Students Honored at UB Medical School Commencement

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

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, the largest and most comprehensive campus in the State University of New York. UB's more than 27,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs.

Among the recipients are 15 students who received multiple awards:

• Jennifer Nayak of Orchard Park, the Bacelli Award recognizing the most outstanding research by a medical student; a Thesis Honors Award; a Janet M. Glasgow Citation recognizing academic excellence in women, and a Merck Manual Award recognizing most outstanding academic performance overall

• Carmine Alexander Grieco of Elmira, the Buffalo Surgical Society Prize in Surgery recognizing academic excellence in the junior and senior years; a Merck Manual Award recognizing most outstanding academic performance overall, and a Maimonides Medical Society Award recognizing most outstanding academic performance coupled with wisdom and compassion

• Cristina Lampuri of Cary, N.C., the Robin M. Bannerman Memorial Research Award for most meritorious research in biomedical science initiated in the Summer Fellowship Program; a Thesis Honors Award, and a Janet M. Glasgow Citation recognizing academic excellence in women

• Richard G. Newell of Dillsburg, Pa., a Merck Manual Award for most outstanding academic performance overall; the Humanism in Medicine Award, and the Maimonides Medical Society Award for most outstanding academic performance coupled with wisdom and compassion

• Natalie Dara Shaw of Vestal, the Morris & Sadie Stein Neuroanatomy Award for recognizing excellence in neuroanatomy; the Dr. Heinrich Leonhardt Prize in Surgery for academic excellence in surgery and interest in proctology, and a Janet M. Glasgow Citation recognizing academic excellence in women

• David Robert Block of Valley Stream, the S. Mouchly Small, M.D. Award recognizing ability to relate well to patients, faculty and staff, and the Bernhardt & Sophie Gottlieb Award recognizing expertise in areas outside medicine

• Eric Graham Bush of Suffern, the David K. Miller Prize in Medicine for demonstrating Miller's approach to caring for the sick -- competence, humility, humanity, and the Harry E. and Loretta A. Jordan Award for investigation in neoplastic disease

• Gregory Clayton Connolly of Webster, the Francis J. Klocke Award for excellence in clinical investigation and a Thesis Honors Award

• Nicole Marie De Luca of Williamsville, the Buffalo Pediatric Society Award recognizing outstanding pediatric skills; a Janet M. Glasgow Citation recognizing academic excellence in women

• Christina L. Haverstock of Syracuse, the James Platt White Society Award for leadership qualities that personify those of White's -- foresight, intellectual vigor and moral courage, and a Janet M. Glasgow Citation recognizing academic excellence in women;

• Megan Suellen Moore of Pittsford, the Gilbert M. Beck Memorial Prize in Psychiatry recognizing academic excellence in psychiatry and a Janet M. Glasgow Citation recognizing academic excellence in women

• Jennifer Elizabeth Nelson of Colden, the Children's Hospital Prize recognizing excellence in understanding disease in childhood and a Janet M. Glasgow Citation recognizing academic excellence in women

• MaryElizabeth Raney Rashid of Fairview Heights, Ill., the Association of Pathology Chairs Award for excellence in pathology and the Department of Surgery Chair's Award for academic excellence in surgery

• James Anthony Sulzer of Bardonia, the Dr. Thomas J. Guttuso Award for academic excellence in ophthalmology and the Ester Ponce Grimaldi, M.D., Memorial Award recognizing compassion for patients in primary care

• Jennifer Preston Taylor of Buffalo, the Hans J. Lowenstein Award in Obstetrics and the National Medical Association Award recognizing excellence in scholarship, leadership and commitment of community service

Other award recipients are:

• Maritza Yvette Baez of Buffalo, the Mark A. Petrino Award recognizing interest and aptitude in the general practice of medicine

• Carrie Gilliam Baker of Oak Ridge, Tenn., the Stephen J. Paolini Award for exemplifying the qualities of dedication and compassion that Paolini personified

• Jason Keith Barker of Cheektowaga, the Bernhardt & Sophie Gottlieb Award recognizing expertise in areas outside medicine

• Christopher Michael Brennan of Hamburg, the Gordon S. Ehrlich Award for demonstrating significant understanding of childhood disease

• Lee Anne Chalupka of Depew, the Department of Emergency Medicine Scholastic Award

• Anne Marie Delles of Rochester, a Thesis Honors Award

• Thomas Richard Duquin of Williamsville, the Dr. Benjamin E. and Lila Obletz Prize for outstanding performance in orthopaedic surgery

• Andrew Joseph Fabiano of Snyder, a Thesis Honors Award

• Myra Kay Feldman of Delmar, the Dr. George Alker Award recognizing excellence in radiology

• Douglas M. Fetterman of Clayville, the Medical Alumni Association Award recognizing community service and commitment

• Caren E. Gellin of Buffalo, a Janet M. Glasgow Citation recognizing academic excellence in women

• Michael Gough of Williamsville, the John Watson Award in Medicine recognizing enthusiasm for and commitment to scholarship in medicine

• Jason Charles Hoffman of Huntington, 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

• Michael R. Jordan of Amherst, the Charles Bauda Award for academic excellence in family medicine

• Joseph Thomas Kita of Rochester, the John Paroski, M.D. Memorial Award recognizing compassion and excellence in patient care

• Deanna Marisa LoVallo of Cheektowaga, the Frederick B. Wilkes Pediatric Award recognizing the graduating student entering a career in pediatrics who has best exemplified Wilkes' skills and dedication to patient

• Jeffrey Michael Moll of Lockport, the Farney R. Wurlitzer Prize recognizing academic excellence in psychiatry

• Eve Elisa Moscato of Buffalo, the Harry E. and Loretta A. Jordan Award recognizing proficiency in ophthalmology

• Jolene Cynthia Muscat of Floral Park, the Clyde L. Randall Society Award in Gynecology-Obstetrics

• Kavita Nyalakonda of Williamsville, the Emilie Davis Rodenberg Memorial Award for academic excellence in the study of diabetes and its complications

• Sangita Pankajkumar Patel of New Hyde Park, the E.J. Weisenheimer Award recognizing excellence in scholarship and patient care in ophthalmology

• Heather Jill Pleskow of Williamsville, the Philip P. Sang Memorial Award recognizing ability to relate well to patients, faculty and staff

• Diana G. Pratt of Amherst, the American Academy of Family Physicians President's Award for excellence in family practice

• Khurram Rashid of Huntington, the Association of Pathology Chairs Award for excellence in pathology

• Marat L. Reyzelman of Rochester, the American Academy of Neurology Student Prize for Excellence

• Kari Scantlebury of Middletown, the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Award for excellence in emergency medicine

• Nicholas Joseph Silvestri of Tonawanda, the Bernard H. Smith Memorial Award in Clinical Neurology

• Evelyn Rose Vento of Lancaster, the G. Norris Miner Memorial Award recognizing outstanding clinical competence in family medicine

• Robin M. Warner of San Diego, the S. Mouchly Small, M.D. Award recognizing ability to relate well to patients, faculty and staff

• Jill Thoman Zafar of Glenwood, the Lieberman Award recognizing interest and aptitude in the study of anesthesiology