June 1, 2018
Medical students honored, receive awards at banquet Twenty-six medical students were honored at the College of Community Health Sciences Senior Banquet on Friday, May 18, at the Tuscaloosa River Market. The students, now physicians, will soon begin their residency training in programs across 11 states. The students completed the third and fourth years of medical school – their clinical education – at the College, which also functions as the Tuscaloosa Regional Campus for the University of Alabama School of Medicine. All students spend their first two years of medical school at the School of Medicine’s main campus in Birmingham, and then receive their clinical education at either Birmingham or one of the regional campuses in Tuscaloosa, Huntsville or Montgomery.
In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Richard Streiffer, dean of CCHS and associate dean of the School of Medicine, said to the students: “When you get your medical degree, you will enter the top 5 percent of the world in educational achievement. With that comes a responsibility to make a difference in the world.”
A new scholarship presented for the first time was the Dr. William Winternitz, Sr. Geriatric Scholarship. The scholarship was created to encourage medical students to pursue the practice of geriatrics, and it is awarded to a student who shows “exceptional interest in geriatrics and/or service learning and represents the best in academic medicine as recognized by faculty, residents and medical students.”
“Today’s healthcare system is ill-equipped to provide care for the elderly,” said Madeleine Hill, wife of the late Winterntiz, as she presented the scholarship to Dr. Koushik Kasanagottu. “In response, the Winternitz Geriatrics Scholarship recognizes students interested in the older generation.”
The students also received awards from faculty, clinical staff and their peers.
On Saturday, May 19, the students joined their 162 classmates for commencement in Birmingham. At commencement, Dr. Salmaan Kamal received the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award. Dr. Koushik Kasanagottu received the Medical Alumni Association Leadership and Community Service Award. Both completed their clinical training at the College.
Awards given at the Banquet:
Department and College Awards:
Robert F. Gloor Award in Community Medicine
Dr. Luke Iannuzzi
Awarded for excellent performance in Community and Rural Medicine
William Owings Award in Family Medicine
Dr. Paul Strickland
Awarded for excellence in Family Medicine
Recognition of Rural Medical Scholars
Drs. Nic Cobb, Whitney Hudman, Bhavika Patel, Paul Strickland and Dana Watson
Family/Rural Medicine Preceptor Award
Dr. Scott Boyken
Awarded annually to a community preceptor in Family Medicine/Community and Rural Medicine who exemplifies excellent teaching and role modeling for students.
William W. Winternitz Award in Internal Medicine
Dr. Salmaan Kamal
Awarded for outstanding achievement in Internal Medicine during the third and fourth years. This student possesses an exceptional wealth of knowledge, is able to integrate the pathology of disease with the physiology of clinical skills, and practices with empathy, compassion, and a desire to improve the patients with whom he or she comes in contact.
Neurology Award
Dr. Christopher Ray
Awarded for outstanding academic and clinical performance during the Neurology Clerkship.
Pediatrics Recognition Award
Dr. Jordan Busing
Awarded for outstanding interest, ability and the reflection of pleasure in helping parents and their children reach their full personal, social and educational potential.
Peter Bryce Award in Psychiatry
Dr. Christopher Ray
Awarded for excellence exhibited by a medical student both academically and clinically during his/her Psychiatry Clerkship. This award is presented in honor of Dr. Peter Bryce, who was appointed the first superintendent of Bryce Hospital in Tuscaloosa. He and his wife, Ellen Clarkson Bryce, were cornerstones for Tuscaloosa society and tenacious advocates for people who experience mental illness.
Finney/Akers Memorial Award in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dr. Laura Crocker
Awarded to a student achieving outstanding academic and clinical success in Obstetrics and Gynecology. This award is presented in honor of former medical students James H. Akers and Teresa K. Finney.
William R. Shamblin, MD, Surgery Award
Dr. Garrett Taylor
Awarded to a student or students with the highest scholastic achievement during their third-year Surgery Clerkship. Dr. William R. Shamblin, a Tuscaloosa native and former Chair of the Department of Surgery, spent years educating medical students and Family Medicine residents. This award continues in his honor.
Interprofessional Excellence Award
Dr. Lissa Handley
This award recognizes the medical student who has best demonstrated excellence in communication skills, respect for staff and patients, and a commitment to working as an effective member of the health care team.
Proassurance Patient Communication Award
Dr. Luke Iannuzzi
Awarded to a student who best demonstrates appropriate bedside manner, goes above and beyond in helping patients understand their diagnosis and treatment, and is a passionate patient advocate.
William A. Curry Award
Dr. Paul Strickland
The William A. Curry Award honors one University of Alabama School of Medicine-Tuscaloosa Regional Campus medical student in his or her third or fourth year of study for outstanding scholarly work in the areas of rural medicine and research.
Recognition of Larry Mayes Research Society Scholars
Drs. Sarah Bode and Benjamin Walters
Official Fellow Members:
Drs. Sarah Bode and Benjamin Walters
Student Research Award
Dr. Paul Strickland
Recognition of the pursuit of one or more research projects leading to presentation or publication during the clinical years of medical training.
Scholastic Achievement Award
Dr. Christopher Ray
Awarded for superior performance in the clinical curriculum.
United States Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Award
Dr. Salmaan Kamal
Established by the US Public Health Service, this award recognizes a UAB student who has made a significant contribution to public health through leadership of projects in health promotion and disease prevention during his or her time in medical school.
William R. Willard Award
Dr. Salmaan Kamal
Established by the Bank of Moundville, this award is presented for outstanding contributions to the goals and mission of the College of Community Health Sciences as voted by the College faculty.
Faculty, Resident and Student Awards as determined by the graduating class:
Faculty Recognition Award
Dr. Heather Taylor
Awarded for outstanding contributions to undergraduate medical education during the students’ junior year.
Community Preceptor Hero Award
Dr. Larry Skelton
Awarded to a community preceptor for outstanding contributions to undergraduate medical education.
Patrick McCue Award
Brook Hubner
Awarded for outstanding contributions to undergraduate medical education during the students’ senior year.
Resident Recognition Award
Dr. Russell Guin
Awarded for outstanding contributions to medical education.
James H. Akers Memorial Award
Dr. Koushik Kasanagottu
Awarded to a graduating senior for dedication to the art and science of medicine.
College Scholarships:
Frank Fitts Jr. Endowed Scholarship
Dr. Paul Strickland
The Frank Fitts Jr. Endowed Scholarship was created by Cynthia Ford Fitts (now Thomas) to address the needs of medical students who bear a high debt load upon graduation from medical school. The scholarship was named in honor of her late husband, Frank Fitts Jr., great grandson of J.H. Fitts, who established The University of Alabama’s first endowed scholarship in 1903.
Robert E. Pieroni, MD, and Family Endowed Scholarship
Dr. Luke Iannuzi
The Robert E. Pieroni, MD, and Family Endowed Scholarship was established by Dr. and Mrs. Robert Pieroni to support medical students intending to enter primary care.
William Winternitz, Sr. Geriatric Scholarship
Dr. Koushik Kasanagottu
The William Winternitz, Sr. Geriatric Scholarship was established in 2016 by Ms. Madeleine M. Hill, in honor of her late husband. The recipient of this award has shown an exceptional interest in geriatrics and/or service learning and represents the best in academic medicine as recognized by faculty, residents and medical students.
School of Medicine Commencement Ceremony Awards:
The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award
Dr. Salmaan Kamal
Medical Alumni Association Leadership and Community Service Award
Dr. Koushik Kasanagottu
