Medical Education

MD Program

Mission: We improve the health of individuals and populations through an innovative medical education program that emphasizes humility and personal growth as part of University of Rochester Medicine, the leading academic health system in Upstate New York.

Vision: We inspire learners to become compassionate leaders in medicine and science by emphasizing collaboration, discovery, and excellence within an integrated academic health system that unites education, research, and patient care.

Values: The MD program at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry embraces the IICARE values of Integrity, Inclusion, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence.

The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry is dedicated to training future humanistic physicians who are leaders in clinical care, research, and health system innovation. The “Double Helix Curriculum—Translations and Transitions” integrates clinical and basic science, emphasizing the Biopsychosocial Model within University of Rochester Medicine. The curriculum includes instruction in the pillars of Collaborative Care, Technology in Medicine, and Professional Identity Formation, using a variety of teaching modalities, including problem-based learning, small-group experiences, simulation, and team-based learning. The School is committed to setting the highest standards in medical education and to serving as a national model for innovation and continuous improvement in medical student education.

Honoring the Class of 2026

The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry MD graduation ceremony is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of our medical students and will take place on Saturday, May 16, at noon in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. Event details and registration information are available on the Commencement Weekend website.

Many students have distinguished themselves through exceptional academic achievement. Please join us in recognizing and congratulating the Class of 2026 award recipients.

Student Prizes and Awards

The American Academy of Neurology Medical Student Prize for Excellence

in Neurology established in 2001. This prize recognizes excellence in clinical neurology among graduating medical students. It is awarded annually to a graduating medical student who exemplifies outstanding scientific achievement and clinical acumen in neurology or neuroscience, and outstanding personal qualities of integrity, compassion, and leadership.

Emily Lauren Isenstein

Simran Vinutha Siddalingaiah

The American College of Emergency Physicians Award recognizes a graduating medical student with the intention to pursue a career in emergency medicine and who has demonstrated outstanding patient care and involvement in medical organizations and the community.

Brooke D'janea Jones

The Rudolph Angell Award, established in honor of Dr. Angell, a graduate of the medical school (1937), by his friends and colleagues, recognizes a graduating medical student who “by virtue of outstanding performance in internal medicine and high personal standards, exemplifies the ideals of the art and science of the practice of medicine”.

Felicia B. Guo

The Robert L. Caldwell Prize in Surgery established by the Department of Surgery, in honor of Dr. Caldwell, a graduate of the medical school (1961) and residency (1969). This prize is awarded to a fourth-year student who performed at the highest level during surgical rotations.

Kadiatou Traore

The Class of 1976 Prize awarded by the alumni of that class to a graduating medical student in recognition of promise to become an outstanding clinical teacher.

Jack Armstrong Bookbinder

The Jules Cohen Award for Advancing Medical Education, inaugurated in 1997 and named for a distinguished graduate of the school and former senior associate dean for medical education, is awarded to the graduating senior medical student who has contributed most meaningfully to the improvement of the medical school curriculum.

Jane Silbaugh Jurayj

The Bryce Collier Prize awarded to a medical student whose performance demonstrates exceptional qualities of responsibility and devotion in the compassionate and understanding care of the sick.

Nikki Naa Dei Neequaye

Costanza Community Impact Award, is presented to a Distinction candidate whose work exemplifies outstanding community engagement with the greatest potential for sustainable impact on the health of the community.

Philomena Ursalene Burger

Alyssa Hope Ann Deacon

Oumou Koultoum Toure

Muhammad Ibrahim Jalal

Alex Elizabeth Schick

The Dean’s Award is presented to a fourth-year medical student in recognition of excellent academic achievement and outstanding accomplishment in research.

Anh-Tho Antoinette Thi Nguyen

Fiscella Excellence in Community Health Award presented to a Distinction candidate whose work demonstrates significant scholarship in community

engagement through academic rigor, robust evaluation, and substantial dissemination.

Anh-Tho Antoinette Thi Nguyen

The Department of Family Medicine Commencement Award was established in 2013 and is presented to a graduating medical student who has demonstrated a commitment to compassionate, relationship-centered primary care of patients and families with special sensitivity to underserved or marginalized populations.

Anna Russell

The Glasgow-Rubin Achievement Award is presented by the American Medical Women’s Association to the woman/women who graduates first in her class.

Whitney Grace Black

Erin Auriel Hendry

Riley Michelena Okeson

The Glasgow-Rubin Achievement Citation is presented by the American Medical Women’s Association to the women who graduate in the top ten percent of their medical school graduating class.

Ananya Anand Shah

The Robert J. Haggerty Prize in Pediatrics was established by the Department of Pediatrics in 1988 in honor of its former chair, Robert J. Haggerty (1964–1974), a “dedicated clinician, teacher, and investigator who focused on the whole child, the family, and their community as the model for pediatric care.

Erin Auriel Hendry

The Robert J. Joynt, M.D., Ph.D. Prize for Excellence in Clinical Neurology established in 1987. This prize is named after Dr. Robert J. Joynt, founding chair of the Department of Neurology and former vice president and vice provost of the School of Medicine and Dentistry, who exemplifies outstanding scientific achievement and clinical acumen in neurology, and outstanding personal qualities of integrity, compassion and leadership. This prize is awarded annually to a graduating medical student who best demonstrates both outstanding academic excellence in clinical neurosciences and professional qualities shown by Dr. Joynt.

        Alex Elizabeth Schick

The Robert E. Kates Award is awarded to a graduating student who has demonstrated excellence in both clinical medicine and in research by qualifying for the M.D. and Ph.D. degrees in the combined program or by earning the degree Doctor of Medicine with Distinction in Research.

Alan J. Finkelstein

The Charles D. Kochakian Award in Endocrinology and Nutrition established in recognition of Charles D. Kochakian, Ph.D., graduate of the medical school in 1936, is awarded to a medical student for research in the field of endocrinology and/or nutrition.

Noah Lo-Tien Tsao

The Dean Brenda D. Lee Award, established by the Class of 2005 Student National Medical Association members, is given to a graduating medical student who demonstrated outstanding commitment to community service, mentoring students in the educational pipeline, and improving the health status of diverse patient populations via patient care, research, and/or teaching.

Brooke D'janea Jones

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Commencement Award is awarded to a graduating medical student in recognition of outstanding performance in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Whitney Grace Black

Department of Psychiatry Commencement Award presented to a fourth-year medical student who has given evidence of unusual promise of creative scholarship in the field of psychiatry by clinical scholarship, by participation in research, or both/.

Emily Joyce Doyle Przysinda

R. Knight Steel Award for Excellence in Geriatric Medicine awards this honor to a medical student who has shown leadership and a strong commitment to the field of Geriatrics and Aging. 

Julianna Jia-Jun Liu

The Society of Academic Emergency Medicine Prize awarded for excellence in emergency medicine from the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine, is given to a student who has demonstrated outstanding proficiency and contributions in emergency medicine.

Sophia Moody

The Jack I. Stein Memorial Prize, formerly the Jack I. Stein Memorial Lecture and Visiting Professorship was established in 1973 in memory of Dr. Stein, an esteemed graduate of this School and resident in the Department of Psychiatry, by gifts from his family, friends, and colleagues. This prize is to be awarded annually to a resident or medical student with a proven interest in psychiatry who demonstrates the highest standards of scholarship for the benefit of patients, students, residents, and faculty.

Elise Julie Mathilde Rio

The Doran J. Stephens Prize is awarded by the alumni of the School of Medicine and Dentistry to a graduating student who shows promise of developing the personal and professional qualities that distinguished the late Dr. Stephens, a graduate of the first class of the School, an inspiring teaching, talented investigator, and kindly and able physician.

Jane Zhang

The United States Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Awards given to a graduating medical student who manifests Dr. Hawkins’ high personal standards, consideration of others and dedication to

scholarship.

Anupama Dinesh

The William B. Hawkins Award is given to a graduating medical student who manifests Dr. Hawkins’ high personal standards, consideration of others and dedication to

scholarship.

Erica Lynn Andersen

The Kenneth Woodward Memorial Award established in memory of Dr. Kenneth Woodward, a graduate of the School of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. Woodward was the first African-American to complete the pediatric residency program at the University of Rochester and was a former associate dean for minority affairs at the School of Medicine and Dentistry. Shortly after his death, his family established a memorial fund to recognize students who have outstanding prospects for careers in improving the health status of underserved patients.

Brittany Ida Hodges

Humanism, Humanities, Education and Research Pathways

The Gold Humanism Honor Society recognizes students, residents and faculty who are exemplars of compassionate patient care and who serve as role models, mentors, and leaders in medicine.

Erica Lynn Andersen

Whitney Grace Black

Jack Armstrong Bookbinder

Alyssa Hope Ann Deacon

Anupama Dinesh 

Felicia B. Guo

Brittany Ida Hodges

Alexandra Nicole Kaplan

Hisaaki Ken Kawabata

Camila Lage

Nikki Naa Dei Neequaye

Riley Michelena Okeson

Joshua Anthony Rosario

Anna Russell

Oumou Koultoum Toure

Noah Lo-Tien Tsao

Steven Mark Weiner

The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award awarded by the Arnold P.Gold Foundation, in recognition and honor of students and faculty members who exemplify compassion in the delivery of health care services. The goal of humanism in medicine is to ensure that those involved in direct patient care, embody the highest level of sensitivity, cultural competence, dignity, and respect for the patients and families served.

Sydney Marie Peters

The Academic Research Track: an elective track that prepares students to engage with science through a mentored research experience, including mentorship, research question development, measurement and data collection, data presentation, research funding, and scientific writing for publication.

Erica Lynn Andersen

William McQuilkin Burns

Boyu Guo

Anh-Tho Antoinette Thi Nguyen

Amanda B. Rodríguez Orengo

Sumeetha Swaminathan

Jane Zhang

Health Humanities & Bioethics/Deaf Health/Latinx Health Pathways: The Division of Medical Humanities and Bioethics offers the following pathways to provide medical students with an enriched experience throughout their four years of medical school: Health Humanities & Bioethics, Deaf Health and Latinx Health.

Health Humanities & Bioethics Pathway

Erica Lynn Andersen

Jack Armstrong Bookbinder

Geena Eun-Jean Choo

Andrew Jaehyung Cho

Anh-Tho Antoinette Thi Nguyen

Lily Claire Peters

Caleb Austin Prus

Katarina Wang

Nikhil Bamarajpet

Benjamin Roland Hauser

Michael Nicholas Healey

Caleb Obregón

Allen Tsai

Erin Auriel Hendry

Deaf Health Pathway

Brooke D'janea Jones

Hisaaki Ken Kawabata

Sophia Moody

Sydney Marie Peters

Alex Elizabeth Schick

David Yuning Song 

Jo Ann Chelsea Sun

Elaine Xu

Latinx Health Pathway

Raquel E. Arias-Camison 

Alan J. Finkelstein

Aaron Benjamin Litvak

Alison Claire Livada

Michaela Lenore Malin

Nikki Naa Dei Neequay

Caleb Obregón

Amanda B. Rodríguez Orengo

Joshua Anthony Rosario

Hannah Joelle Schneider

Simran Vinutha Siddalingaiah

Kismat AbrahamTouhid

Medical Education Pathway prepares students for academic careers by providing practical experience through both large and small group teaching and participation in professional development activities. 

Whitney Grace Black

Ellen Elizabeth Mares Chinchilli

Alyssa Hope Ann Deacon

Jonathan Gigas

Jessie Huang

Jane Silbaugh Jurayj

Alexandra Nicole Kaplan

Alison Claire Livada

Michaela Lenore Malin

Anh-Tho Antoinette Thi Nguyen

Riley Michelena Okeson

Aidan Welch O'Shea

Sydney Marie Peters

Elise Julie Mathilde Rio

Alex Elizabeth Schick

Kevin Shan

Michael Shen

Oumou Koultoum Toure

Global Health Pathway is an elective program available to selected medical students who have an interest or demonstrated commitment to careers that include global and public health. Knowledge will be gained through a didactic lecture series, direct experiences and independent projects. 

Boyu Guo

Md Hoque

Thomas Andrew Pawlowski 

Health, Equity and Law Policy Pathway is an elective program available to selected medical students who understand social determinates of health, want to influence health inequalities, and are interested in the formation and implementation of health policies, participants work local and nationally. 

Philomena Ursalene Burger 

Alyssa Hope Ann Deacon

Anupama Dinesh

Julianna Jia-Jun Liu

Elise Julie Mathilde Rio

Ananya Anand Shah

Michael Shen

Katarina Wang

Gloria Zhang

Healthcare Innovations and Economics Pathway is an elective program available to selected medical students who recognize the intersection of healthcare innovation and economics and aspire to shape the social and economic dimensions of healthcare delivery.

Ashwath A Elangovan 

Muhammad Ibrahim Jalal 

Anish Ashish Rana

Joshua Anthony Rosario

Simran Vinutha Siddalingaiah

Aman Preet Singh

Steve J. Stephen

Resident Awards

The Class of 1990 Resident Teaching Award is presented each year to a resident physician in appreciation of outstanding teaching.

Camille Corre, MD 

Faculty Awards

Keith Miner Ford Award for Excellence in Teaching is awarded each year to a member of the faculty selected by the graduating class .

Sergiy Nadtochiy, PhD 

The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award awarded in recognition and honor of students and faculty members who exemplify compassion in the delivery of health care services. The goal of humanism in medicine is to ensure that those involved in direct patient care embody the highest level of sensitivity, cultural competence, dignity, and respect for the patients and families serve.