Student Awards for the Graduating Class
Commencement awards recognize members of the graduating class, as well as faculty, staff and residents selected by them. Below are descriptions of the awards bestowed by both the School of Medicine and the School of Health Professions.
This year, current events did not permit us to honor the Class of 2020 at our annual MD Awards Luncheon. We are disappointed that we cannot congratulate award winners in person. Award winners will receive an email PDF award certificate. Framed certificates will be assembled and mailed after the EVMS campus is safely reopened.
School of Medicine Awards
The Abraham Jacobi Award is presented annually by EVMS Pediatrics to a graduating medical student who demonstrates a genuine commitment to pediatrics and academic excellence, and who exhibits compassion, honesty, and a sincere dedication to the care of children. Recipient: Jeremy David Samuels
The Award for Excellence in Addiction Medicine is presented annually by EVMS Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences to a member of the graduating medical class who has shown outstanding achievement and interest in the field of addiction medicine. Recipient: Komal R. Patel
The Award for Excellence in Neuroscience is presented annually by EVMS Pathology and Anatomy to a member of the graduating medical class who has shown outstanding achievement and interest in the field of neuroscience. Recipient: James Sherwood Coxe IV
The Award for Excellence in Psychiatry is presented annually by EVMS Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences to a member of the graduating medical class who has demonstrated exemplary performance in the study of psychiatry. Recipient: Seth Hal Warren
The Desmond R.H. Gourley Award for Excellence in Pharmacology is presented annually by EVMS Physiological Sciences to a graduating medical student to recognize excellence in the understanding and appreciation of the pharmacological principles of therapeutics. Recipient: John Benfield
The Edward Levy Award is given annually by EVMS Internal Medicine to a graduating student in recognition of excellence in internal medicine. Recipient: Kathryn Michelle Johnson
The Evelyn Lin, MD Memorial Award is presented annually by EVMS Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation to a graduating medical student for outstanding achievement in physical medicine and rehabilitation. The award was established as a memorial to Dr. Lin, who received her medical degree from EVMS in 1995. Recipient: Catherine Grace Wilson
The EVMS Alumni Association MD Student Service Award is given annually to the graduating medical student who demonstrates academic achievement as well as outstanding service to the class and Eastern Virginia Medical School. Recipient: Kimberly Helen Seymour
The EVMS School of Medicine Award for Community Service is presented annually by the Student Government Association and recognizes a graduating medical student who demonstrates personal commitment to community service through volunteer participation in EVMS outreach or other initiatives in Hampton Roads and beyond. The recipient of this award will have made a significant contribution to benefit the community, organization or people they served. Recipient: Juhi Ramchandani
The EVMS Student Government Association MD Leadership Award is awarded to a medical student who has demonstrated significant achievement in leadership. Recipient: Bhavi Vohra
The Excellence in Emergency Medicine Award is presented annually by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine to a graduating medical student for outstanding achievement in emergency medicine. Recipient: Sean Michael Whitty
The Gary L. Pittenger and David E. Scott Award for Excellence in the Anatomical Sciences is presented annually to a graduating medical student to recognize academic excellence in the anatomical sciences in memory of Gary L. Pittenger, PhD, and David E. Scott, PhD, members of EVMS Pathology and Anatomy who devoted their professional lives to scholarship in the anatomical sciences. Recipients: Cody Wayne McIlvain and Colin Rowell
The James F. Lind, Sr., MD Award is given annually by EVMS Surgery to the graduating medical student who demonstrates an outstanding knowledge of surgical principles and commitment to excellence in attaining the standards of academic surgery, and who exemplifies the qualities of a self-directed and lifelong learner. Recipient: Samantha Demoss
The John Franklin Award is presented each year by EVMS Internal Medicine to a graduating medical student for demonstrated excellence in internal medicine. Recipient: Christian Frederick Klein
The Lloyd Damsey, MD Memorial Award is given annually by EVMS Family and Community Medicine to the graduating medical student who best demonstrates a commitment to the ideals of family and community medicine, overall academic excellence, outstanding service to the school and community, and innovative research activities. Recipient: Sibo Zhang
The Mason C. Andrews Citizen Scholar Award is presented annually by EVMS Obstetrics and Gynecology to the medical student who demonstrates excellence in both academic achievement and community service, humbly working behind the scenes to make our environment a better place in which to work and live, thereby emulating the vision and spirit of Dr. Mason C. Andrews. Recipient: Kimberly Helen Seymour
The Medical Student Obstetrics and Gynecology Performance Award is presented annually to a graduating medical student in recognition of exemplary performance in obstetrics and gynecology. Recipient: Blair K. Dodson
The Melissa Warfield, MD Humanism in Medicine Award is presented annually to a fourth-year medical student who exemplifies the qualities of Dr. Melissa Warfield: a caring and compassionate role model and leader who embodies service through his or her actions in peer teaching, peer guidance, community service and patient-centered medicine. Recipient: Juhi Ramchandani
The Military Medicine Award is presented annually by EVMS Academic Affairs to the graduating military medical student who has exemplified the highest degree of integrity, professionalism and selfless service throughout their four years at Eastern Virginia Medical School. This student’s dual commitment to outstanding performance in doctoring and military duties demonstrates great promise transitioning from EVMS student to United States Military Officer. Recipient: Veronica Keenan Wright
The Raymond V. von Wolkenten Memorial Faculty Award is given to a Ghent Family Practice faculty member who best exemplifies teaching and clinical service. Recipient: Margaret Y. Baumgarten, MD
The Raymond V. von Wolkenten Memorial Student Award is given to a student committed to Family Medicine, showing an appreciation for the full breadth and scope of the specialty. Recipient: Elizabeth Jeanne Willoughby
The Robert Campe Goodman and Augusta S. Goodman Award is presented annually by EVMS Academic Affairs to a graduating medical student on the basis of both academic excellence and unselfish concern for others. Recipient: Alex Christopher LaFever
The Robert J. Faulconer Gold Medal is awarded annually by EVMS Pathology and Anatomy to the graduating medical student who has demonstrated superior achievement in pathology. Recipient: Blair K. Dodson
The Sir William Osler Awards are given each year to an intern, a resident, an attending physician, a basic scientist and a faculty preceptor by the graduating medical students in recognition of excellence in teaching.
- Outstanding Basic Scientist - Deborah H. Damon, PhD
- Outstanding Intern - Caroline T. Mears, DO
- Outstanding Physician - Catherine J. Derber, MD
- Outstanding Resident - Harjas Singh, MD
- Outstanding Community Faculty Preceptor - Kevin F. Bonner, MD
School of Health Professions Awards
The David E. Scott, PhD Award honors Dr. David E. Scott from the Pathology department, who, as a non-Physician Assistant, provided instruction and support to the program since its inception in 1999. It is awarded annually by the Master of Physician Assistant program in Dr. Scott’s memory to a non-Physician Assistant who has had an enduring impact on the growth, maturation and ongoing excellence of the PA program. Recipient: Erin L. Suit
The Eugene Stead, Jr., MD Award honors the founder of the Physician Assistant profession, who started the first Physician Assistant program at Duke University in 1965. It is awarded to the graduating Physician Assistant student who best exemplifies the profession’s ideals of courage, humility and wisdom when applying technical skills, scientific knowledge and human understanding to the care of the suffering. Recipient: Christin Newman Hoffstadt
The EVMS Alumni Association HP Student Service Award is awarded annually to the graduating health professions student who demonstrates academic achievement as well as outstanding service to the class and EVMS. Recipient: Ifeoma Caroline Ogbozor
The EVMS School of Health Professions Award for Community Service is presented annually by the Student Government Association and recognizes a graduating medical student who demonstrates personal commitment to community service through volunteer participation in EVMS outreach or other initiatives in Hampton Roads and beyond. The recipient of this award will have made a significant contribution to benefit the community, organization or people they served. Recipient: Wave Penelope Hatton
The EVMS Student Government Association HP Leadership Award is awarded annually to a health professions student who has demonstrated significant achievement in leadership. Recipient: Devon Thomas Dryer
The Excellence in the Pathologists’ Assistant Program Award is presented annually to the student who has distinguished themselves with the highest performance in the Pathologists’ Assistant Program. Recipient: Lauren Christine Yoho
The Georgeanna Seegar Jones, MD Award for Academic Achievement in the Reproductive Clinical Sciences is given to a graduating student from the Reproductive Clinical Science MS program in recognition of academic excellence. This award was created in memory of Dr. Jones and her innumerable contributions to the diagnosis and treatment of infertility. Recipient: Shaista Sadruddin
The PAragon Award is presented annually to a graduating Physician Assistant student who best excels in supervised clinical practice by increasing his or her knowledge base, clinical skills, competency and medical artistry. Recipient: Erin Ashleigh Donahue
The Physician Assistant Preceptor of the Year Award is selected by the graduating Physician Assistant class. This individual is selected for excellence in clinical teaching and mentoring. Recipient: Parimal J. Soni, MD
The Surgical Assisting Anatomy Award is presented annually to a member of the graduating Masters of Surgical Assisting class for academic performance of Clinical Oriented Anatomy. Recipient: Marianne Kellam
The Surgical Assisting Faculty Award is presented annually to a faculty member for outstanding service during the didactic year. Recipient: Jessica A. Wilhelm, CSA
The Surgical Assisting Preceptor Award is presented to a preceptor annually for outstanding service during the clinical year. Recipient: Darryl Hollifield, CSA
The Timothy J. Bos Memorial Award in Biotechnology annually recognizes the graduating student from the Masters of Biotechnology Program who demonstrated outstanding scholastic achievement and exemplified the principles of collegiality and integrity. The award was established in memory of a faculty member in EVMS Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology who dedicated his life to the training of students, and envisioned and inspired the establishment of the current Biotechnology Program. Recipient: Julia Cram Pittaluga
The Virginia Association of Surgical Assistants Award is presented annually to a member of the graduating Masters of Surgical Assisting class for excellence in academic and clinical training. Recipient: Emily Nicole Keeton
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Special Recognition
The Student Government Association Staff Recognition Award is given annually by the Student Government Association to a staff member in recognition of outstanding service to students. Recipient: Diane E. Dougherty, MEd