2022 Graduate Programs Commencement Awards

Each year, our graduate programs nominate students for various awards to recognize high academic achievement, outstanding dedication to their professional fields, and remarkable dedication to the community.

View Full List of Awards & Descriptions

On behalf of our faculty, staff, and administration, congratulations 2022 award recipients!

2022 Award Recipients

Below is a list of this year's recipients by program.

Public Health

MPH Academic Achievement Award

To the graduating student who, in the opinion of the faculty, has consistently demonstrated the highest level of academic achievement and who shows promise for making significant contributions to public health practice.

• Julia Grace Debertin
• Adrienne Ruth Dunlap
• Annie Ye Wong

Outstanding MPH Applied Learning Experience Award

To the graduating student in the Master of Public Health Program who best demonstrates the ability to apply public health knowledge and skills to address a significant public health issue, who identified resources and overcame obstacles in the course of the work, and who demonstrated a commitment to the project and to the health of the public during the course of the project.

• Ric Bayly
• Chardai N. Lyde
• Leah B. Poole

Ian B. MacNeill Applied Learning Experience Award in Quantitative Analysis

To the graduating student who demonstrated an outstanding ability to analyze, interpret, display, and communicate critical information derived from research data.

• Elizabeth Marinela Stidham

H. Jack Geiger Public Health Advocacy Award

To the graduating student in the Public Health program who has demonstrated a body of work contributing to advocacy for public health and social justice. 

• Siyu Chen

 Delta Omega Honor Society Inductions

The purpose of the Delta Omega Society is to encourage excellence in public health scholarship and research and to recognize academic and professional achievement in the field of public health. The MPH program is the Alpha Omega Chapter of the Delta Omega and their inductees this year are being honored for their demonstration of real or potential qualities of leadership in public health in addition to academic excellence.

• Taylor Nicole Athanasiou
• Amanda G. Bank
• Katherine Emily Daigle
• Julia Grace Debertin
• Sarah Marie Kelley
• Jordan E. Kron
• Benjamin Lee
• Anna Massefski
• Kathrine A. Mansfield
• Kathryn C. (KC) Morris
• Sarah Palmer
• Shalome L. Sine
• Annie Ye Wong

Morton A. Madoff Public Health Fellowship Award

The Morton A. Madoff Fellowship is a career development award that is given to a promising student to support their participation in an activity or project that is expected to contribute to or enhance their career in public health, public policy or health care management.

• Daniel Joseph Finch

HIA Program 

MS in Health Informatics and Analytics Academic Achievement Award

To the graduating student who, in the opinion of the faculty, has consistently demonstrated the highest level of academic achievement and who shows promise for making significant contributions to the field of health informatics.

• Sarah Chen
• Joseph Rocco Tramontozzi

MS-Health Informatics and Analytics Capstone Award

To the graduating student in the MS-Health Informatics and Analytics Program who most fully identifies and addresses a health care need or problem using the methodologies learned in the HIA program, and who demonstrated a commitment to the project and to the health of the public during the course of the project.

• Gregory M. Lum

Tim Edgar, PhD Prize

To the graduating student who has demonstrated a commitment to health communication through their academic achievements, practice activities, comportment and reflects the characteristics that guided Tim’s life.

• Leah B. Poole

MBS Program

MS in Biomedical Sciences Academic Achievement and Professionalism Award

To graduating students who, in the opinion of the faculty, has consistently demonstrated the highest level of academic achievement and professional behavior.

• Gautam Sai Bulusu
• Sebastiana Margaret Jean Redford
• Gaia Sartorelli
• Peter J. Zazzali

 MS in Biomedical Sciences Student Leadership Award

This award has been established by the MBS Program to recognize one MBS student for outstanding leadership, demonstrating a commitment to excellence and leading by example.

• Ariella Wagner

MS in Biomedical Sciences Dr. Alvar Gustafson Award

This award was established by the MBS Program to honor its founding Director, Dr. Alvar Gustafson. It recognizes one MBS student for dedicated service and compassion while demonstrating the high level of social responsibility and civic engagement exemplified by Dr. Gustafson during his four decades at Tufts.

• Ramone Brown

PA Program

Marsha Semuels Leadership Award

Nominated by their fellow students, the recipient of this award is recognized for having served as a student and community leader during their tenure here at Tufts. This individual epitomizes the best of the Tufts tradition: active citizenship, professional engagement, and student activism.

• Juan Marrero Hernandez

 Distinguished Student Award

This award is given by the principal faculty to a member of the graduating class in recognition of their exceptional commitment to the Tufts University School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program, their dedication and professionalism in all aspects of their training, and their peer support of fellow students.

• Shawn McCoy
• Haley Gray

 A. Wells Ziegra Compassionate Care Award

Nominated by the principal faculty, the recipient of this award is recognized for their passion and dedication to the physician assistant profession. This individual demonstrates a desire to help others and an eagerness to learn and share new knowledge.

• Colin Cummings

Dual Degree Awards

MD/MPH and DVM/MPH Academic Achievement Award

To the graduating student who, in the opinion of the faculty, has consistently demonstrated the highest level of academic achievement and who shows promise for making significant contributions to public health practice.

• Michael Thomas Rosa

Outstanding MD/MPH and DVM/MPH Applied Learning Experience Award

To the graduating student in the MD/MPH or DVM/MPH Track who best demonstrates the ability to apply public health knowledge and skills to address a significant public health issue, who identified resources and overcame obstacles in the course of the work, and who demonstrated a commitment to the project and to the health of the public during the course of the project.

• Meghan Elizabeth Murphy

Norman S. Stearns MD/MBA Leadership Award

This award is given annually to the student(s) in the combined MD/MBA program who, in the opinion of the faculty, consistently displayed excellence in leadership.

• Anusha Sri Vaishnavi Jayaram
• Benjamin Pockros
• Vanessa M. Yu

 MD/MBA Academic Achievement Award

This award is given annually to the student(s) in the combined MD/MBA program who consistently demonstrated the highest level of academic achievement.

• Akash Rastogi

 MD/MBA Best Team Consulting Project Award  

Awarded to the team that is judged by the faculty to have prepared and presented the best consulting project for their customers in the MD/MBA program.

• Adam Nathan Faletsky
• Shilpa Jai Ghatnekar
• Benjamin Max Pockros
• Vanessa May-Yee Yu

 Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society Inductions – nothing (includes 3rd year students who are eligible)

This award is given to the student(s) in the combined MD/MBA program who consistently demonstrated the highest level of outstanding academic performance in the MA Int'l Economics & Finance program.

• Akash Rastogi
• Aniksha Balamurugan
• Vanessa M. Yu

General PHPD Awards

Honos Civicus Society Class of 2022

This award celebrates and publicly recognizes graduating students who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to community service and civic engagement during their studies at PHPD.

• Lauren Alyssa Ballini
• Pamela Ashley Chan
• Sarah Hemphill
• Amanda C. Taus