50 Students Honored at UB Medical School Commencement

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Fifty graduates of the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences received awards at the school's recent commencement ceremony.

Among the recipients are 15 students who received multiple awards:

o Brian Malm of Coram, the Baccelli Award for most outstanding research; the Dr. Cyrenius Chapin Award for achievement in clinical sciences; the David K. Miller Prize in Medicine for the demonstration of Miller's approach to caring for the sick, competence, humility and humanity, and the Bernard H. Smith Memorial Award in Clinical Neurology for academic excellence in clinical neurology

o Andrew Symons of Lynbrook, the American Academy of Family Physicians President's Award for excellence in family practice, Generalist Scholars Recognition and a Thesis Honors Award

o Kathleen T. O'Donnell of Cheektowaga, the Dr. Cyrenius Chapin Award for achievement in clinical sciences, the Department of Emergency Medicine Scholastic Award and a Janet M. Glasgow Citation recognizing academic excellence in women

o Svetlana Blitshteyn of Williamsville, the American Academy of Neurology Student Prize for excellence in neurology and the Emilie Davis Rodenberg Memorial Award for academic excellence in the study of diabetes and its complications

o Aimee Stanislawski of West Seneca, the Gilbert M. Beck Memorial Prize in Psychiatry for academic excellence in psychiatry and a Janet M. Glasgow Citation recognizing academic excellence in women

o Janell Lundgren of Jamestown, the Charles Bauda Award for academic excellence in family medicine and the S. Mouchly Small, M.D., Award recognizing the ability to relate well to patients, faculty and staff

o Emily Tenney of Batavia, the Buffalo Pediatric Society Award for outstanding pediatric skills and Generalist Scholars Recognition

o Jennifer DeFazio of Lewiston, the Dr. Cyrenius Chapin Award for achievement in clinical sciences, and a Janet M. Glasgow Citation recognizing academic excellence in women

o Robyn Filipink of West Seneca, Children's Hospital Prize for excellence in understanding disease in childhood and the Humanism in Medicine Award

o Danelle Lobdell, Ph.D., the Dean's Award for Outstanding Dissertation Research and the Saxon Graham Award to a Graduate Student in Social and Preventive Medicine for excellence in epidemiology and community health

o Suzie Ariyaratana of Fresh Meadows, the Gordon S. Ehrlich Award for demonstration of significant understanding of childhood disease and a Janet M. Glasgow Citation recognizing academic excellence in women

o Shaleen Belani of East Amherst, the E.J. Weisenheimer Award recognizing excellence in scholarship and patient care in ophthalmology and a Janet M. Glasgow Citation recognizing academic excellence in women

o Keely E. Dwyer-Matzky of Cheektowaga, the Philip P. Sang Memorial Award for the ability to relate well to patients, faculty and staff, and a Janet M. Glasgow Citation recognizing academic excellence in women

o Juliane M. Thurlow of Amherst, the G. Norris Miner Memorial Award recognizing outstanding clinical competence in family medicine and a Janet M. Glasgow Citation recognizing academic excellence in women

o Andrew Swan of Horseheads, the Maimonides Medical Society Award for most outstanding academic performance, wisdom and compassion, and the Stephen J. Paolini Award, given to the student who best exemplifies the qualities of dedication and compassion that Paolini personified

Other award recipients include

o Christopher Poresto of Muttontown, the Dr. George Alker Award for excellence in radiology

o Mark Hennon of Jamestown, the Association of Pathology Chair's Award for excellence in pathology

o Rachel Kozower of Getzville, the Association of Pathology Chair's Award for excellence in pathology

o Cristine Connery of Middletown, the Robin M. Bannerman Memorial Research Award for most meritorious research in biomedical science initiated in the summer fellowship program

o Branko Bojovic of Lackawanna, the Buffalo Surgical Society Prize in Surgery for academic excellence in the junior and senior years

o Robert Wong of Clifton Park, the Dean's Award, sponsored by the Medical Alumni Association for participation in extracurricular activities in the medical school while maintaining a high standard of academic excellence

o Paul Hinchey of Blue Bell, Pa., the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine for excellence in emergency medicine

o Amy Holder of Richardson, Texas, Generalist Scholars Recognition

o Jennifer Wisnoski of West Seneca, Generalist Scholars Recognition

o Lily M. Belfi of Douglaston, a Janet M. Glasgow Citation recognizing academic excellence in women

o Linda J. Cuomo of Coram, a Janet M. Glasgow Citation recognizing academic excellence in women

o Caryn E. Orr of Canandaigua, a Janet M. Glasgow Citation recognizing academic excellence in women

o Karen M. Weiss of Warren, Pa., a Janet M. Glasgow Citation recognizing academic excellence in women

o Kelly C. Gordon of Merrick, The Ester Ponce Grimaldi, M.D., Award recognizing compassion for patients in primary care

o Jeffrey Chung of Forest Hills, the Dr. Thomas J. Guttuso Award for academic excellence in ophthalmology

o Gregory Ostrow of East Amherst, the Harry E. and Loretta A. Jordan Award for proficiency in ophthalmology

o Christine Kerr of Vestal, the Harry E. and Loretta A Jordan Award for investigation in neoplastic disease

o Roger Walcott of Milwaukee, the Department of Surgery Chair's Award for academic excellence in surgery

o Robert Ramsdell of Greene, the Lieberman Award for interest and aptitude in the study of anesthesiology

o Matthew Traugott of Astoria, the Hans J. Lowenstein Award in Obstetrics

o Nazaneen Grant of East Amherst, the Medical Alumni Award recognizing community service and commitment

o Jonathan Sorci of Clarence, the Medical Society of the State of New York Award for outstanding community service

o Jeanine Harrigan, Ph.D., of Fulton, the Robert J. McIsaac Award in Pharmacology and Toxicology for outstanding research and academic performance

o Vito Brunetti of Queens, the Norman Haber Award for excellence in otolaryngology

o Christopher Murry of Rome, the Dr. Benjamin E. and Lila Obletz Award for outstanding performance in orthopaedic surgery

o Beth Domaracki Whiteside of Slingerlands, the John Paroski, M.D., Memorial Award for compassion and excellence in patient care

o Brenda Perez of Lackawanna, the Mark A. Petrino Award for interest and aptitude for the general practice of medicine

o Emily Fleming of Buffalo, the Clyde L. Randall Society Award in Gynecology-Obstetrics

o Magda Osman of Williamsville, the Clyde L. Randall Society Award in Gynecology-Obstetrics

o Anthony Mato of Edison, N.J., the John Watson Award in Medicine recognizing enthusiasm for and commitment to scholarship in medicine

o Junda Woo of Brooklyn, the James Platt White Society Award for leadership qualities that personify those of White's - foresight, intellectual vigor and moral courage

o Marc Auerbach of Niskayuna, the Frederick B. Wilkes Pediatric Award, given to the graduating student entering a career in pediatrics who has best exemplified Wilkes' skills and dedication to patients

o Jessica Hebrank of Poughkeepsie, the Farney R. Wurlitzer Award for academic excellence in psychiatry

o George Figueroa of Rochester, the National Medical Association Award

o Christopher Logue of Williamsville, a Thesis Honors Award