School of Medicine

2023 Graduate Programs Commencement Awards

Congratulations to this year's outstanding graduates!
Collage of headshots of featured students

Each year, Tufts University School of Medicine 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 2023 award recipients!

2023 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.

  • Hillary Boucher
  • Meredith Lynette Steinfeldt

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.

  • Mary Dionne
  • Erik Connor Moen

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.

  • Leanne Loo

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. 

  • Leanne Loo

 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.

  • Julia Asfour
  • Tiffany Bairos
  • Hannah Marie Burns
  • Rabail Butt
  • Hillary Boucher
  • Emily Rebecca Craig
  • Preston Huy Dang
  • Grace Hajinazarian
  • Flaam Winona Hardy
  • Barrett E. Laird
  • Rachael Littlehale
  • Thomas Eugene Natan Jr.
  • Ann Nguyen
  • Bethany Saul
  • Christopher S. Semancik
  • Meredith Lynette Steinfeldt
  • Katherine Elizabeth Vogt

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.

  • Wooyon Choi

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.

  • Caroline A. Blackie
  • Eden M. Shaveet

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.

  • James Feen

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.

  • Chloe S. Bogen
  • Wills Craven Dunham
  • Thomas Stephen Peacock
  • Carolyn Grace Scionti

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
  • Asher Bean

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.

  • Hayley Bryant
  • Brianna Padron

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.

  • Dominique Woodland

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.

  • Claire Kelly
  • Abby Joseph

DPT-Boston Program

ACAPT National Physical Therapy Society Recognition

National Physical Therapy Student Honor Society recognizes Doctor of Physical Therapist students demonstrating academic achievement, integrity, leadership.

  • Nathan Amundsen
  • Katelynn Burgy
  • Dylan Forrester
  • Allison Gardzalla    
  • Kelsey Ghiringhelli
  • Thomas Horvath
  • Warren Li
  • Mark Marinch
  • Gianna Sabo
  • Erika Silvers

Tufts DPT Core Value Award: Excellence in Academics

This award recognizes students whose dedication to their DPT studies rises above and beyond what is expected individually and collaboratively with their peers. It is given to those who demonstrate excellence in academics cultivate a spirit of inquiry and creativity and positively contribute to the Tufts DPT learning community.

  • Allison Garzalla

Tufts DPT Core Value Award: Excellence in Clinical Education

This award recognizes students who demonstrate outstanding clinical behaviors, including professionalism, integrity, and exceptional attention to patient-centered care.

  • Erika Silvers

Tufts DPT Core Value Award: Professionalism

This award recognizes students who demonstrate exemplary professionalism in their contributions to the program, the University, and the physical therapy profession. Students demonstrating excellence in professionalism act with the highest integrity and are personally accountable.

  • Deshawn Fairbairn

Tufts DPT Core Value Award: Humanism

This award recognizes the impact one individual can have on the well-being of the cohort and whose contributions to support, care, feel compassion, and respect fostered a positive cohort culture.

  • Hardik Parikh

Tufts DPT Core Value Award: Social Responsibility

This recognizes outstanding dedication to civic duty, service, and advocacy, especially for underserved and vulnerable populations. This award is given to those who demonstrated excellence in social responsibility and service to others or the profession, awareness of social determinants of health, health equity, social justice, and stewardship of resources.

  • Karl St. Phard

Tufts DPT Jumbo Award: Leadership

This recognizes students who have led by example and demonstrate the highest level of collaborative teamwork and can produce positive outcomes, even in challenging situations.

  • Lauren Moroch

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.

  • Cassidy H. Boomsma
  • Laura Lee Coughlin

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.

  • Luke Keffer

 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.

  • Daniel Joseph Finch
  • Luke Keffer

Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society Inductions 

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.

  • Daniel Joseph Finch
  • Luke Keffer
  • Ganeev Singh

General Graduate Student Awards

Honos Civicus Society Class of 2023

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

  • Mary Dionne
  • Avery Caz Glover
  • Tracy Xin Li
  • Leanne Loo
  • Amanda M. Nichols
  • Alessandra M. Rivera

Tags:

Awards & Honors ,  Health Informatics & Analytics ,  MS in Biomedical Sciences ,  Physical Therapy ,  Physician Assistant ,  Public Health ,  Stories ,  Students