Fourth-year medical students and faculty members were recognized for academic and clinical excellence at Feinberg’s Honors Day, held on May 15 in the Hughes Auditorium.

“One of the most rewarding parts of medical school has been watching my classmates grow into their passions. We all began this journey with a shared commitment to caring for patients, and it has been incredible to see how that passion has taken shape in different ways. Whether it was someone lighting up during a classroom discussion or having a meaningful patient encounter on the wards that clarified their path, those moments have been special to witness,” said former medical student Efe Airewele, ‘26 MD, who received the inaugural Thomas Corbridge Award for Excellence in Critical Care Medicine for outstanding performance during the adult or pediatric intensive care clerkship.

“It’s been an honor to walk alongside such a dedicated and inspiring group of peers. I’m excited to continue learning from them in the future and to know that I’ll be able to turn to them as thoughtful, passionate physicians in their respective fields,” said Airewele, who after graduation will begin her residency in Internal Medicine at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University.

Marianne Green, MD, the Raymond H. Curry, MD, Professor of Medical Education, welcomed faculty, graduating medical students and their families to this year’s Honors Day ceremony.

“All of our students deserve to be recognized, but today we have the opportunity to recognize those students who went above and beyond what we expect of everyone,” Green said. 

Kendal Paige Carrow, ‘26 MD, ‘26 PhD, a former student in the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), said being recognized with the James Thomas Case Radiology Award for best overall performance in radiology by a graduating student pursuing a career in radiology is a testament to her growth as a physician-scientist and as a person.

“I returned to medical school after having my first child during my PhD and went on to have my second child during the last two years of medical school. While balancing motherhood and training was certainly challenging, it was also deeply rewarding. I am proud of what I was able to accomplish academically and clinically, and these awards make that achievement even more meaningful. I hope younger students see this as an example that pursuing a fulfilling life outside of medicine does not take away from being an excellent physician — in many ways, it strengthens it,” Carrow said.

“I feel incredibly fortunate for the mentors, colleagues, friends and family members who supported me throughout this journey. Their encouragement made it possible for me to pursue both my professional goals and my family life, and I am excited to begin the next chapter of training in Interventional Radiology,” added Carrow, who after graduation will begin her residency in Integrated Interventional Radiology at Northwestern.

Faculty awards were also presented to four Feinberg faculty members for outstanding teaching in the classroom and clinic.

Timothy Rowe, MD, assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, was selected by graduating medical students as this year’s Harry N. Beaty Honors Day Speaker.

During his speech, Rowe shared with this year’s graduates valuable lessons to take into residency and on their medical career journeys, which included listening and responding to alarms both in the clinic and in each other to avoid burnout.

“The great news about training is you aren’t alone and that the collective of residency training is there to absorb the hardships of individual trainees. This means we must also learn to detect these alarm signals in our peers and show them that support is there,” Rowe said.

Rowe also challenged this year’s graduates to seek out invaluable feedback during residency and to become the kind of physician known for welcoming it in their practice.

“You will receive what seems like an endless stream of feedback from the patients you treat, the nurses who are keeping you afloat, your co-residents and attendings responsible for your training. As early as you can, I encourage you not to see this as a form of punishment or praise, but really as an opportunity for reflection and collaboration,” Rowe said.

George H. Joost Teaching Awards

• M1: Jah-Won Koo, MD, clinical assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine, for outstanding teaching in a large-group setting during the M1 year.
• M2: Stephen VanHaerents, MD, associate professor in the Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology’s Division of Epilepsy/Clinical Neurophysiology and of Medical Education, for outstanding teaching in a large-group setting during the M2 year.
• M3/M4 Clinical Teaching Award: Timothy Rowe, MD, assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, for excellence in the clinical teaching of medical students.       
• The Michael M. Ravitch Award: Joshua Hauser, MD, professor of Medicine in the Division of Hospital Medicine and of Medical Education, for outstanding teaching in a small-group setting.

Student Awards

• Beatrice Tucker, MD, Award in Obstetrics and Gynecology: Sydney Love Cush, in recognition of outstanding commitment, service, and advocacy in the field of women’s health.
• Clare Giegerich Award for Outstanding Promise in Orthopaedic Surgery: Mikaela E. Thompson, awarded to a graduating student who demonstrated outstanding performance in the field of orthopaedic surgery.
• Daniel Hale Williams Leadership Award: Jethel Hernandez, in recognition of a graduating student who excelled in promoting the tenets of health equity at Feinberg School of Medicine.
• Diane B. Wayne, MD, Award: Alison Almgren-Bell, for outstanding performance in the junior medicine clerkship.
• Edward A. Brunner Medical Student Award in Anesthesiology: Inés Debbiche, in recognition of the highest level of academic excellence demonstrated by a graduating student pursuing a career in anesthesiology.
• Eugene Bauer, MD, Award for Excellence in Dermatology: Namrata Vyshnavi Chintalapati, for the best overall performance in dermatology by a graduating medical student pursuing a career in dermatology.
• Frederick and Harriett Stenn Award for Humanism in Medicine: David Kendall Casey, nominated by a classmate for demonstration of humanism and compassion in the practice of medicine.
• Gayle E. Woloschak Medical Student Award for Excellence in Radiation Oncology: Raymundo Picos, for excellence in radiation oncology.
• Harold J. Pelzer, MD, Award: Asher Park, awarded to a graduating student for outstanding achievement on the otolaryngology rotation.
• Henry B. Betts, MD, Award for Excellence in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Samantha Leigh Schroth, for best performance during the physical medicine and rehabilitation medical student clerkship rotation.
• James A. Stockman III Award for Excellence in Pediatrics and Child Health: Samantha Leigh Schroth, for outstanding performance in the pediatric clerkship and a passion for advancing the care of children through advocacy, education, and research.
• James Kozlowski Award for Excellence in Urology: Jae Woong Jang, presented to a graduating student with the most outstanding performance in urology.
• James Thomas Case Radiology Award: Kendal Paige Carrow, for best overall performance in radiology by a graduating student pursuing a career in radiology.
• Jan Reddy Excellence in Pathology Award: Justin Liu, for excellent effort and learning on the pathology elective rotation.
• John P. Phair Award: Michelle Megan Kwan, awarded to a graduating student who excelled on the infectious disease rotation in both the intellectual and human side of medicine.
• John T. Clarke, MD, Award: Jay Daniels, for an outstanding graduating student pursuing a career in internal medicine.
• Julius Conn, Jr., MD, Award: Kendal Paige Carrow, for outstanding performance in the surgery clerkship.
• Kenneth M. Viste, Jr., ’66 MD, Student Service Recognition Award: Samantha Leigh Schroth, in recognition of outstanding service and contribution to Feinberg School of Medicine.
• Lee M. Jampol, MD, Award: Raymond Fang, for outstanding achievement by a graduating student in ophthalmology, in clinical care and vision science research.
• Leon Epstein, MD, Award of Excellence in Child Neurology: Brandon Bruce Boyle, for a graduating student who demonstrated excellence in neurology during the third-year clerkship as well as selective experiences in child neurology.
• Louis G. Keith, MD, PhD, Award in Obstetrics and Gynecology: Madison DeWinter, in recognition of clinical and academic excellence in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.
• Martin Lipsky Award for Excellence in Family Medicine: Rachel Ellen Manhertz, named for the inaugural chair of Family and Community Medicine and granted to a graduating student entering a family medicine residency who most exemplifies the characteristics of altruism, compassion, and intellectual curiosity.
• Neil Stone Award for Professionalism and Compassion in Medicine: Madeline Anne Jenkin and Mara O’Connor, nominated by a clerkship director in recognition of commitment to professionalism and compassion in medicine.
• Paul C. Bucy Medical Student Award: Kayla Tahirih Byrne, for outstanding contributions by a graduating student in the field of neurological surgery.
• Phi Rho Sigma Dennis Award: Caroline Clingan and Tali Sorets, for outstanding performance in junior year clerkships.
• Sam Ung Ho, MD, Award for Excellence in Neurology: Miranda Yu, for a graduating student who demonstrated excellence in neurology during the third-year clerkship as well as the selective experiences in neurology.
• Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Excellence in Emergency Medicine Award: Jethel Hernandez, awarded to a graduating student who has demonstrated excellence in the specialty of emergency medicine.
• Stephen M. Stahl Award for Excellence in Psychiatry: Rohan Shah, for an outstanding graduating student in psychiatry.
• Thomas C. Corbridge, MD, Award for Excellence in Critical Care Medicine: Efe Airewele, named in acknowledgement of his enduring educational legacy among our ICU learners, this is awarded to a graduating student for outstanding performance during the adult or pediatric intensive care clerkship.