Physician Assistant Studies Hooding Ceremony Awards

The following awards were presented at the Department of Physician Assistant Studies and at the Hooding Ceremony.

Students

Student Excellence in Leadership Award

First awarded in 2017, this award honors a student graduating from the PA Program who has been identified by peers and faculty as demonstrating outstanding leadership during their time in the program in the following ways:

  1. Fosters a positive environment both in and outside of the classroom
  2. Demonstrates supportive, responsive relationships with peers
  3. Responds to and manage conflict effectively
  4. Seeks to improve the program through effective communication with program leadership
  5. Promotes and engages in activities that enhance the student experience.

2023: Michael Horwath
2022: Jillian N. Calero & Hannah Grace Kearney
2021: Aubrey Lynn Fiacco
2020: Madeline Marie Schuck
2019: Brittany Palaski
2018: Harrison Keyes
2017: Scott Michael Turner

Student Excellence in Service Award

First awarded in 2017, this award honors a student graduating from the PA Program who has been identified by peers and faculty as demonstrating an outstanding commitment to service in the following ways:

  1. Active participation in multiple IHP and outside service initiatives OR piloted a new initiative that benefits the program and the Institute
  2. Made significant contributions to their service work
  3. Positively represent the PA profession and the IHP through their interactions with peers and community service organizations. 

2023: Regina Miloslavsky
2022: Vanessa Bertrand & Tiffany F. Passie
2021: Edisson Naranjo-Mejia
2020: Lauren Hobbs
2019: Kenneth Ndubuisi Wakwe and Maria Alissa Vardara
2018: Sylvia Brandenberg
2017: Sarah Michele Nowak 

Program Chair's Award

First awarded in 2017, this award recognizes outstanding student contributions that do not necessarily meet the criteria for the leadership and service awards. The Program Chair, in consultation with the program faculty, selects candidates for this award. 

2023: Don H. Vuong
2022: Kevin B. Galinat
2021: Margaret R. Maynard
2020: Jordyn Durkin
2019: Zoe Elizabeth Warren
2018: Emily Thatcher
2017: Jennifer Lynn Gerard

Student Capstone Award

 

2023: No award presented
2022: Melissa Tsuang Warner
2021: Iris Aishan Zeng
2020: Noel Qatarneh
2020: Nicole Isabel Love

Faculty and Clinical Educators

Outstanding Clinical Faculty Award

First awarded in 2017, This award honors a distinguished clinical preceptor who demonstrates excellence in bedside teaching and in supporting PA students’ growth and development in the clinical setting in the following ways:

  1. Creates a welcoming and challenging environment for learning
  2. Engages in direct and honest communication including effective use of praise and constructive criticism
  3. Models compassionate patient- and family-centered care
  4. Tailors the learning experience to meet the program’s and students’ individual needs

2023: Jerene Bitondo, PA-C, DFAAPA, FAPACVS
2022: Estevan Garcia, MD, MPA
2021: Michelle Helms, MD, FACS
2020: Janine Keever, MD
2019: Noam Shabani
2018: Paul Dwyer, MD

Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award

First awarded in 2017, this award honors a distinguished adjunct faculty member who demonstrates excellence in classroom teaching and in supporting PA students’ growth and development in the didactic setting in the following ways:

  1. Expresses enthusiasm for their topic
  2. Fosters an atmosphere of respect for team learning and individual inquiry
  3. Creates a classroom environment that welcomes the expression of diverse viewpoints
  4. Models compassionate patient- and family-centered care

2023: Chris She Hong Lim, PhD
2022: Joshua Merson, MS-HPEd, PA-C, CAO-EM
2021: Jenny Rand, MMSc, PA-C
2020: Dominique Caruso Murphy, MS, PA-C
2019: Bianca Belcher PA-C
2018: Ian Nagus, PA-C
2017: Joshua Caplin, PA-C