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Did you know that 74 percent of our students conducted research during med school? Or that students visited 36 different countries during their time at UNC?


Check out the #UNCSOM2014 storify graduation on Saturday, May 10. See commencement from our graduates’ perspectives.

Click here to read interviews with a few of our graduates.

Facts about the Class of 2014:

  • 74% conducted research while in medical school, including 13% who extended their medical education by a year to participate in a year-long research program. Many students published their research and presented their findings at national and international professional meetings.
  • 26% of the class earned a degree, in addition to the MD degree including 19% who earned degrees in public health, 4% who earned PhD degrees, 2% who earned MBA degrees, and 1 student who earned a degree in public policy.
  • 82% of our students participated in community and international service
  • Before medical school and as medical students, this class volunteered, conducted research, or studied in 36 different countries from Angola to Cambodia, from Costa Rica to New Zealand, from Syria to El Salvador.
  • Members of the Class of 2014 can communicate in 24 different languages from Arabic to Yoruba and including Chichewa, Farsi, French, Hebrew, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Swahili.
  • 36% of the class can communicate with their patients in Spanish
  • Three students commissioned into the United States Armed Forces.
    • Dr. Peter Alexander Beale will be commissioned as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy Medical Corps.
    • Second Lieutenant Kristen Elizabeth Eron will be commissioned a Captain in the Medical Corps of the United States Air Force.
    • First Lieutenant Yuxuan Mao will be commissioned as a Captain in the Medical Corps of the Army National Guard.
  • 49% of the UNC SOM class of 2014 is going into a specialty traditionally considered a primary care specialty.
  • In all, 22 different specialties are included among the students who were successful in this year’s match.
  • 29states are represented on our match list, and we are also proud of the fact that 33% will remain in the great state of NC.

HONORS AND AWARDS GRADUATING CLASS OF 2014

These awards represent the cumulative history of awards for members of the Class of 2014.

Dual Degree Recipients: M.D./Doctor of Philosophy

Isaac Saibun Chan
Hann-Hsiang Chao
Margaret E. Duncan

M.D./Master of Public Health

Elena Marie Adamo
Nesochi Nonyelum Adimorah
Kiri Wiggins Bagley
Gary Francis Burke
Timica Donyeal Campbell
Jamie Lynn Carter
Claudia I. Castillo
Jie Chen
Russell James Coletti
Caroline Elizabeth Gass
Jason R. Goldsmith
Katy Ching-Fang Liu
Eric S. Golike
Joseph Robert Grubbs, Jr.
Robert Preston Hutchins
Renee Cynthia Johnson
Eric Stephen Kiechle
Sarah Nayoung Kim
Cameron Trevor Locklear
Sophia Naz Malik
Daniel Taylor McMillan
Brian E. Moore
Justin Thomas Low
Alexander Nathan Raines
Virginia A. Moye
Pradeep John Poonnen
N’Djamina Angelika Robinson
Claire Jean Thomson
Kari Gabriela Ann Tomlinson
Jacob Wang
Nancy Nan Wang
Daniel Joseph Watford
Daniel Bennett Whitesides
Hannah Yin

M.D./Master of Business Administration

Kelly Rose Esposito
Stephen Legrande
Vance Albert J. Rogers
Aaron D. Webel

M.D./Master of Science in Global Health

Genevieve Alison Wolpert

M.D./Master of Public Policy

Robert Alan Swendiman

Doctor of Medicine with Distinction

Nancy C. Ballantyne
Laura Armfield Cannon
Hann-Hsiang Chao
Russell James Coletti
Esteban Jorge Figueroa
Luke Ehret Habegger
Emily Lynn Hughes
Cameron Greer Isaacs
Claire E. Kendig
Mary Elizabeth Lambert
Kaleigh Rochelle Lindeman
Elizabeth Wolf MacLean
Sara Poorfarahani Myers
Amy J. Nayo
Irina Perjar
Ryan
Alexander Stephens
Nathan Ross Whitmore
Evan Morris Zeitler
Jessica Gabrielle Zvara

Medical Alumni Loyalty Fund Scholars

Jamie Lynn Carter
Claudia I. Castillo
Russell James Coletti
Clayton W. Commander
Kelly Rose Esposito
Esteban Jorge Figueroa
Joseph Robert Grubbs, Jr.
Luke Ehret Habegger
Megan Dale Henley
Senyene Eyo Hunter
Robert Preston Hutchins
Renee Cynthia Johnson
Jade E. Jones
Claire E. Kendig
Mary Elizabeth Lambert
William Aaron Manning
Oren J Mechanic
Joel Leon Moore, Jr.
Samantha Heuertz Moore
Sonya Vipul Patel
Alexander Nathan Raines
Albert J. Rogers
Robert Alan Swendiman
Eli Craven Tate

Jacob Wang
Nancy Nan Wang
Hannah Yin
Evan Morris Zeitler
Jessica Gabrielle Zvara

June C. Allcott Fellowship

Ayesha N. Lovick
Moneika Sheree Owens

Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society

Taylor C. Bazemore
Jamie Lynn Carter*
Hann-Hsiang Chao*
Russell James Coletti*
Esteban Jorge Figueroa
Joseph Robert Grubbs, Jr.
Luke Ehret Habegger
Cameron Greer Isaacs
Sarah Caroline Isbey
Claire E. Kendig
Mary Elizabeth Lambert*
Elizabeth Wolf MacLean
William Aaron Manning
Joel Leon Moore Jr.
Virginia A. Moye
Sara Poorfarahani Myers
Amy J. Nayo*
Sarah E. Paraghamian
Albert J. Rogers
Christopher Robert Stamey
Robert Alan Swendiman
Eli Craven Tate*
Eli Joseph Kraus Tiller
Stephen Legrande Vance
Jacob Wang

Hannah Yin*
Evan Morris Zeitler
Jessica Gabrielle Zvara*

*Elected junior year

American Medical Women’s Association Glasgow Rubin Commendations for Academic Achievement

Jamie Lynn Carter
Sarah Caroline Isbey
Claire E. Kendig
Mary Elizabeth Lambert
Elizabeth Wolf MacLean
Virginia A. Moye
Sara Poorfarahani Myers
Amy J. Nayo
Sarah E. Paraghamian
Hannah Yin
Jessica Gabrielle Zvara
Stephen Legrande Vance
Thomas Clayton Williamson
Danicela Younce
Lucius Blanchard

Carolina Family Loyalty Fund Scholars

Kiri Wiggins Bagley
Sarah E. Paraghamian
Graham Barden Berry
Eli Joseph Kraus Tiller

Board of Governors Medical Scholars

Joseph Robert Grubbs, Jr.
Megan Dale Henley
Christopher M. Lam

Ryan Everett Little
Moneika Sheree Owens
Irina Perjar

James A. Bryan II Award

Hannah Yin

James Bell Bullitt Award

Eli Craven Tate

Gilbert J. Cuthbertson, M.D.
and Megan C. Danton, M.D. Memorial Award

William Copley McLean

Frank Lee Dameron Award

Amy J. Nayo

Carolyn M. Wakeman

William Hersey Davis Scholarship

Senyene Eyo Hunter

Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship Award

Kristyn Swan Beam

Society for Academic Emergency Medicine’s
 Excellence in Emergency Medicine Award

Cameron Greer Isaacs

Family Medicine Student Award

Amy J. Nayo

Eli Joseph Kraus Tiller

Christopher C. Fordham III Award

Clayton W. Commander

Sarah Caroline Isbey

Gold Humanism Honor Society *

Lauriane Auvergne
Kiri Wiggins Bagley
Kateland Elizabeth Branch
Sunaina Dowray
Casey Victoria Farin
Esteban Jorge Figueroa
Georgia Marguerite Griffin
Sarah Caroline Isbey
Lauren Posey Jacobs
Christopher M. Lam
Grace Elizabeth Martin
William Copley McLean
Joel Leon Moore Jr.
Sonya Vipul Patel
Eli Craven Tate
Claire Jean Thomson
Carolyn M. Wakeman
Daniel Bennett Whitesides
Nathan Ross Whitmore
Hannah Yin
Evan Morris Zeitler

*The Gold Humanism Honor Society chapter was made possible with a grant from The Arnold P. Gold Foundation.

Howard Holderness Distinguished Medical Scholars

Emily Cohn Ambrose
Mathieu Forgues

Heusner Pupil Awards

Claudia I. Castillo
Russell James Coletti
Joseph Robert Grubbs, Jr.

Rebekah Caroline Macfie
Christopher Robert Stamey

William Copley McLean
Daniel Taylor McMillan
Joel Leon Moore Jr.

John Robert Younce

Amy J. Nayo
Sonya Vipul Patel

The Michiko Kuno Award for Excellence in Student Research
Stephen Legrande Vance

Paul F. Lachiewicz Award for Orthopaedics

Jie Chen

The John and Kit Latimer Excellence Fund Scholarship

Brian Louis Lanier

The Deborah C. Leary Award

Lauriane Auvergne

William deB. MacNider Award

William Copley McLean

Eli Joseph Kraus Tiller

Isaac Hall Manning Award

Hann-Hsiang Chao

David A. Mayberry Award

Kiri Wiggins Bagley

Merck Manual Awards

Joseph Robert Grubbs, Jr.

Oren J Mechanic William

Aaron Manning

Hannah Yin

American Academy of Neurology’s Medical Student Prize
for Excellence in Neurology

John Robert Younce

Brett J. Pearce and Lauren K. Brown Memorial Award

William Copley McLean

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Physiatry) Excellence Award

Amy J. Nayo

Harold C. Pillsbury Student Research Awards

Taylor C. Bazemore

Lindsey K. Buckingham

Hira Hasnain

Senyene Eyo Hunter

Sonya Vipul Patel

Christopher M. Lam

Matthew Wofford

Christina Lee

United States Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Award

Sunaina Dowray

George F. Sheldon, M.D. Award

Sara Poorfarahani Myers

Cecil G. Sheps Award in Social Medicine

Amy J. Nayo

Mary Elizabeth Lambert

J. Rush Shull, M.D. Scholarships

Amy J. Nayo

Moneika Sheree Owens

Thrasher Award

Daniel Magliozzi

Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Student Award presented by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation

Robert Alan Swendiman

Louis and Betsy West Medical Scholarship

Katherine Ann Jordan

Daniel Taylor McMillan

Amy J. Nayo

Lauren Posey Jacobs

Daniel T. Young Peace and Social Justice Award

Sonya Vipul Patel

Lawrence Zollicoffer-Alan Cross Fellowship

Ayesha N. Lovick

FACULTY AND HOUSE STAFF AWARDS


Henry C. Fordham Award

Nicholas M. Potisek, M.D.

UNC Hospitals Pediatrics Residency Program

Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Faculty Award presented by The Arthur P. Gold Foundation

Amy Weil, M.D.

Associate Professor of Medicine and Social Medicine Co-Director, The Beacon Child and Family Program

Professor Award

Christopher A. Klipstein, M.D. Professor of Medicine Director, Inpatient Medicine Clerkship

The University of North Carolina

UNC School of Medicine

The Class of 2014

Saturday, May 10, 2014 10:00 A.M. Memorial Hall

Elena Marie Adamo

Nesochi Nonyelum Adimorah

Emily Cohn Ambrose

Lauriane Auvergne

Kiri Wiggins Bagley

Nancy C. Ballantyne

Suzanne Barakat **

Taylor C. Bazemore

Peter Alexander Beale

Kristyn Swan Beam

Elena Terese Beidler

Graham Barden Berry

Jason Josef Bischof

Sarah K. Blanchard

Elizabeth Runge Blyth

Romin Bonakdar

Randall Bryant Bowen

Kateland Elizabeth Branch

Lindsey K. Buckingham

Gary Francis Burke

Timica Donyeal Campbell

Laura Armfield Cannon

Jamie Lynn Carter

Claudia I. Castillo

Isaac Saibun Chan

Hann-Hsiang Chao

Jie Chen

Russell James Coletti

Clayton W. Commander

Michael Philip Cowherd

Virginia Crowder

Patricia Lane Dias

Jakub Marcin Dmochowski

Michael William Dorry

Sunaina Dowray

Lei Du

Margaret E. Duncan

Mohamed Taleb El-Kara

Cameron Ellis
Kristen Elizabeth Eron

Kelly Rose Esposito

Casey Victoria Farin

Esteban Jorge Figueroa

Mathieu Forgues
Desmina

Ayodele Friday**

Caroline Elizabeth Gass

Thomas Gavigan

Jason R. Goldsmith

Eric S. Golike

Indira Maryann Gowda

Georgia Marguerite Griffin

Joseph Robert Grubbs, Jr.

Luke Ehret Habegger

Benjamin Scott Harris **

Hira Hasnain

Kelly B. Hayes

Megan Dale Henley

Michael Fei Huang **

Emily Lynn Hughes

Senyene Eyo Hunter

Robert Preston Hutchins

Cameron Greer Isaacs

Sarah Caroline Isbey

Lauren Posey Jacobs

Arthur Robert Johnson

Renee Cynthia Johnson

Jade E. Jones

Katherine Ann Jordan

Amarpreet Kaur

Claire E. Kendig

Eric Stephen Kiechle

Sarah Nayoung Kim

Hollis Camille Konitzer

Christopher M. Lam

Mary Elizabeth Lambert

Brian Louis Lanier

Christina Lee

Tian W. Li

Kaleigh Rochelle Lindeman

Ryan Everett Little

Katy Ching-Fang Liu

Cameron Trevor Locklear

Ayesha N. Lovick

Justin Thomas Low

Rebekah Caroline Macfie

Elizabeth Wolf MacLean

Daniel Magliozzi

Sophia Naz Malik

William Aaron Manning

Yuxuan Mao

Grace Elizabeth Martin

Jonathan Puthenveetil Mathew

DeAnna L. McGarity

William Copley McLean

Daniel Taylor McMillan

Oren J Mechanic

John Wilcox Meyer

Ronald Walden Milam, Jr.

Justin D. Miller

Brian E. Moore

Joel Leon Moore Jr.

Samantha Heuertz Moore

Adam Jason Moskowitz

Virginia A. Moye

Sara Poorfarahani Myers

Jonathan Gregory Napier

Abdulrahman O. Nasiru

Amy J. Nayo

Tara Nolting

Moneika Sheree Owens

Sarah E. Paraghamian

Sonya Vipul Patel

Kevin Alexander Pearlstein

Irina Perjar

Pradeep John Poonnen

Akinyi M. Ragwar

Alexander Nathan Raines

Christopher Michael Reed

Ann Marie Toebes Richards

Michelle Jaeun Ro

Brandon M. Roane

N’Djamina Angelika Robinson

Albert J. Rogers

Christopher Edward San Miguel

Kristen Marie Seiler

Alan Burrell Shaw **

Jewel E. Sheehan

Atif T. Sheikh

Daku Siewe

Brian F. Simpson

Christopher Paine Malcolm Smelick

Benjamin A. Smith

Ellen A. Snyder

Christopher Robert Stamey

Ryan Alexander Stephens

Robert Alan Swendiman

Eli Craven Tate

Jennifer Thuy Thai

Claire Jean Thomson

Michael William Thorp

Eli Joseph Kraus Tiller

Kari Gabriela Ann Tomlinson

Stephen Legrande Vance

Michelle Jacqueline Vernali

Carolyn M. Wakeman

Jacob Wang

Nancy Nan Wang

Daniel Joseph Watford

Aaron D. Webel

Andrew Wilson White

William Michael Whited

Daniel Bennett Whitesides

Nathan Ross Whitmore

Thomas Clayton Williamson

Emily Cathryn Wellman Willner

Matthew Wofford

Genevieve Alison Wolpert

Lauren E. Willis Wood

Hannah Yin

Danicela Younce

John Robert Younce

Evan Morris Zeitler

Evon S. Louis Zoog

Jessica Gabrielle Zvara

** December graduate

About the Awards

DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS

Family Medicine Student Award – Each year, the Department of Family Medicine presents an award to a medical student in recognition of his or her accomplishments and dedication to the ideals of family medicine. The recipient is chosen on the basis of his or her embodiment of the principles of family medicine, service, intention of practicing family medicine, and overall scholarship.

Society for Academic Emergency Medicine’s Excellence in Emergency Medicine Award – The Society for Academic Emergency Medicine makes available the Excellence in Emergency Medicine Award for a student who has been outstanding in the specialty. The recipient is selected by the Department of Emergency Medicine.

Paul F. Lachiewicz Award for Orthopaedics – The Paul F. Lachiewicz Award for Orthopaedics recognizes clinical or research achievement and is awarded to a student who has matched into an orthopaedic residency program.

David A. Mayberry Award – The David A. Mayberry Award is given to the graduating senior who during any period of clinical training within the Department of Pediatrics has demonstrated exceptional human qualities and clinical scholarship in the care of children with cancer. A special faculty committee selects the recipient.

American Academy of Neurology’s Medical Student Prize for Excellence in Neurology – The American Academy of Neurology Medical Student Prize for Excellence in Neurology recognizes graduating medical students for excellence in clinical neurology. The UNC recipient is selected by faculty in the Department of Neurology.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Physiatry) Excellence Award – The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Physiatry) Excellence Award was created by Dr. Michael Y. Lee, Founding Chair, in honor of his parents, Drs. Michael M. and Shrine G. Lee, to recognize and honor the senior medical student who demonstrates the exemplary qualities necessary to care for persons with physical disabilities. An exemplary physiatrist is caring, compassionate, and has a genuine interest in improving each patient’s quality of life and function. The recipient is selected by faculty and residents of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

George F. Sheldon, M.D. Award – The Department of Surgery established the George F. Sheldon, M.D. Award to honor a member of the graduating class who demonstrated excellence in surgery. This award is named for George F. Sheldon, M.D., Professor of Surgery and Chair of the Department of Surgery from 1984-2001.

Cecil G. Sheps Award – The Cecil G. Sheps Award was established in 1987 in honor of Dr. Sheps, former Distinguished Professor Emeritus of the Department of Social Medicine. The award recognizes a fourth-year medical student selected by the Department of Social Medicine who demonstrates academic excellence and practical commitment to the principles of Social Medicine.

Thrasher Award – The George C. Thrasher Jr. Award was established in 1965 by the Department of Psychiatry in honor of the memory of Dr. Thrasher, a faculty member in Psychiatry who played a major role in teaching medical students. The award is given to that member of the graduating class who, during his or her medical school experience, showed the most outstanding performance and ability in Psychiatry.

AWARDS FOR SCHOLARSHIP

Doctor of Medicine with Distinction- To be eligible for Doctor of Medicine with Distinction, a student must earn a cumulative year-end grade of honors for all years of medical school in which the grade of honors is an option.

Glasgow-Rubin Commendation for Academic Achievement – The Glasgow-Rubin Academic Achievement Award and Citations are presented by the American Medical Women’s Association to recognize women graduates who have excelled academically throughout medical school.

Deborah C. Leary Award – Established in 1958, the award honors Deborah Cushing Leary, M.D., Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the UNC School of Medicine from 1952 to 1957. The Leary Award is presented to a fourth-year student whose research paper is judged by a faculty committee to be the best paper submitted.

Isaac Hall Manning Award – In 1954, an anonymous donor established a fund to provide an annual award in honor of Isaac Hall Manning, M.D., Class of 1895, who served the School of Medicine from 1905 to 1933 as a professor of Physiology and Dean. Members of the graduating class are nominated by faculty for the Isaac Hall Manning Award on the basis of scholarship, character, leadership, initiative, and original investigative work.

LEADERSHIP AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

Christopher C. Fordham III Award – The Christopher C. Fordham III Award was established in honor of Dr. Fordham for his outstanding and creative leadership in medical and higher education. He was a former dean of the medical school, vice chancellor for Health Affairs, and a chancellor of the University. This award recognizes graduating students for outstanding and creative leadership at the medical school. Nominations for this award were solicited from the chairs of the departments based on their faculty’s recommendations, from members of the senior class, and from senior class advisors.

James Bell Bullitt Award – The James Bell Bullitt Award, given for the first time in 1962, honors Dr. Bullitt, formerly a professor of Pathology, who was a member of the faculty of the School of Medicine from 1913 to 1947. Consistent with Dr. Bullitt’s contributions to the School of Medicine, this award provides an opportunity for recognizing unusual achievements or contributions to the medical school community by a member of the senior class. Seniors nominate their classmates for this award.

Merck Manual Award – Each year, the Merck Publishing Group offers the Merck Manual Award to outstanding medical students. The qualifications for the award are at the discretion of the School of Medicine. At UNC, the award is given to graduating students based on contributions to the medical school community. The staff members in the Office of Student Affairs and the Admissions Office select the recipients.

PUBLIC SERVICE

J. Rush Shull, M.D. Scholarship – The J. Rush Shull, M.D. Scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior who has demonstrated a commitment to community service and who will be entering a primary care residency program in North Carolina.

HUMANISM IN MEDICINE

Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award presented by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation – The Arnold P. Gold Foundation makes it possible for an award to be presented to one graduating senior and one medical school faculty member who integrate humanism into the delivery of care to patients and their families. The recipients consistently demonstrate compassion and empathy in the delivery of care, show respect for all, demonstrate cultural sensitivity, display effective communication and listening skills, adhere to professional ethical standards, understand a patient’s need for interpretation of complex medical diagnosis while showing respect for a patient’s viewpoint, pay attention to patients’ psychological well-being, engender trust and confidence, and remain personally committed to self-evaluation. The student recipient has helped others and accepted help from others when necessary, engaged in volunteer activities showing concern for the welfare of the community, and sought and accepted criticism for improvement of performance. Students are nominated by faculty members and classmates.

Daniel T. Young Peace and Social Justice Award – The Daniel T. Young Peace and Social Justice Award goes to the graduating student who, in the opinion of his or her classmates, has demonstrated—through extracurricular activities—the most steadfast dedication to the advancement of peace and social justice. Students are nominated by their classmates.

Gilbert J. Cuthbertson, M.D. and Megan C. Danton, M.D. Memorial Award – The Class of 1983 established the Gilbert J. Cuthbertson, M.D. and Megan C. Danton, M.D. Memorial Award to honor two physicians, husband and wife, who died in a plane crash in 1988. Graduating students nominate classmates who exhibit the personal qualities of these two doctors, including caring for others; an ability to make people smile; joy in living; and, in particular, a quiet compassion for all humankind.

FACULTY AND HOUSE STAFF AWARDS

Henry C. Fordham Award – With this award, the Class of 2014 recognizes a member of the house staff for the qualities of patience, humility, and devotion to medicine.

Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Faculty Award presented by The Arthur P. Gold Foundation – The Arnold P. Gold Foundation makes it possible for the Class of 2014 to select a faculty member who consistently demonstrates compassion, empathy, respect, cultural sensitivity, effective communication and listening skills, and professional ethical standards in the delivery of care. The recipient understands a patient’s need for interpretation of complex medical diagnosis while showing respect for a patient’s viewpoint, pays attention to patients’ psychological well-being, engenders trust and confidence, and remains personally committed to self- evaluation. In addition, the faculty recipient serves as a role model and mentor, is approachable and accessible to students, and exhibits enthusiasm in interactions with students.

Professor Award – The recipient is a faculty member selected by the senior class who, by his or her willingness, understanding, and ability, has contributed most to the students’ medical education.