Departmental News

Honors Night Celebrates Senior Medical Student and Faculty Achievements

May 15, 2019 by Jennifer Nachbur

The Larner College of Medicine’s Class of 2019 Honors Night on May 13 was all about celebrating achievements. Medical students, leaders, faculty members, family and friends gathered for the event in UVM’s Davis Center to honor the recipients of individual student awards, faculty awards, a staff award, and a department award, as well as recognize the new student inductees for the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and Gold Humanism Honor Society.

Gold Humanism Honor Society members recite the GHHS Oath. (Photo: David Seaver)

(MAY 15, 2019) The Larner College of Medicine’s Class of 2019 Honors Night on May 13 was all about celebrating achievements. Medical students, leaders, faculty members, family and friends gathered for the event in UVM’s Davis Center to honor the recipients of individual student awards, faculty awards, a staff award, and a department award, as well as recognize the new student inductees for the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and Gold Humanism Honor Society.  

“Tonight we’re gathered to take a look at where you’ve come from, and how you have excelled in your time at the Larner College of Medicine,” said Dean Richard L. Page, M.D., during his welcome to Honors Night attendees. “So many of the awards we are bestowing tonight have names associated with them, in recognition of members of this medical community who have built the institution in years past,” he added.

Honor Society Inductees and Awardees

(MAY 15, 2019) Marie Sandoval, M.D., associate professor of medicine, recognized 18 students from the Class of 2019 who were inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and received green and gold cords to wear with their Commencement regalia. Students inducted into this society have demonstrated excellence in leadership, research, professionalism, and service to the school, community, and clinical acumen. Inductees include: Holly Elizabeth Bachilas; Cody Couperus; Julia Lane Cowenhoven; Florence Ann DiBiase; Lindsay Spencer Howe; Margaret Spencer Johnston; Daniel A. Lambert; Geordie Claire Lonza; Samantha Jill Magier; Michael Joseph Marallo; Amber Joy Meservey; Sravana Keerthy Paladugu; Jacob Benjamin Leavitt Reibel; Allison Bennett Robbins; Maia Jane Sakradse; Adam Michael Schlauch; Quinn Reed Self; and Benjamin Frederick Smith. Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society Award recipients included: Mark Bisanzo, M.D., associate professor of surgery (Faculty Award); Joshua Farkas, M.D., assistant professor of medicine (Faculty Award): David Kaminsky, M.D., professor of medicine (Faculty Award); Ricardo Aulet, M.D., clinical instructor in surgery (Housestaff Award); Stephen Ranney, M.D., clinical instructor in surgery (Housestaff Award); and Rachel DiSanto, M.D., clinical assistant professor of family medicine (Volunteer Faculty Award).

Andrea Green, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics, announced the names of the 18 Class of 2019 students being inducted as new Gold Humanism Honor Society members. Each new member received a gold cord to wear with their Commencement regalia. Students chosen for this society are recognized as exemplars of compassionate patient care and for their service as roles models, mentors, and leaders throughout their medical education and careers. Class of 2019 student inductees includes: K; Cody Couperus; Julia Lane Cowenhoven; Desiree Nicole DiBella; Florence Ann DiBiase; Wyll Thomas Everett; Sebastian Alexander Franco; Charlotte Hastings; Jenna Conway Jorgensen; Lawrence Jun Leung; Geordie Claire Lonza; Hyunsoo Joshua No; Jacob Benjamin Leavitt Reibel; Emily Elizabeth Ryan; Benjamin Frederick Smith; and Amelia Vera Tajik. Recipients of the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Awards, presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation for excellence in both compassionate patient care and scientific achievement were also announced. The faculty award recipient is Lauren K. MacAfee, M.D., assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences, and the student award recipient is Caroline Krumholz Linehan.

Department Awards to the Class of 2019

Faculty members representing ten clinical departments and one clinical division presented awards to students:

  • Chair of Anesthesiology Donald Mathews, M.D., presented the John E. Mazuzan Jr., M.D. ‘54 Award for excellence in Anesthesiology to Jayne Elizabeth Manigrasso ’19.
  • Ramsey Herrington, M.D., associate professor of surgery and chief of emergency medicine, and Sarah Schlein, M.D., assistant professor of surgery, announced the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Award for excellence in Emergency Medicine recipient as Mushtaba Yuridullah ’19.
  • Thomas Peterson, M.D., professor and chair of family medicine, and Martha Seagrave, PA-C, associate professor and director of Medical Student Education Programs in family medicine, jointly presented the Family Medicine John P. Fogarty, M.D. Leadership Award to Holly Elizabeth Bachilas ’19, and the Edward E. Friedman Award for promise of excellence in the practice of Family Medicine to Caroline Krumholz Linehan ’19.
  • Amidon Professor and Chair of Medicine Polly Parsons, M.D., presented two awards: The Ellsworth Amidon Award for outstanding proficiency in Internal Medicine, which was presented to Jacob Benjamin Leavitt Reibel ’19; and the Laura Weed, M.D. Award for qualities of excellence, service, and commitment in Internal Medicine, which was awarded to Elizabeth Carson ’19.
  • Timothy Fries, M.D., associate professor of neurological sciences, presented the Herbert Martin Sr., M.D. Award for excellence in Neurology to Cori Polonski ’19 in absentia. Michael Hehir, M.D., associate professor of neurological sciences, presented the American Academy of Neurology Medical Student Prize for excellence in Neurology to Katherine Clifford ’19.
  • Maeck Professor and Chair of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences Ira Bernstein, M.D., and Elise Everett, M.D., associate professor and clerkship director for obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences, presented two awards for their department: The Carbee Award for academic excellence in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, which was presented to Florence Ann DiBiase ’19; and the John V. Maeck, M.D.’39 Award for overall excellence in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, was presented to Charlotte Victoria Hastings ’19.
  • Professor of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation S. Elizabeth Ames, M.D., presented the Dr. & Mrs. Nathaniel Gould, M.D.’37 Prize for outstanding achievements in Orthopaedic Surgery to Geordie Claire Lonza ’19.
  • Professor and Chair of Pediatrics Lewis First, M.D., presented the Ralph D. Sussman, M.D.’38/Medical Alumni Award for excellence in Pediatrics to Julia Lane Cowenhoven ’19.
  • Jeremiah Dickerson, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry, presented the William Sweetser Award for excellence in Psychiatry Zac Wunrow ’19.
  • Professor and Chair of Radiology Kristen DeStigter, M.D., presented the Walter Dodd, M.D. Award in Radiology for excellence in Radiology to Alexander William Marchese ’19.
  • Associate Professor and Chair of Surgery Mitchell Norotsky, M.D., announced three awards from the Department of Surgery. Quinn Self ’19 received the Harry Howe, M.D.’52 Senior Student Award for excellence in Surgery; Daniel A. Lambert ’19 received the H. Gordon Page, M.D.’45 Award for excellence in Surgery; and Curran Uppaluri ’19 received the Pilcher Award for representing the qualities of Eleanor & Lewis Pilcher of devotion to family and patients, with a high regard for ethics and honesty.

Awards from the Class of 2019

Class of 2019 student representatives Hyunsoo No and Niko Patel, along with Gender & Sexuality Alliance member Charlotte Hastings, presented awards – voted on by the senior class – to honor faculty and staff members who contributed to the students’ medical education in significant ways.

  • Hastings presented the Dignity in Medicine Award to William Raszka, M.D., professor of pediatrics and Attacks & Defenses course director.

No and Patel presented the following teaching awards:

  • The Clinical Resident of the Year award went to Danielle Leahy, M.D.’17, clinical instructor in obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences.
  • The Harry E. Howe, M.D., and Theo O. Howe Outstanding Teacher of Surgery Award went to Loic Fabricant, M.D., assistant professor of surgery.
  • The Clinical Teacher of the Year Award went to Florian Foerg, M.D., assistant professor of medicine, David Rand, D.O., assistant professor of medicine, and Sarah Schlein, M.D., assistant professor of surgery.
  • The Clinical Department of the Year Award (The Silver Shovel Award), which went to the Department of Pediatrics.

No and Patel also presented the Colette Award to Emma Faustner of the Office of Medical Student Education.

Zehle presented two awards to Class of 2019 members, who were elected by their classmates:

  • The Lamb Fellowship Award for best exemplifying concern and care for the total patient to Jacob Benjamin Leavitt Reibel ’19.
  • The Dean William Eustis Brown Award for broad cultural interests, and loyalty to the College of Medicine to Florence Ann DiBiase ’19. 

Larner College of Medicine Awards to the Class of 2019

  • Zehle presented The Charles T. Schechtman, M.D.’26 Award first and second prizes, which recognize clinical excellence. First prize recipients include Julia Lane Cowenhover ’19, Margaret S. Johnston ’19, Jayne Elizabeth Manigrasso ’19, Allison Bennett Robbins ’19, and Adam Michael Schlauch ’19. Second prize recipients include Cody Couperus ’19, Florence Ann DiBiase ’19, Eliot Stafford Jia ’19, Michael Joseph Marallo ’19, Amber Joy Meservey ’19, and Quinn Reed Self ’19.

Zehle then presented the following senior awards:

  • The David Babbott, M.D. “Caring and Seeing” Award, which recognizes demonstrated commitment to medical education and excellence and personal attentiveness in patient care, strong and caring relationships with faculty members, and commitment to the educational mission of the College, to Elizabeth Kelly Carson ’19
  • The Kerzner Family Prize for outstanding service to the community to Charlotte Hastings ’19
  • Zehle and Mildred Reardon, M.D.’67 presented the final student award of the evening – the Mildred A. Reardon, M.D.’67 Award for service to the Larner College of Medicine – to Desiree DiBella ’19.

These honors, as well as previously-awarded student honors, are also be featured in the Larner College of Medicine 2019 Commencement brochure.

Announcements

 

We are excited to welcome to our department two new faculty: 
-Karen George, MD, Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences (Division of General Obstetrics and Gynecology).  Dr. George is also Associate Dean for Students at Larner College of Medicine

-Amanda Kallen, MD,  Associate Professor of of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences (Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility)

Anne Dougherty, M.D., Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences has now accepted the enhanced role of ODEI Director for Gender Equity.

In this new role Dr. Dougherty will continue her current coordination of workshops, speakers and awards related to the LCOM Gender Equity Initiative.  She will also develop new mentoring and resource programs for women and underrepresented minorities in medicine, participate in analysis and tracking, and collaborate on efforts to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion in faculty recruitment. As ODEI Director for Gender Equity, Dr. Dougherty will report directly to Margaret A. Tandoh, M.D., FACS, Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.   Congratulations to Anne on her new role!

CONGRATULATIONS to the following faculty who received promotions (July 2021):
Nathalie Feldman, MD to Associate Professor and Navid Esfandiari, PhD to Professor

Navid Esfandiari, PhD, Professor, REI Division, received the "Star Award" from the 77th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) - October 2021

Congratulations to Justin DeAngelis, MD who was appointed interim assistant dean for students in the Office of Medical Student Education at the Larner College of Medicine, effective March 1. Read more here

A champion for women's health, diversity and science, Elizabeth Bonney, MD recognized in News Spotlight from UVM Larner College of Medicine.  Read the article here.

Navid Esfandiari, PhD, received the “Star Award” from the 76th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) – October 2020

Misty Blanchette Porter, MD, Associate Professor, REI Division, was invited to present at AIUM education webinar - teaching on ORADS and IOTA on the evaluation of adnexal masses – Sept 2020

Justin DeAngelis, MD, Assistant Professor, Ob/Gyn, was selected as Class Mentor to the residency by the class of 2021 and was recently awarded the 2019 APGO Excellence in Teaching Award.

SO PROUD! Congratulations to Katherine Menezes, MD (PGY-3) who was awarded the Clinical Resident of the Year Award by the LCOM graduating Class of 2021!!!!  These are the awards that are given out on Honors Night to and from the graduating class.  Check out the video here.

Marjorie Meyer, MD, Division Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine, was recognized for her work in the treatment of women with opioid dependence during pregnancy in Governor Phil Scott's State of the State address on Jan 9.  Read announcement here

Theresa Ko, PhD (Croucher Fellowship 2006), Assistant Professor in the Division of Reproductive Sciences, was recently interviewed with the Croucher Foundation in December 2019 about her molecular biology quest to reduce maternal deaths.   Read the article here

Elizabeth Bonney, MD, MPH, Professor and Head of the Division of Reproductive Sciences was selected to present the lecture entitled "A Theory of Maternal Immunity" at the 25th Annual Dr. Raymond O. Berry Memorial Lecture on October 18, 2019. Read the announcement here.

Congratulations to Marti Churchill, CNM who received the award for "Excellence in Advanced Nursing" at the Nursing Awards Ceremony  on May 6, 2019.

Congratulations to Tendai Chiware, MD who won the 2019 Beth Fitzpatrick M.D. Citizen of the World Award, awarded by the Global Health Program at UVM LCOM and the Western Connecticut Health Network. 

We are pleased to share news of the appointment of Anne Dougherty, M.D., as Gender Equity Liaison in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) at The UVM Larner College of Medicine.    Read the announcement here.

Cheung Wong, MD was invested in a formal ceremony on June 8, 2018 as the inaugural Berta Pi-Sunyer Williams Endowed Professor.   Read all about it.

The cover photo on the March 2018 issue of the American Journal of Ob/Gyn is from Dr. Kelley McLean's article Mechanical heart valves in pregnancy:  the necessity of appropriate and careful anticoagulation.

Congratulations to Cheung Wong, MD for his recent appointment as the VP for Clinical Affairs for the University of Vermont Health Network.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Bonney, MD and Natalia Gokina, PhD who have won the NIH RO1 funding for "Systemic Vasculature Remodeling Females:  Effects of the Immune System and Experience of Pregnancy".  The application was scored at the 1st percentile!

Our match results are in!  Announcing our newest residents 2018-2022:  Hayley Pierce (Saint Louis University); Allison Walker (Oregon Health & Science University) and Rebecca Zuckerman (University of Chicago).  We look forward to seeing them soon!

We are excited to welcome our new fellows on July 2, 2018 for their 3 year fellowship:  Maximilian Klein, MD (Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility fellow) and Ankita Kulkarni, MBBS (Maternal Fetal Medicine fellow)

Nathalie Feldman, M.D., Educator Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, was recently awarded (along with her colleague, Judy Lewis, MD in the Dept. of Psychiatry) the UVM Larner College of Medicine Teaching Academy's "Educational Scholarship Award" for her work on the learning environment.  

Jenna Flanagan, MD (PGY-3) will be presenting a poster "A Needs Assessment for Somali Women:  Optimizing this Populations' Peripartum Care in a Tertiary Care Center in Vermont" at the North American Refugee Health Conference, June 16-18, 2017 in Toronto, Canada.

Erin Morris, MD, received the 2017 APGO Excellence in Teaching Award.  Dr. Morris is an active clinical member of the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine.  She currently serves as our Associate Ob/Gyn Clerkship Director and the Faculty mentor for the Ob/Gyn Student Interest Group. 

May 15, 2017 - Elise Everett, MD was presented the Clinical Teacher of the Year Award from the Class of 2017 during Honors Night.

CONGRATULATIONS to our new interns starting June 2017: Johanna Kelley, Katherine Menezes & Rebecca Parad.