduating medical student to recognize excellence in the understanding and appreciation of the pharmacological principles of therapeutics.
Daniel George Sausen
The Edward Levy Award is given annually by EVMS Internal Medicine to a graduating student in recognition of excellence in internal medicine.
Michael McCrae Eason
The Evelyn Lin, MD, Memorial Award is presented annually by EVMS Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation to a graduating medical student for outstanding achievement in physical medicine and rehabilitation. The award was established as a memorial to Dr. Lin, who received her medical degree from EVMS in 1995.
Rayghan Schultz Larick Haskell
The EVMS Alumni Association MD Student Service Award is given annually to the graduating medical student who demonstrates academic achievement as well as outstanding service to the class and Eastern Virginia Medical School.
Evan Sebastian Leung
The EVMS School of Medicine Award for Community Service is presented annually by the Student Government Association and recognizes graduating medical students who demonstrate personal commitment to community service through volunteer participation in EVMS outreach or other initiatives in Hampton Roads and beyond. The recipients of this award will have made significant contributions to benefit the community, organization or people served.
Megan Nicole Duggins
Rayghan Schultz Larick Haskell
The EVMS Student Government Association MD Leadership Award is awarded to a graduating medical student who has demonstrated significant achievement in leadership.
Evan Sebastian Leung
The Excellence in Emergency Medicine Award is presented annually by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine to a graduating medical student for outstanding achievement in emergency medicine.
Megan Nicole Duggins
The Gary L. Pittenger and David E. Scott Award for Excellence in the Anatomical Sciences is presented annually to a graduating medical student to recognize academic excellence in the anatomical sciences in memory of Gary L. Pittenger, PhD, and David E. Scott, PhD. Drs. Pittenger and Scott were members of EVMS Pathology and Anatomy who devoted their professional lives to scholarship in the anatomical sciences.
Dustin Runzo
The James F. Lind Sr., MD, Award is given annually by EVMS Surgery to the graduating medical student who demonstrates an outstanding knowledge of surgical principles and commitment to excellence in attaining the standards of academic surgery, and who exemplifies the qualities of a self-directed and lifelong learner.
Molly Elizabeth Sternick
The John Franklin Award is presented each year by EVMS Internal Medicine to a graduating medical student for demonstrated excellence in internal medicine.
Irene Mary Peppiatt
The Lloyd Damsey, MD, Memorial Award is given annually by EVMS Family and Community Medicine to the graduating medical student who best demonstrates a commitment to the ideals of family and community medicine, overall academic excellence, outstanding service to the school and community, and innovative research activities.
Devon Thomas Dryer
The Mason C. Andrews Citizen Scholar Award is presented annually by EVMS Obstetrics and Gynecology to the graduating medical student who demonstrates excellence in both academic achievements and community service, humbly working behind the scenes to make our environment a better place in which to work and live, thereby emulating the vision and spirit of Dr. Mason C. Andrews.
Miranda Nicole Teixeira
The Medical Student Obstetrics and Gynecology Performance Award is presented annually to a graduating medical student in recognition of exemplary performance in obstetrics and gynecology.
Kari Rebecca Flicker
The Melissa Warfield, MD, Humanism in Medicine Award is presented annually to a fourth-year medical student who exemplifies the qualities of Dr. Melissa Warfield: a caring and compassionate role model and leader who embodies service through his or her actions in peer teaching, peer guidance, community service and patient-centered medicine.
Julianna Tara Marie Remo
The Military Medicine Award is presented annually by EVMS Academic Affairs to the graduating military medical student who has exemplified the highest degree of integrity, professionalism, and selfless service throughout their years at EVMS. This student’s dual commitment to outstanding performance in doctoring and their military duties demonstrates great promise as they transition from EVMS student to United States Military Officer.
Michael McCrae Eason
The Raymond V. van Wolkenten Memorial Faculty Award is given to a Ghent Family Practice faculty member who best exemplifies teaching and clinical service.
Michael Kopec, MD
The Raymond V. van Wolkenten Memorial Student Award is given to a graduating student committed to Family Medicine, showing an appreciation for the full breadth and scope of the specialty.
Elizabeth Suzanne Lindsay
The Robert Campe Goodman and Augusta S. Goodman Award is presented annually by EVMS Academic Affairs to a graduating medical student on the basis of both academic excellence and unselfish concern for others.
Irene Mary Peppiatt
The Robert J. Faulconer Gold Medal is awarded annually by EVMS Pathology and Anatomy to the graduating medical student who has demonstrated superior achievement in pathology.
Abes Alexandra Bautista Neughebauer
The Sigfred Award is apresented to the graduating student who has demonstrated superior knowledge, skills and capacity for learning in Diagnostic Radiology, and who shows great enthusiasm for the discipline.
Imadul Haque
The Sir William Osler Awards are given each year to an intern, a resident, an attending physician, a basic scientist and a community faculty preceptor by the graduating medical students in recognition of excellence in teaching:
Omar Jafar, MD, Outstanding Intern
Aaron E. Mills, MD, Outstanding Physician
Alexander C. Liles, MD, Outstanding Resident
The EVMS Student Government Association Staff Recognition Award is given annually to a staff member in recognition of outstanding service to students. The 2024 award was presented to Allison P. Knight, PhD.