2025 Commencement Awards
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The 2025 EVMS Legacy / Advanced Degree Ceremony Awards awards recognize members of the graduating classes of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University’s Eastern Virginia Medical School and EVMS School of Health Professions, as well as faculty, staff and residents chosen by the graduates. Award winners are acknowledged in the printed ceremony program and in other forms of media related to the ceremony and promotions. Awards are presented at program-specific ceremonies or delivered to the recipient.
EVMS School of Health Professions Awards
The Award for Excellence in the Pathologists’ Assistant Program is presented annually to graduating students who have distinguished themselves with the highest performance in the Pathologists’ Assistant program.
Margaret Lillian Veres
The David E. Scott, Ph.D., Award honors Dr. David E. Scott, who, as a non-physician assistant in the medical school, provided instruction and support to the program since its inception in 1999. It is awarded annually by the 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 program.
Tabitha Rodgers
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.
Keonna Maria Chwilinski
The EVMS Legacy 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 school.
Madeline Crockett Hanks
The EVMS School of Health Professions Award for Community Service is presented annually by the Student Government Association and recognizes a graduating health professions student who demonstrates personal commitment to community service through volunteer participation in 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 served.
Megan Sage
The Gary Dean Hodgen, Ph.D., Award for Excellence in Reproductive Clinical Science is given to a graduating student who has demonstrated excellence in research techniques and discovery.
Rodolfo Garcia Sanchez, Ph.D. (Ph.D. ’24)
The Georgeanna Seegar Jones, MD, Award for Academic Achievement in Reproductive Clinical Science is given annually to an outstanding graduating student from the Reproductive Clinical Science - Embryology & Andrology 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.
Sameen Raza
The Mason C. Andrews Award for All-Around Excellence in the Reproductive Clinical Science Master’s Program is given to a graduating student in the Reproductive Clinical Science - Embryology & Andrology program in recognition of all-around excellence in academics and research. This award was created in memory of Dr. Andrews, who died in October 2006, for his great contributions to the medical school, the Jones Institute and reproductive and academic medicine.
Allsion Diane Davis
The PAragon Award is presented annually to a graduating Physician Assistant program student who best excels in supervised clinical practice by increasing his or her knowledge base, clinical skills, competency and medical artistry.
Anna Katherine Godfrey
The Physician Assistant Preceptor of the Year Award is awarded by the graduating Physician Assistant class. This individual is selected for excellence in clinical teaching and mentoring.
Lindsey Reprogle, PA-C
The Student Government Association HP Leadership Award is awarded annually to graduating health professions students who have demonstrated significant achievements in leadership.
Caleigh Franz
Alyssa Victoria Papazian
The Student Government Association Staff Recognition Award is given annually to a staff member in recognition of outstanding service to students.
Alex Rago, Ed.S., M.Ed.
The Surgical Assisting Anatomy Award is presented annually to a member of the graduating Surgical Assisting class for academic performance of clinical-oriented anatomy.
Brittany Dennison
The Surgical Assisting Faculty Award is presented annually to a faculty member for outstanding service during the didactic year.
Deborah Redmond, M.S.A., LSA, CSA, F-OS (B.S. ’90, M.S. ’14)
The Surgical Assisting Preceptor Award is presented annually to a preceptor for outstanding service during the clinical year.
Jim Stuck, CSA
The Timothy J. Bos Memorial Award in Biomedical Sciences annually recognizes a graduating student from the Biomedical Sciences - Research program who performed research in the fields of microbiology and/or cancer biology, who demonstrated outstanding scholastic achievement and exemplified the principles of collegiality and integrity. The award was established in memory of a faculty member in Microbiology & Molecular Cell Biology who dedicated his life to the training of students and research at the intersection of microbiology and cancer biology.
Amanda Lynn Yermal
The Virginia Association of Surgical Assistants Award is presented annually to a member of the graduating Surgical Assisting class for excellence in academic and clinical training.
Lauren Kattmann
Eastern Virginia Medical School Awards
The Abraham Jacobi Award is presented annually by 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.
Madeleine Wright
The Award for Excellence in Addiction Medicine is presented annually by Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences to a member of the graduating medical class who has shown outstanding achievement and interest in the field of addiction medicine.
Rachel Ann Billingsly
The Award for Excellence in Neuroscience is presented annually by Biomedical & Translational Sciences to a member of the graduating medical class who has shown outstanding achievement and interest in the field of neuroscience.
Taseya Danesha Coleman
The Award for Excellence in Psychiatry is presented annually by Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences to a member of the graduating medical school class who has demonstrated exemplary performance in the study of psychiatry.
Aaliyah Bryonne Joseph
The Desmond R.H. Gourley Award for Excellence in Pharmacology is presented annually by Biomedical & Translational Sciences to a graduating medical student to recognize excellence in the understanding and appreciation of the pharmacological principles of therapeutics.
Megan Jayne Ralston
The Eastern Virginia Medical School Award for Community Service is presented annually by the Student Government Association and recognizes graduating medical students who demonstrate personal commitment to community service through volunteer participation in outreach or other initiatives in Hampton Roads and beyond. The recipients of this award will have made significant contributions to benefit the community, organization or people served.
Elizabeth Blackwell Graham
Kaitlin Page Hardy
The Edward Levy Award is given annually by the Department of Medicine to a graduating student in recognition of excellence in internal medicine.
Lee Hogge
The EVMS Legacy 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.
Camille Irene Williams
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.
Heather Elizabeth Riddler
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, Ph.D., and David E. Scott, Ph.D., Drs. Pittenger and Scott were members of Pathology and Anatomy, now part of Biomedical & Translational Sciences, who devoted their professional lives to scholarship in the anatomical sciences.
Alexander Thomas Eckstrom
The James F. Lind Sr., MD, Award is given annually by 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.
Paul Hongjae Jin
The John Franklin Award is presented each year by the Department of Medicine to a graduating medical student for demonstrated excellence in internal medicine.
Nicholas Schouten
The Lloyd Damsey, MD, Memorial Award is given annually by Family & 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.
Camille Irene Williams
The Mason C. Andrews Citizen Scholar Award is presented annually by Obstetrics & Gynecology to the graduating medical student who demonstrates excellence in both academic achievements 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.
Alyssa Jade Jackson
The Medical Student Obstetrics & Gynecology Performance Award is presented annually to a graduating medical student in recognition of exemplary performance in obstetrics and gynecology.
Danielle Allyssa Long
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 actions in peer
teaching, peer guidance, community service and patient-centered medicine.
Kaitlin Page Hardy
The Military Medicine Award is presented annually by Academic Affairs to graduating military medical students who have exemplified the highest degree of integrity, professionalism and selfless service throughout their years in medical school. These students’ dual commitment to outstanding performance in doctoring and their military duties demonstrate great promise as they transition from medical students to United States military officers.
Erika Dopson
Elizabeth Evans McGrady
The Raymond V. van Wolkenten Memorial Faculty Award is given to a Ghent Family Practice faculty member who best exemplifies teaching and clinical service.
Gordon W. Theisz, MD (B.S. ’88)
The Raymond V. van Wolkenten Memorial Student Award is given to a graduating student committed to family medicine, showing an appreciation for the full breadth and scope of the specialty.
Samra Rashid
The Robert Campe Goodman and Augusta S. Goodman Award is presented annually by Academic Affairs to a graduating medical student on the basis of both academic excellence and unselfish concern for others.
Emily Margaret Pilc
The Robert J. Faulconer Gold Medal is awarded annually by the former EVMS Pathology and Anatomy department (now part of Biomedical & Translational Sciences) to graduating medical students. Those who have excelled in pathology during their preclinical years are selected to participate in an oral competition. The students who have demonstrated the highest level of knowledge in pathology and the best presentation skills are declared the winners.
Kripa Raj Ahuja
Zachary Zane Kaplan
The Sir William Osler Awards are given each year to an intern, a resident, an attending physician, a basic scientist and a community faculty preceptor by the graduating medical students in recognition of excellence in teaching:
Imadul Haque, MD (MD ’24), Outstanding Intern
Allison M. Goldberg, MD (MD ’21), Outstanding Resident
James R. Wyant, MD, Outstanding Physician
Richard A. Britten, Ph.D., Outstanding Basic Scientist
Steven L. Gershon, MD, Outstanding Preceptor
The Student Government Association MD Leadership Award is awarded to a graduating medical student who has demonstrated significant achievement in leadership.
Atif E. Niaz