Honors Convocation celebrates ‘beautiful things’ achieved by OUWB … – News at OU

Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine held its 2023 Honors Convocation Thursday, paying tribute to students and faculty with exceptional achievements.

More than 250 people attended the 90-minute event held at Oakland Universitys Oakland Center.

The event is held annually on the day before the schools commencement ceremony for the years graduating class.

The OUWB Honors Convocation recognized everything from outstanding student and faculty achievements to excellence in diversity. (See complete list below.)

Two awards presented were new this year: the Deans Distinguished Professor Award (Douglas Gould, Ph.D., professor and chair, Department of Foundational Medical Studies), and the Compass Service Honors, which were given to graduating students who completed more than 150 hours of community service during their time at OUWB.

Duane Mezwa, M.D., Stephan Sharf Dean, OUWB, said he took time during the ceremony to think about all of the beautiful things were celebrating here. Namely, he said, the kind, caring, compassionate physicians that graduate from OUWB.

As the dean of Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, it is a privilege to be here today to celebrate the outstanding achievements of faculty, staff, and medical students from all four of our classes, he said.

Students expressed gratitude for the formal recognition of their achievements.

Margaret Bohr, M4, received recognition for several accomplishments: induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society; Compass Service Honors; Class of 2023 M1 Award for Outstanding Academic Performance; Award for Outstanding Performance in the Diagnostic Medicine Clerkship; and Glasgow-Rubin Certificate of Commendation for Academic Achievement.

It all feels unreal to have been just starting medical school four years ago and now be at the end of the road, she said.

Ive made a ton of great friends and had a lot of supportits exciting to be here celebrating with everybody.

Amelia Najor, M4, shared similar thoughts. Najor was recognized for receiving the OUWB Community Student Scholarship, and Award for Outstanding Performance in the Surgery Clerkship.

Being recognized for all of the hard work and effort we put in seals the dealwere going to be doctors tomorrow, she said. For everyone to recognize that weve worked really hardit feels good to be recognized. Im very happy.

Not all students recognized will be part of OUWBs 2023 commencement on Friday. Kevin Van and Fanny Huang, both M2s, each received an Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion Student Award.

David Howell, M2, received the Michele D. Raible Award. The award is named in honor of Raible, founding associate dean, OUWB, who died from complications from Acute Myeloid Leukemia just before the school welcomed its first class.

The award annually goes to a student who best personifies what Raible brought to the school someone who is compassionate, cares deeply about others, demonstrates a true love of learning, and functions as a mentor for their classmates.

Its truly an honor because there are so many qualified people, said Howell. Just to be considered is a privilege, but to be nominated and then receive the award is really something else.

Students also were recognized for induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, and the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Mallory Evans, M4, was recognized for receiving the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award.

Three students participated in the military promotion ceremony: Benjamin Collaer, promoted to captain in the U.S. Air Force; Adam Wahl, promoted to lieutenant in the U.S. Navy; and Brianna Walter, promoted to captain, U.S. Army.

Recognition of Distinguished Service Awards were given Mezwa, Robert McAuley, Ph.D., associate dean, Institutional Effectiveness and Technology, and Ronald Samarian, M.D., chair and associate professor, Department of Psychiatry. All three are retiring.

Several faculty awards also were given, including the first Deans Distinguished Professor Award that went to Gould.

Gould said he was filled with thanks and gratitude and took a few moments before the ceremony to reflect on his decision to join OUWB about 11 years ago.

Im extremely grateful that Ive been able to stay here for as long as I have and work with all of these great people that I have had the privilege of meeting, collaborating with, and befriending, he said. I really do view them as an extension of my family and its been a really great honor to receive this award.

Malli Barremkala, M.D., associate professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies, was among other faculty honored Thursday. He received the Foundational Medical Studies Excellence in Teaching Award. He called it a big deal.

I started with the school in 2014 and Im coming up on my 10-year anniversary so this feels great to be recognized and given this award, he said.

Barremkala said it also meant a lot to celebrate with others who were recognized at the ceremony, including all of the students he worked with in the schools anatomy lab.

Its a great honor to be given an award at the same ceremony where students are being recognized for their achievements, he said.

Here is the list of honorees from the 2023 OUWB Honors Convocation:

Awards for Outstanding Student Achievements

Class of 2023 M1 Award for Outstanding Academic PerformanceRecipients: Margaret Bohr, Sienna Ringgenberg, Elizabeth Seeley

Class of 2023 M2 Award for Outstanding Academic PerformanceRecipients: Elizabeth Seeley, Brittany Silverman, Brent Yelton

Class of 2023 M3 Clerkship Awards

Award for Outstanding Performance in the Family Medicine ClerkshipRecipient: Corey Carney

Award for Outstanding Performance in the Internal Medicine ClerkshipRecipient: Moneb Bughrara

Award for Outstanding Performance in the Neurology ClerkshipRecipient: Brent Yelton

Award for Outstanding Performance in the Obstetrics and Gynecology ClerkshipRecipient: Benjamin Galen

Award for Outstanding Performance in the Pediatrics ClerkshipRecipient: Katherine Hole

Award for Outstanding Performance in the Psychiatry ClerkshipRecipient: Abiba Salahou

Award for Outstanding Performance in the Surgery ClerkshipRecipient: Amelia NajorClass of 2023 M4 Clerkship Awards

Award for Outstanding Performance in the Anesthesia and Pain Medicine ClerkshipRecipient: Andrew Lee

Award for Outstanding Performance in the Diagnostic Medicine ClerkshipRecipient: Margaret Bohr

Award for Outstanding Performance in the Emergency Medicine ClerkshipRecipient: Natalie Liogas-Deneau

Class of 2023 AMWA Glasgow-Rubin Commendation for Academic Achievement

Glasgow-Rubin Certificate of Commendation for Academic AchievementRecipients: Margaret Bohr, Camilla Cascardo, Stephanie Gappy, Sienna Ringgenberg, Elizabeth Seeley

Embark Competitive Scholarship Awards

2022 Kenneth J. Matzick Embark Program Competitive Scholarship, Manuscript of the YearRecipient Camilla CascardoSubmission Title: Surveillance of Dual-Mobility Hip Systems: Damage Mode and Clinical Data AnalysisMentors: Drew Moore, M.D.; Corinn Gehrke, M.S.

2022 Ravitz Foundation Embark Program Competitive Scholarship, Manuscript of the Year 1st Runner-UpRecipient: Eric JamesSubmission Title: Chief Complaint and Geriatric Depression in the Emergency Department: Assessing Risk for 30 and 90-Day ReadmissionMentors: Victoria Lucia, Ph.D.; Joan Michelle Moccia, DNP, ANP-BC

2022 Ann V. Nicholson Embark Program Competitive Scholarship, Manuscript of the Year 2nd Runner-UpRecipient: Sara DiltzSubmission Title: The Impact of Tumor Location on Cardiac Toxicity in Patients Receiving Partial Breast IrradiationMentor: Joshua Dilworth, M.D., Ph.D.

2022 Kenneth J. Matzick Embark Program Competitive Scholarship, Manuscript of the Year Honorable MentionRecipient: Flora MartzSubmission Title: Outbreak Risks at Religious Schools: Prevalence of Nonmedical Vaccination Exemptions Among Michigan KindergartensMentor: Mark Navin, Ph.D., HEC-C

2022 Ravitz Foundation Embark Program Competitive Scholarship, Manuscript of the Year Honorable MentionRecipient: George CholackSubmission Title: Casual Mechanisms in Basic Science Education - Do They Aid in Recall and Application Performance?Mentors: Stefanie Attardi, Ph.D.; Kristina Lisk, Ph.D.

Recipient: Nicholas MielkeSubmission Title: A Prospective Sonographic Evaluation of Peripheral Intravenous Catheter-Associated ThrombophlebitisMentor: Amit Bahl, M.D.

Recipient: Han NgoSubmission Title: Impact of a Structured Recording Template on the Quality of HRCT Radiology Reports for Interstitial Lung DiseaseMentor: Sayf Al-Katib, M.D.

Newman Family Foundation Embark Program Competitive Scholarship, Manuscript of the Year Honorable MentionRecipient: Claire McNarySubmission Title: Impact of Imposter Phenomenon of Medical Learners and Clinicians: A Scoping ReviewMentor: Edward Rohn, Ph.D.

2022 Ann V. Nicholson Embark Program Competitive Scholarship, Manuscript of the Year Honorable MentionRecipient: Mallory EvansSubmission Title: Leadership Training in Undergraduate Medical Education: A Systematic ReviewMentor: Misa Mi, Ph.D., M.A.

OUWB Scholarship Awards

The W.J. and Lillian Kemler ScholarshipRecipient: Dana Rector, Class of 2023

The OUWB ScholarshipRecipient: Andrew Lee, Class of 2023

The OUWB Community Student ScholarshipRecipient: Amelia Najor, Class of 2023

The OUWB Faculty ScholarshipRecipients: Stephanie Mrowczynski; Mitchell Pfennig, both Class of 2023

Beaumont Health Foundation Scholarship Awards

The Deans ScholarshipRecipients: Camilla Cascardo, Yousef Ibrahim; Eric James, all Class of 2023

Beaumont Foundation ScholarshipRecipients: Joshua Jones, Skyler Porcaro; Sienna Ringgenberg, all Class of 2023

The Schostak Family ScholarshipRecipient: Hayley Walton, Class of 2023

Beaumont Foundation ScholarshipRecipient: Yasmine Abushukur, Class of 2023

Awards of Distinction

Excellence in Diversity Awards

Excellence in Diversity Faculty AwardRecipient: Changiz Mohiyeddini, Ph.D., professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies

Excellence in Diversity Staff AwardRecipient: Ann Voorheis-Sargent, Ph.D., LPC, director, Center for Excellence in Medical Education, assistant professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies

Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion Student AwardRecipients: Fanny Huang; Kevin Van, both Class of 2025

Awards for Outstanding Faculty Achievements

Awards for Educational Excellence

Foundational Medical Studies Excellence in Teaching AwardRecipient: Malli Barremkala, M.D., associate professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies

Clinical Science Excellence in Teaching AwardRecipient: Bhavinkumar Dalal, M.D., associate professor, Department of Internal Medicine

Foundational Medical Studies Excellence in Research AwardRecipient: Changiz Mohiyeddini, Ph.D., professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies

Clinical Excellence in Research AwardRecipient: Girish Nair, M.D., associate professor, Department of Internal Medicine

Foundational Medical Studies Excellence in Service AwardRecipient: Jason Wasserman, Ph.D., HEC-C, professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies

The Deans Distinguished Professor AwardRecipient: Douglas Gould, Ph.D., FAAA, professor and chair, Department of Foundational Medical Studies

Golden Apple Awards

(Selected by students in the 2021-2022 academic year)

M1 Foundational Medical Studies Faculty AwardRecipient: Sarah Lerchenfeldt, Pharm.D., BCPS, associate professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies

M1 Clinical Faculty AwardRecipient: Elizabeth Wey, M.D., assistant professor, Department of Pathology

M2 Foundational Medical Studies Faculty AwardRecipient: Gustavo Patino, M.D., Ph.D. associate professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies

M2 Clinical Faculty AwardRecipient: Jaime Taylor, D.O., assistant professor, Department of Adolescent Medicine

M3 Teaching Resident/Fellow AwardRecipient: Jacob Applegarth, M.D., Department of Surgery

M3 Clinical Faculty AwardRecipient: Allison Ball, M.D., associate professor, Department of Pediatrics

M4 Teaching Resident/Fellow AwardRecipient: Sean Masters, M.D., Department of Surgery

M4 Teaching Clinical Faculty AwardRecipient: Ty Kwaiser, M.D., assistant professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology

Award of Honor

Michelle D. Raible AwardRecipient: David Howell, Class of 2025

PRISM Mentor Recognition

Presented by Brittany SilvermanRecipient: Hannan Alsahlani, D.O. | The Alsahotties

Presented by Elizabeth SeeleyRecipient: Susan Bork, M.D. | Borkupines

Presented by Katherine HoleRecipient: Barbara Herzig, M.D. | Get Ziggy Wit It

Presented by Kelsa KazyakRecipient: Elie Mulhelm, M.D. | Elie Elite

Presented by Corey CarneyRecipient: Neetu Sharma, M.D. | Do NO Sharma

Presented by Sienna RinggenbergRecipient: John Tu, M.D. | TUne Squad

Presented by Mitchell PfennigRecipient: Kurt Wharton, M.D. | Wharton Jellies

Presented by Abiba SalahouRecipient: Angela Xavier, M.D. | Xaviers School for Gifted Children

For more information, contact Andrew Dietderich, marketing writer, OUWB, at adietderich@oakland.edu.

To request an interview, visit the OUWB Communications & Marketingwebpage.