Commencement Program

Lucas Adams, MD, PhD
Internal Medicine/PSTP
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Nadia Ahmedin, MD
Internal Medicine
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Adeola Oyinlola Ajirotutu, MD
Emergency Medicine
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC

Eli Aminpour, MD
Internal Medicine
University of California-San Diego Medical Center
San Diego, CA

Shashank Anand, MD, PhD
Child Neurology
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Daniel Bae, MD
Internal Medicine/PSTP
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Akshay Balaji, MD
Neurology
U.S. Air Force/SAUSHEC
San Antonio, TX

Madison Channing Ballman, MD
Internal Medicine
New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center
New York, NY

Sarah Barnett, MD
Child Neurology
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX

Jesús Bazán Villicaña, MD, PhD
Pathology
Stanford Health Care
Stanford, CA

Joseph Bell, MD
Internal Medicine
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Baltimore, MD

Braeden Benedict, MD
Neurological Surgery
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Winston-Salem, NC

Jessica Bigley, MD
Pediatrics
University of Tennessee College of Medicine
Chattanooga, TN

Santiago Blanco Torres, MD
Internal Medicine
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Katelin Boak, MD
Obstetrics-Gynecology
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN

Samuel Brehm, MD, MBA
Neurological Surgery
University of Cincinnati Medical Center
Cincinnati, OH

Ariel Brickler, MD
Child Neurology
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Brock Brummett, MD
Anesthesiology/4 yr
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Madeleine Busby, MD
Family Medicine
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Aurora, CO

Maya Nicole Rogers Bussey, MD
Psychiatry
Gateway Behavioral Health Community Service Board Program
Savannah, GA

Luke Cantu, MD
Psychiatry
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, TX

Mackenzie Elise Cappelle, MD, MBA
Psychiatry
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, MA

Carolyn Carper, MD
Emergency Medicine
University of Chicago Medical Center
Chicago, IL

Grace Chen, MD
Anesthesiology

Ariella Lucia Coler-Reilly Colasanti, MD, PhD
Pediatrics
Thomas Jefferson University/Nemours Children’s Health
Wilmington, DE

Carolina Badke Cross, MD
Psychiatry
University of Washington Affiliated Hospitals
Seattle, WA

Lucas Cruz, MD, MSCI
Psychiatry
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Priscilla Cristina Cruz, MD, MPH
Internal Medicine
Yale-New Haven Hospital
New Haven, CT

Liam Cunningham, MD
Radiology-Diagnostic
UCLA Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA

Mackenzie Cunningham, MD
Pediatrics
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Columbus, OH

Matthew De la Paz, MD
Anesthesiology
Loyola University Medical Center
Maywood, IL

Brian Dineen, MD
Internal Medicine
Yale-New Haven Hospital
New Haven, CT

Caitlin Dingwall, MD, PhD
Internal Medicine
Northwestern University/McGaw Medical Center
Chicago, IL

Hannah Dorando, MD, PhD
Pediatrics/Research
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Owen Douglas, MD
Radiology-Diagnostic
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Noah Earland, MD, PhD
Radiation Oncology
University of California-San Francisco
San Francisco, CA

Judson Ellis, MD
Psychiatry
ISMMS Mount Sinai Hospital
New York, NY

Amy Ensing, MD
Otolaryngology
University of Cincinnati Medical Center
Cincinnati, OH

Samuel M. Fallon, MD
Internal Medicine
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN

Annie Feng, MD
Ophthalmology
SUNY Stony Brook University
Southampton, NY

Yang-Yang Feng, MD, PhD
Psychiatry/Research
Stanford Health Care
Stanford, CA

John Fitzpatrick, MD
Internal Medicine
ChristianaCare Hospitals
Newark, DE

Michael Fitzpatrick, MD, PhD
Child Neurology
Northwestern University/Lurie Children’s Hospital
Chicago, IL

Elizabeth Grace Forsen, MD
Pediatrics
Boston Children’s Hospital
Boston, MA

Rachel N. Frey, MD
General Surgery
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Abigail Fulkerson, MD
Internal Medicine
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Memphis, TN

Daniel E. Fulkerson, MD
Orthopaedic Surgery
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Memphis, TN

Paula Germino-Watnick, MD
Emergency Medicine
Stanford Health Care
Stanford, CA

Henok Getahun, MD
Ophthalmology
WashU Medicine
St. Louis, MO

Lilly Y. Gonzalez, MD
Ophthalmology
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY

Braxton Goodnight, MD
General Surgery
University of Chicago Medical Center
Chicago, IL

Micho Grace, MD
Interventional Radiology (Integrated)
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN

Joseph Gutbrod, MD
Radiology-Diagnostic
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Ameer Haider, MD
Orthopaedic Surgery
University of Louisville School of Medicine
Louisville, KY

Nicole Hamagami, MD, PhD
Urology
Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford, CA

John Han, MD
Emergency Medicine
Northwestern University/McGaw Medical Center
Chicago, IL

Ahmed Hanafy, MD
General Surgery
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, OR

Christopher Herbosa, MD
Orthopaedic Surgery
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
New York, NY

Miguel A. Hernandez-Rovira, MD
Neurological Surgery
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, TX

Ariel Hernandez-Leyva, MD, PhD
Pathology
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, MA

Graham Hogg, MD, PhD
Neurology
University of California-San Francisco
San Francisco, CA

Lexis Hughes, MD
Psychiatry
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, OR

Ifeoma Ifediba, MD
Family Medicine
Prisma Health-University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC

Jon Ince, MD
Orthopaedic Surgery
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Sarah Ishamuddin, MD
Child Neurology
University of Chicago Medical Center
Chicago, IL

Aseeyah Ambreen Islam, MD
General Surgery-Prelim
SSM Health/St. Louis University School of Medicine
St. Louis, MO

Alice Luchen Jiang, MD
Pediatrics
UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital
Oakland, CA

Kimberly B. Johansson, MD, PhD
Internal Medicine
Stanford Health Care
Stanford, CA

Margaret Kathleen Johnson, MD
Internal Medicine-Primary Care
Emory University School of Medicine
Atlanta, GA

Caroline Jones, MD
General Surgery
Mass General Brigham-Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA

Gowri Kalugotla, MD, PhD
Internal Medicine/PSTP
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Blake Katsev, MD
Ophthalmology
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA

Aaron Knuteson, MD
Psychiatry
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Elisa Kodama, MD
Radiology-Diagnostic
UCLA Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA

Joseph Krambs, MD, PhD
Anesthesiology/ASAP 5 yr
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Christina Krucylak, MD
Anesthesiology
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

Amir Kucharski, MD, PhD
Orthopaedic Surgery
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Adam Kwok, MD, MPHS
Pediatrics
University of Utah Health
Salt Lake City, UT

Caroline Kwok, MD
Anesthesiology
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC

Michelle LaJoie, MD
Internal Medicine
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Torrance, CA

Kristen Pagliai Lau, MD
Pediatrics
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Flora Laurent, MD
Anesthesiology
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Lebanon, NH

Nicholas Leonard, MD
Emergency Medicine
Carilion Clinic-Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
Roanoke, VA

Amy Liao, MD
Dermatology
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Ruth Ling, MD
Psychiatry
ISMMS Mount Sinai Hospital
New York, NY

Joseph Donald Litrel, MD
General Surgery
University of Alabama Hospital-Birmingham
Birmingham, AL

Sabrina Madrigal, MD
General Surgery
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Mihnea (Theo) Marghitu, MD, MPHS
Internal Medicine
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Gabrielle Marushack, MD
Orthopaedic Surgery
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Amanda Rocio Maytin-Hevia, MD
Pediatrics
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Baltimore, MD

Spencer Alexander-DuSauzay McKinley, MD
Anesthesiology/4 yr
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Bradley McNeely, MD
Ophthalmology
WashU Medicine
St. Louis, MO

Akshay Mehta, MD
Pediatrics
Boston Children’s Hospital
Boston, MA

Megan Michie, MD, PhD
Radiology-Diagnostic
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Olivia Min, MD
Internal Medicine
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN

Mayande Mlungwana, MD
Internal Medicine
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Miriam Samuel Ndukwe, MD
Internal Medicine
Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education
Rochester, MN

Dante James Nicotera, MD
Internal Medicine
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Esther Ochoa, MD
General Surgery-Prelim
University of Texas-Houston
Houston, TX

Mitch O’Meara, MD
Emergency Medicine
ISMMS Mount Sinai Hospital
New York, NY

Andrea Darcy O’Riordan, MD
Obstetrics-Gynecology
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Ki Yun Park, MD, PhD
Neurological Surgery
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
New York, NY

Fiona Pat, MD
General Surgery-Prelim
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, OR

Hunter Patterson, MD, PhD, MBA
Family Medicine
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO

Quinn A. Payton, MD
Dermatology
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Ambrose Plante, MD
Internal Medicine/NYU-Langone
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
New York, NY

Xuan Qu, MD, PhD
Urology
WashU Medicine
St. Louis, MO

Hayley Quinones, MD
Psychiatry
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC

Jocelyn Li Reckford, MD
Internal Medicine
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC

Brooke Redwine, MD
Pediatrics
University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Oklahoma City, OK

Joseph Ribaudo, MD
Plastic Surgery (Integrated)
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

Jackson Rigsbee, MD
Radiology-Diagnostic
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC

Yazan Rouphail, MD
Anesthesiology
ISMMS Mount Sinai Hospital
New York, NY

Georgi Saucedo, MD
Radiology-Diagnostic
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Kelly Braune Schaschl, MD
Neurology
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Robert Scheidt, MD
Emergency Medicine
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Savannah Seupaul, MD, MBA
Psychiatry
Olive View-UCLA Medical Center
Sylmar, CA

James L. Shepherdson, MD, PhD
Internal Medicine
Stanford Health Care
Stanford, CA

Cerise Siamof, MD
General Surgery
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Adam Benjamin Snowden, MD
Ophthalmology
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY

Arielle Soldatenko, MD
Emergency Medicine
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Olivia Suozzo, MD
Emergency Medicine
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Morgan Timm, MD, PhD
Obstetrics-Gynecology
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO

Leah Tolby, MD
Internal Medicine
University of California-San Francisco
San Francisco, CA

Jonathan Tong, MD
Ophthalmology
WashU Medicine
St. Louis, MO

Nnediri Ugochukwu, MD
Anesthesiology
University of Michigan Hospitals-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI

Melissa Vázquez, MD
Psychiatry
University of Illinois College of Medicine
Chicago, IL

Michael Vidal, MD
Family Medicine
Swedish Medical Center
Seattle, WA

Erin Wang, MD, PhD
Pathology-AP/CP
Massachusetts General-Brigham
Boston, MA

Zelun Wang, MD, PhD
Neurological Surgery
Emory University School of Medicine
Atlanta, GA

Joshua Ward, MD
Deferring Residency

Danielle Wilder, MD
Emergency Medicine
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

Michael Youssef, MD
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Carolinas Medical Center
Charlotte, NC

Stephanie Zhao, MD, MSCI
Radiation Oncology
Massachusetts General-Brigham
Boston, MA

Cyrus Zhou, MD, PhD
Pediatrics/Research
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
St. Louis, MO

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American Academy of Neurology Medical Student Prize for Excellence in Neurology
Awarded for excellence in clinical neurology, outstanding scientific achievement and clinical acumen in neurology or neuroscience, and personal integrity, compassion
and leadership.

• Ariel Brickler
• Kelly Schaschl

American College of Physicians Michael M. Karl, MD, Book Award
Presented annually to a member of the graduating class committed to a career in internal medicine, in recognition of highest achievement in the field of internal medicine.

•  Kimberly B. Johansson

The Alexander Berg Prize
Awarded to the student presenting the best results in research in molecular
microbiology.

• Lucas Adams

The Brasington Memorial Prize
Awarded to a medical school student who has demonstrated excellent preclinical and clinical academic performance in psychiatry and who has the potential to make significant contributions to the field.

• Carolina Badke Cross

Jacques J. Bronfenbrenner Award
Provided by Dr. Bronfenbrenner’s students in memory of his inspiration as a teacher and a scientist and awarded to a member of the graduating class who, as judged by the Department of Internal Medicine, has done the most outstanding work in infectious diseases or related fields.

• Priscilla Cristina Cruz

Dr. Richard S. Brookings Medical School Prizes
These prizes were provided through a bequest of Robert S. Brookings in honor of his father, Dr. Richard Brookings, to recognize outstanding student performance in medical school curriculum.

• Caroline Kwok
• Andrea Darcy O’Riordan
• Kelly Schaschl

Dr. Richard S. Brookings Medical School Prize
Provided through a bequest of Robert S. Brookings to recognize meritorious research in medical school. The Committee on Fellowships and Awards selects
this recipient.

• Joseph Gutbrod

Dr. Harvey Butcher Prize in Surgery
Awarded annually in memory of Dr. Harvey Butcher to a member of the graduating class who, as judged by the Department of Surgery, shows the greatest promise for general surgery.

• Caroline Jones

Robert Carter Medical School Prizes
These prizes were provided through a bequest of Robert S. Brookings in honor of his maternal grandfather Robert Carter, an industrialist and farmer, to recognize outstanding student performance in the medical school curriculum.

• Maya Bussey
• Mihnea (Theo) Marghitu
• Melissa Vázquez

Robert Carter Medical School Award
Provided for medical students through a bequest from Robert S. Brookings for meritorious performance and research in medical school. The Committee on Fellowships and Awards selects this recipient.

•  John Han

F. Sessions Cole Award in Pediatrics
The Cole award is presented annually to a senior medical student entering the field of pediatrics who best embodies the mission of F. Sessions Cole, MD. Dr. Cole has been a physician scientist who continually embraces new and emerging technologies, in particular incorporating genomics into clinical care. He is a kind and caring mentor who provides honest and thoughtful appraisals and gives generously with his time. He is a master clinician who continually advocates for our smallest patients and supports their families, the hospital staff, and all of those who care for them, by going above and beyond what is expected. An omnipresent voice of wisdom, a motivator,and an inspiration to all.

• Hannah Dorando

Antoinette Frances Dames Award in Cell Biology and Physiology
Awarded annually to a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated superior
scholarship in these fields.

• Junedh Amrute
• Michael Fitzpatrick

Elisabeth L. Demonchaux Prize in Pediatrics
Established in 1985, the prize is awarded annually to a graduating student who has done outstanding work in pediatrics.

•  Brooke Redwine

Steven Dresler Prize
The prize is awarded to a student who has demonstrated a commitment to promoting social good, civil rights and civil liberties through social action and volunteerism.

• Danielle Wilder

Dr. William Ellis Award
Established in 1990 by Dr. Ellis and awarded to a senior student in recognition of meritorious research in ophthalmology.

• Alisha Dhallan

George F. Gill Prize in Pediatrics
Awarded to a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated superior scholarship in pediatrics.

• Alice Luchen Jiang

Alfred Goldman Book Prize in Diseases of the Chest
Created in 1972 as an annual award to be given to a student selected by the faculty for outstanding clinical work or research in diseases of the chest or pulmonary physiology.

• Leah Tolby

Max and Evelyn Grand Prize
Established in 1985 by Dr. M. Gilbert Grand, the prize is awarded annually to a member of the graduating class for excellence in ophthalmic research or clinical ophthalmology.

• Blake Katsev

Herrmann Prize
This prize was created by Dr. Paul Herrmann (MD ’61) and his wife, Susan, to recognize a student who is considered a thoughtful and sensitive communicator in the clinical arena and who exemplifies listening and communication skills every patient hopes their physician will possess.

• Adeola Ajirotutu

Howard A. McCordock Prize in Pathology
Awarded to a member of the graduating class for general excellence in pathology.

• Jesús Bazán Villicaña

Louis and Dorothy Kovitz Senior Prize in Surgery
Senior award in surgery recognizing a member of the graduating class who has shown the most outstanding ability, zeal and interest in surgical problems.

• Junedh Amrute

I. Wallace Leibner Award
Established in 1988 in memory of Dr. Leibner, the award is given to the member of the graduating class who has not only demonstrated excellence in diagnosis and therapeutics, but also an understanding of human nature and needs and an active nurturing of both patient and family.

• Samuel M. Fallon

Irwin Levy Prize in Neurology and Neurological Surgery
This prize was established in 1980 by friends of Dr. Levy as a tribute to his commitment to clinical teaching. This prize is awarded to the student who presents the best performance in neurology and neurological surgery.

• Shashank Anand

Edward Massie Prize for Excellence in Cardiology
Awarded to the member of the graduating class who, as judged by the Division of Cardiovascular Disease in the Department of Internal Medicine, has done the most
outstanding clinical or basic research work in the field of cardiovascular disease.

• Brian Dineen

Medical Fund Society Prize in Medicine
One prize awarded annually to a graduating student who has excelled in the study of internal medicine.

• Eli Aminpour

Medical Fund Society Prize in Surgery
One prize awarded annually to a graduating student who has excelled in the study of surgery.

• Cerise Siamof

Morton E. Smith Promise in Academic Medicine Award
This award was established in 2020 by the WashU Medicine Chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society in honor of Dr. Smith’s years of service as the chapter’s appointed Councilor. The award recognizes a student who has shown exceptional promise in academic medicine and exemplifies Dr. Smith’s passion for teaching, humility, kindness and good humor in working with their peers, faculty and staff.

• Kristen Pagliai Lau

Doctor Helen E. Nash Academic Achievement Award
This award is given annually to a student who has exhibited an unusual degree of the qualities of industry, perseverance, determination and enthusiasm. The prize is given in honor of Dr. Helen Nash, a pediatrician noted in the St. Louis community for her commitment to excellence, tireless advocacy on behalf of children and endless enthusiasm for the field of medicine.

• Sarah Barnett

The Nash Family Pediatrics Award
Presented to the senior student showing the greatest promise in clinical pediatrics.

• Elizabeth Grace Forsen

Dr. Philip Rosenblatt Award in Pathology
Awarded to a senior medical student for distinguished performance during an elective in Pathology or Laboratory Medicine.

• Ariel Hernandez-Leyva

Dr. William A. Rubenstein Award in Medicine
This award is presented annually to a fourth-year student who shows a serious interest in pursuing a career in internal medicine and who demonstrates the exceptional qualities of a gifted physician, including compassion, caring and the pursuit of scientific knowledge.

• Leah Tolby

Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Excellence in Emergency Medicine Award
Based on demonstrated excellence in the specialty of emergency medicine, it is awarded to a senior medical student at Commencement.

• Mitch O’Meara

Samuel D. Soule Award in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Presented to a member of the fourth-year class for meritorious achievement in either basic or clinical investigation in obstetrics and gynecology.

• Morgan Timm

Hugh M. Wilson Award in Radiology
Given annually to a graduating medical student in recognition of outstanding work in radiology-related subjects, either clinical or basic science.

• Megan Michie

The Wynder Prize for Preventive Medicine 
An annual prize established in 1994 and awarded to senior medical students who have done the best research in preventive medicine. 

• Joseph Gutbrod
• Quinn A. Payton

James Henry Yalem Prize in Dermatology
Established by Charles Yalem in memory of his son and awarded annually to a member of the fourth-year class for outstanding work in dermatology.

• Quinn A. Payton

Gold Humanism Honor Society
The Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) is a community of medical students,
physicians, and other leaders who have been recognized for their compassionate care. GHHS reinforces and supports the human connection in healthcare, which is essential for the health of patients and clinicians.