School of Medicine M.D. Student Awards Convocation honors medical education achievements

The annual West Virginia University School of Medicine 2025 M.D. Student Awards Convocation was held Thursday, May 15 to honor medical students, faculty, educators and alumni for their achievements throughout the year.

Individuals were recognized for exceptional academic work, outstanding achievements within individual topical areas, exemplary mentorship and teaching, and more. The full list of winners are as follows:

Academic Recognition Awards

Claude C. and Stazie M. Rader West Virginia University Rural Scholars Award

  • Abby Ivey
  • Derek Leohner
  • Nicholas Miller
  • Taylor Rice
  • Kristin Ruddle

Culinary Lifestyle Medicine Track Certificates

  • Katie Barnes
  • Nicole Fama
  • Lia Farrell
  • Lynette Fisher
  • Alexis Fritts
  • Olivia Hill
  • Sarah Hughes
  • Riley Imlay
  • Natalie Mastroianni
  • Jade McGrath
  • Naveena Murugan
  • Jordyn O’Dell
  • Michael Sutton

Global Health Track Certificates

  • Rachael Alderman
  • Megann Boone
  • Denise Dawley
  • Jenna Foster
  • Riley Imlay
  • Thomas Laird
  • Nicholas Miller
  • Julia Seraly
  • Nanda Siva
  • Abigail Tisler
  • Mara Walters

John E. Jones Award for Academic Excellence

  • Lynette Fisher
  • Jeevan Murthy
  • Molly Shott

John E. Prescott Award for Academic Excellence

  • Darren Brown
  • Daniel Mathes

Rural Health Track Certificates

  • Rachael Alderman
  • Victoria Bonafield
  • Cole Cochran
  • Denise Dawley
  • Garrett Fink
  • Austin Goncz
  • Kara Nickolich
  • Taylor Rice

Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Award

  • James Huber

West Virginia Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians Award

  • Elizabeth Steele

West Virginia University Rural Scholar Award

  • Alexis Fritts
  • Michael Sutton

 

Department/ Division Recognition Awards

Alfred K. Pfister Internal Medicine Award 

  • Bethany Koontz

Anido Pathology Award

  • Stephen Williams

Bert Bradford Surgery Award

  • Bethany Koontz

D. Ewell Hendricks, MD, Surgical Award

  • Jeevan Murthy

Donald C. Fidler Award for Excellence in Psychiatry

  • Yongjia “James” Deng
  • Fady Wasef

E.B. Flink Award for Excellence in Internal Medicine

  • Nicole Fama

Excellence in Obstetrics and Gynecology Award

  • Rachael Alderman

Ferrari Pediatrics Award

  • Natalie Mastroianni

Gibbons Obstetrics and Gynecology Award

  • Caroline Dundervil

Herbert Hart Pomerance Pediatrics Award

  • Hannah West

Humanism in Internal Medicine Award

  • Ever Hernandez

James E. Brown, MD, FACOG, Award for Compassionate Care and Academic Excellence in the OB/GYN Clerkship

  • Jeevan Murthy

John C. Linton Psychiatry Award

  • James Huber

John W. Traubert Family Medicine Award

  • Taylor Rice

Marshall Carper Family Medicine Award

  • Lia Farrell

Morton and Myra Friedman Award

  • David Michael Fletcher

Patricia Fedeles Award for Compassion in Physical Diagnosis

  • Madison Seman

Richard W. Eller Anesthesiology Award

  • Abigail Tisler

Robert L. Robinson Medical Physiology Award

  • Ashley Linder

Rosemarie Cannarella Lorenzetti Excellence in Primary Care Award

  • Olivia Hill

Thomas H. Covey, Jr., M.D. Surgery Award

  • Morgan Pendleton

Walter Moran Surgery Award

  • Natalie Mastroianni

William W. Fleming Pharmacology Award

  • Jacob Herriott

WVU Pathology, Anatomy and Laboratory Medicine Award for Distinction in the Field of Pathology

  • Hunter Monroe

 

Alumni Association Awards

David Z. Morgan Mentor Award

  • Erica Ghareeb, M.D.

Lynda B. Nine President’s Young Alumnus Award

  • Anthony Gabriele

Percival L. MacLachlan Award

  • Mark Paternostro, Ph.D.

 

Faculty Awards

Academy of Advisors Mentor of the Year

  • Kendra Unger, M.D.

Distinguished Teacher Awards: Junior Level

  • Preston Seaberg, M.D.

Distinguished Teacher Awards: Senior Level

  • H. James Williams, Ph.D.

 

Special Recognition Awards

C.H. Mitch Jacques Leadership Award

  • Carol Boctor

Community Health Outreach Award

  • Carol Boctor

Cottrell P.A.L.S. Tutor of the Year Award

  • Ivy Kaznoski

Edward G. Stuart Award

  • Jenna Foster

Robert E. Stitzel Award

  • Laura Cho
  • Amelia Haley

W. Warren Point Award

  • Connor Fields