Outstanding UF medical students recognized at 2023 Honors Convocation
24 students received distinction during the Sept. 12 ceremony
September 12, 2023 — In a joyous celebration Sept. 12 at the George T. Harrell, M.D., Medical Education Building, second-, third- and fourth-year University of Florida College of Medicine students were recognized by college leaders, mentors, peers and alumni for their medical excellence and advocacy.
Twenty-four students received scholarships and awards at the annual Honors Convocation, highlighting their academic, research and clinical achievements as well as outstanding professionalism and humanism in patient care, service to the UF and Gainesville communities and dedication to their future specialties.
Below is a full list of students who were recognized at the 2023 Honors Convocation:
Barbara B. Bennett, M.D., Memorial Award
Established by the class of 2002 and the department of obstetrics and gynecology to honor a student who is pursuing a career in OB-GYN and, during their first three years of medical school, best exemplifies Bennett’s honesty, integrity, clinical skill and commitment to women’s health.
- Krystal Glasford
Bythewood & Baker Memorial Scholarship Award for Medical Students
Established in 1968 by Martha Isabel Mays to recognize female medical students for outstanding performance on third-year clerkships.
- Kendra Hairston
Caroline Annette Cody, M.D., Memorial Scholarship Award
Established in memory of Caroline Annette Cody, M.D., a member of the class of 2003, and based on nominations from peers. It is presented to a fourth-year student who best exemplifies Cody’s remarkable characteristics and altruistic service to the community.
- Agurah Humphreys
College of Medicine Alumni Award for Academic Excellence
Established by the UF Alumni Association to honor fourth-year students for academic and professional excellence, as well as leadership, service to their community or peers or advocacy for underserved populations.
- Chelsea-Jane Arcalas
- Brent Deschaine
- Grace DeSena
- Juan Santana
Robert Cade, M.D., Memorial Award
Recognizes a student who emulates the qualities of J. Robert Cade, M.D., an enthusiastic student of medicine and life, a creative and caring physician and a teacher and mentor.
- Yasmeen Turtaza
William Osler Award in Internal Medicine
Presented each year by past and present chairs of the department of medicine, chiefs of the medical service at the Veterans Administration Medical Center and chief residents in the department of medicine to a graduating medical student who has demonstrated outstanding proficiency in the field of internal medicine.
- Hassan Perera
Kenneth Kellner, M.D., Ph.D., Award
Recognizes a fourth-year student who has excelled scholastically and demonstrated a sustained commitment to women’s health care and medical education.
- Miranda Solly
Eugene Craig Haufler Award
Annual award for a graduating student who demonstrates excellence and is planning to pursue a career in pediatrics.
- Ally Fraser
Curtis Crowther Memorial Award
Established by the Crowther family in honor of Curtis Crowther, a member of the Medical Honors Program and the class of 2022. Criteria for the award includes being an alumnus of the Medical Honors Program, demonstrating courage in adversity, kindness, genuine concern for others and diligence in academic studies.
- Xuban Palau Villarreal
Dr. Emma Segal Award
Established by Leora Lieberman, M.D. ’19, and Robert Eisinger, Ph.D. ’20, M.D. ’22, to support residency applicants aiming to align their paths with their significant other.
- Megan Burin
- Graeme Fenton
Joel Cohen/Patricia N. Maddalone Memorial Fund
Recognizes a student demonstrating outstanding work in the field of infectious diseases.
- Iris Harrison
- Tran Ngo
Sey Park, M.D., Memorial Scholarship
Established by Hoon Park, Ph.D., and Young Park to honor their son, Sey Park, M.D. ’16, and his legacy at UF. The recipient is a fourth-year medical student who embodies the characteristics of altruism and collegiality demonstrated by Sey.
- Rami Hatem
Genevra Todd & Henry E. Meleney Memorial Fund
Recognizes students who have excelled in the medical school curriculum during the first year of medical school.
- Nirja Shah
- Omar Sharaf
Cary R. Barber, M.D., Scholarship for Suicide Prevention and Depression
Presented to a second-year student who has demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in family medicine, promoted the goal of suicide prevention and has worked to improve awareness of the debilitating effects of depression.
- Daisy Valle
George J. Caranasos Professionalism Award
Established in honor of a distinguished faculty member in the department of medicine to recognize a graduating student who has displayed outstanding professionalism in caring for patients.
- Monica Rodriguez-Fernandez
Palm Beach County Medical Society Auxiliary Scholarship
Recognizes a third-year student who is a graduate of a Palm Beach County high school and has demonstrated service to the medical profession through developing and maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards of the medical profession, advocating for the interests of physicians and their patients and collaborating with others to improve the health of those in their community.
- Sandra Hegeman
- Erin Kaufmann
