Awards and Recognitions for the Class of 2026

Awards & Recognitions

for the Class of 2026

Class of 2026 Graduation Sigma Sigma Phi Honor Society

Tamir Sami Abbasi Marshall Justin Arons Kaylee Lynne Athey Cailyn Delaney Barthlow* Ryan Thomas Baukhages Megan Brooke Birmingham Bryce Owen Bossinger McKenna Kate Brower Alexis LeeAnn Brown Jason Matthew Canestrino Grace Noelle Carroll Hannah Elizabeth Chotiner Ariana Nozary Christoff Robert Roy Christoff Olivia Settle Cooney Makenzie Marie Cree Kylie Marie Crowder Paige O’Brien Daly Emily Cristina D’Arpa Lawton Charles DeLay* Yash Kaushal Desai Elizabeth Ngoc-Tuyen Do Alexandra Drkulec* Shawn Patrick Dziepak Coty Raymond Emerich Kendyl Ellis Fahmy

Erin Malone Field Paul Vincent Foretich Samuel Freytes Alexa Trerice Fritz Priyanka Piyush Gandhi Richard Haines Gentry Jr. Meaghan Sarah Gilbert Austin Blake Gordon Sally Sarah Greenberg Jessica Dolores Grisez Alexis Nicole Henric John Edward Higgins* Mark Andrew Johnston

Joseph Michael Palazzi Sean Patrick Parente Rajvi Jayeshkumar Patel Nitika Sree Pentakota Ahkar Phyo Spencer Richard Prematta Grayson Tran Punzalan Brandon Raquet Mishalle Farrukh Rashid Brittany Joy Renner Cody Robert Sessions Addison Kendall Shenk Olivia Catherine Silveri Zachary Logan Smith Alexandra Valerie Solomonova Sarah Elizabeth Stoyanoff Wayne Barrett Tate Anna Victoria Taylor Dylan Carey Taylor Josiah Bruce Thomas Sydney Blake Thornton Jonathan Tomoichi Tobin Kelsey Thuy Thao Truong Emma Rosalie Vargas Devon Scott Varney Lauren Nicole Witmer *Leadership within SSP

Zaynab Fadil Kaleem Bradley Ellis Kasper Hannah Elizabeth Kasper Mitchell C. Katkic Sophiah Georginah Fumi Kawachi Trent Kite Rachael Catherine Larkin Camden Reese Little J. Drew McCauley De’Mari Monique Menefee Kaitlin Nicole Murphy Brooke Sonora Nelson Hipps Satvika Nimmagadda

Class of 2026 Graduation Omega Beta Iota

Yasaman Dasteh Goli

Mina Diep

Meilyn Elizabeth Farnell

Sylvia Grace Mast

Brooke Sonora Nelson Hipps

Mishalle Farrukh Rashid

Class of 2026 Graduation Elizabeth Lee Acors Tyler Jackson Adams McKenzie Lorraine Lydon Sylvia Grace Mast Gold Humanism Honor Society

Caroline MacKenzie Collard Marion Margaret Couzens Makenzie Marie Cree Yasaman Dasteh Goli Elizabeth Ngoc-Tuyen Do Gabriella Marie Dunemann Shourik Dutta Erin Malone Field Susanna Emily Grow Ashley Brooke Jordan Sophiah Georginah Fumi Kawachi Rachel Thi Lê Anastasiya Loos

Sophia Elizabeth Menendez Catherine Christine Montalvo Kaitlin Nicole Murphy Brooke Sonora Nelson Hipps Prutha Vijay Kumar Patel Rajvi Jayeshkumar Patel Marian Pedreira Nitika Sree Pentakota Spencer Richard Prematta

Olivia Catherine Silveri Taylor Marie Simmons Samantha Renee Steiss

Class of 2026 Graduation

Veterans Affairs Health Professional Scholarship Program Ayotemi Naomi Adewale National Health Service Corps Scholars Mina Diep Joseph Michael Palazzi Sean Patrick Parente Medical and Dental School Stipend Program Zachary Logan Smith

Health Professions Scholarship Program

Air Force Susanna Emily Grow Jacob Gutman Creson Ju-Ann Lee Army Jacob Daniel Barnett Meilyn Elizabeth Farnell Samantha Renee Steiss Thaddeus Zion Wegrzyn Army National Guard Allen Xu Army Reserves Zachary Logan Smith Navy

Ryan Thomas Baukhages Matthew William Coats Kyle Lieser Knachel Alexandra Valerie Solomonova

Class of 2026 Graduation The Student Doctor of the Year (SDOY) Award is presented annually to students who go above and beyond the average osteopathic medical student. Recipients of this award display leadership, commitment to community service, dedication to the profession, professionalism, and embodiment of the osteopathic philosophy. Taylor Marie Simmons received this award in 2024. Student Doctor of the Year

Class of 2026 Graduation Student Researcher of the Year

The Student Researcher of the Year (SROY) Award is an award presented annually to student researchers who demonstrate excellence in their commitment to research during their medical school years. Recipients of this award demonstrate significant contributions to osteopathic research that advance the philosophy, practice, and science

of osteopathic medicine. Olivia Catherine Silveri received this award in 2024.

Class of 2026 Graduation Patricia A. Marden Women's Health Award

The Patricia A. Marden Women’s Health Award recognizes excellence in the student development of original research in the area of women’s health. Recipients are selected based upon the research and creative effort that are best directed toward advancing the knowledge of practitioners and the health of women. This year’s recipients are:

Rachel Ann Thomas

Benita Luke

Brooke Sonora Nelson Hipps

Class of 2026 Graduation Donna Jones Moritsugu Memorial Award

The Advocates for the American Osteopathic Association (AAOA) and the American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF) extend this award to a spouse nominated by each College of Osteopathic Medicine for their immeasurable support and significant personal and professional sacrifices that have contributed to their partner’s success. This year’s recipient is Tyrell Moorer.

Class of 2026 Graduation Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine with Research Distinction

Elizabeth Lee Acors Caleb Edwin Clemons Emily Cristina D’Arpa Yasaman Dasteh Goli Yash Kaushal Desai Meilyn Elizabeth Farnell Ashley Brooke Jordan Trent Kite Anastasiya Loos Benita Luke McKenzie Lorraine Lydon Sylvia Grace Mast

Brooke Sonora Nelson Hipps Prutha Vijay Kumar Patel Nina Jay Pillai Brendan Mose Raville Brittany Joy Renner

Pooja Chirag Shethna Olivia Catherine Silveri Taylor Marie Simmons Ayan Rivu Sinha Rachel Ann Thomas Sydney Blake Thornton

Class of 2026 Graduation Distinguished Student Scholar Award

Family Medicine Matthew William Coats Gabriella Marie Dunemann Sarah Elizabeth Stoyanoff Internal Medicine I Ariana Nozary Christoff Nitika Sree Pentakota Nicholas Alexander Wright Internal Medicine II Kaitlin Nicole Murphy Brandon Raquet Addison Kendall Shenk

Obstetrics and Gynecology Erin Malone Field Sally Sarah Greenberg Widad Hany Salah Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Jacob Daniel Barnett Widad Hany Salah Emma Rosalie Vargas Pediatrics Rachael Catherine Larkin Sean Patrick Parente Samantha Renee Steiss

Psychiatry Tyler Jackson Adams Alexa Trerice Fritz Austin Blake Gordon Rural and Medically Underserved Population Primary Care Jason Matthew Canestrino Matthew William Coats Cody Robert Sessions Surgery Yash Kaushal Desai Sydney Blake Thornton Nicholas Alexander Wright

Class of 2026 Graduation Student of the Year

Augusta Hasan Kaleem Blacksburg Nicholas Alexander Wright Christiansburg Taylor Marie Simmons Danville Alexandra Drkulec Eastern Virginia

Roanoke Sally Sarah Greenberg Salem Shelby Nicole Madren Salisbury Rachael Catherine Larkin Tri-Cities Marian Pedreira Woodbridge Nawyaab Gohar Abbasi Wytheville Grace Noelle Carroll

Paige O’Brien Daly Mary Washington Alexis Juel Elfstrand

Class of 2026 Graduation The Biomedical Scholar Award recognizes students who have demonstrated excellence in biomedical disciplines as recommended by the Biomedical Faculty, based on outstanding performance in a biomedical discipline over the first two year pre-clinical curriculum, and exemplify the osteopathic philosophy. This year’s recipients are: Biomedical Scholar Award

Brittany Joy Renner

Cailyn Delaney Barthlow Yash Kaushal Desai

Class of 2026 Graduation The Honor Code at VCOM embodies a spirit of mutual trust, intellectual honesty, and professionalism between VCOM and the student body. Members of the Honor Code Committee are charged with three fundamental responsibilities: education, preservation, and interpretation of the VCOM Honor Code. We are appreciative of their service and contributions made to professionalism at VCOM. The Honor Code Council

Yash Kaushal Desai

Ellis Genevieve Linder

Camden Reese Little

McKenzie Lorraine Lydon

Chair

Vice Chair

Class of 2026 Graduation Global Health Service Award

Elizabeth Lee Acors Tarik Al Shawi Kaylee Lynne Athey

Sally Sarah Greenberg Susanna Emily Grow Rahul Gupta John Edward Higgins Avery Eleanor Hutt Sophiah Georginah Fumi Kawachi Suferah Zafar Khan Kyle Lieser Knachel Caroline Hannah Koon Creson Ju-Ann Lee Ellis Genevieve Linder Camden Reese Little Anastasiya Loos Lynda Sierra Love-Matheny McKenzie Lorraine Lydon Sylvia Grace Mast J. Drew McCauley Julia Beth McCaulley McGuire Sophia Elizabeth Menendez Kaitlin Nicole Murphy Brooke Sonora Nelson Hipps Thuy Duong Michelle Nguyen

Nitika Sree Pentakota Ahkar Phyo Spencer Richard Prematta Grayson Tran Punzalan Jordan Alexander Quijano Mishalle Farrukh Rashid Brendan Mose Raville Akshata Lakshmi Sastry Cody Robert Sessions Addison Kendall Shenk Sohil D. Sheth Taylor Marie Simmons Alexandra Valerie Solomonova Sergio Esteban Soto Sarah Elizabeth Stoyanoff Sydney Blake Thornton Jonathan Tomoichi Tobin Kelsey Thuy Thao Truong Thaddeus Zion Wegrzyn Wayne Barrett Tate Rachel Ann Thomas

Krishna Rajendra Bidari Michael Gabriel Cekada Hannah Elizabeth Chotiner Caleb Edwin Clemons Olivia Settle Cooney Paige O’Brien Daly Emily Cristina D’Arpa Mina Diep Elizabeth Ngoc-Tuyen Do Alexandra Drkulec Gabriella Marie Dunemann Phillip Aaron Dunn Alyna Thi Duong Shourik Dutta Alexis Juel Elfstrand Coty Raymond Emerich Cole Lane Faulkner Erin Malone Field Diego Francisco Flores Samuel Freytes Alexa Trerice Fritz Meaghan Sarah Gilbert Austin Blake Gordon

Lauren Nicole Witmer Christian Kavon Woo Allen Xu Pranav Yanambakkam

Trina Thaotran Nguyen Satvika Nimmagadda Sean Patrick Parente Rajvi Jayeshkumar Patel

Class of 2026 Graduation Student Organization Leadership Class President Sally Sarah Greenberg Student Government Association Brooke Sonora Nelson Hipps Student Osteopathic Medical Association Mina Diep

American Muslim Medical Student Association Widad Hany Salah American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine Alyna Thi Duong Anesthesiology Specialty Committee Joshua B. Sison Bioethics and Humanities in Medicine Grayson Tran Punzalan Jonathan Tomoichi Tobin Cardiology Specialty Committee Kaitlin Nicole Murphy

American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians Meaghan Sarah Gilbert American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians Susanna Emily Grow American College of Osteopathic Internists Diego Francisco Flores American College of Osteopathic Neurologists and Psychiatrists Sarah Elizabeth Stoyanoff

American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists Rajvi Jayeshkumar Patel American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians Elizabeth Lee Acors American College of Osteopathic Surgeons – Medical Student Section Taylor Marie Simmons American Medical Women’s Association Olivia Settle Cooney Jessica Dolores Grisez

Class of 2026 Graduation Student Organization Leadership Christian Medical and

Medical Society of Virginia/Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association Shawn Patrick Dziepak Neurology Specialty Committee Paul Vincent Foretich Orthopedic Specialty Committee Hannah Elizabeth Kasper Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Committee

SOAP Notes Ayan Rivu Sinha Student American Academy of Osteopathy Samantha Renee Steiss Student Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons Thaddeus Zion Wegrzyn Student National Medical Association Ayotemi Naomi Adewale Via Wellness Rachel Thi Lê Virginia Rural Health Association Alexis LeeAnn Brown Wilderness Medicine Committee Caroline Grace DeBord

Dental Association Camden Reese Little Dermatology Specialty Committee Paige O’Brien Daly Hispanic Community Medical Outreach Sergio Esteban Soto Infectious Disease Specialty Committee Kaylie Camille Ward Integrative and Complementary Medicine Committee Megan Brooke Birmingham LGBTQIA+ Healthcare McKenzie Lorraine Lydon Ayan Rivu Sinha

Jacob Daniel Barnett Radiology Specialty Committee Bradley Ellis Kasper Sigma Sigma Phi Alexandra Drkulec

Class of 2026 Graduation Simulation and Technology Center In terns

Bradley Ellis Kasper Caroline Hannah Koon Rachael Catherine Larkin Benita Luke De’Mari Monique Menefee

Kaitlin Nicole Murphy Trina Thaotran Nguyen Spencer Richard Prematta Wayne Barrett Tate Anna Victoria Taylor

Makenzie Marie Cree Emily Cristina D’Arpa Ashley Theresa Deer Alexandra Drkulec Meaghan Sarah Gilbert

Anatomy Interns

Camden Reese Little Tony Ngo Nguyen Jonathan Tomoichi Tobin

Ryan Thomas Baukhages Megan Brooke Birmingham

Priyanka Piyush Gandhi Sally Sarah Greenberg John Edward Higgins

Phillip Aaron Dunn Kendyl Ellis Fahmy

Overdose Prevention Task Force

Austin Blake Gordon

Brooke Sonora Nelson Hipps Addison Kendall Shenk

Class of 2026 Graduation Student Ambassadors for Admissions

Elizabeth Lee Acors Tyler Jackson Adams Tarik Al Shawi Marshall Justin Arons Kaylee Lynne Athey Ramez Saleem Bakhtari Jacob Daniel Barnett Cailyn Delaney Barthlow Ryan Thomas Baukhages Connor Trent Buchanan Wesley Bryant Butler Jason Matthew Canestrino Grace Noelle Carroll Hannah Elizabeth Chotiner Caleb Edwin Clemons Emily Cristina D’Arpa Ashley Theresa Deer Mina Diep Elizabeth Ngoc-Tuyen Do Phillip Aaron Dunn Shawn Patrick Dziepak Georgina Eyram Dzikunu Coty Raymond Emerich

Alexa Trerice Fritz Sydney Faye Giagnoni Meaghan Sarah Gilbert

Dylan James Miller Kaitlin Nicole Murphy Brooke Sonora Nelson Hipps Thuy Duong Michelle Nguyen Trina Thaotran Nguyen Joseph Michael Palazzi Prutha Vijay Kumar Patel Nitika Sree Pentakota Spencer Richard Prematta Grayson Tran Punzalan Akshata Lakshmi Sastry Addison Kendall Shenk Joshua B. Sison Alexandra Valerie Solomonova Sarah Elizabeth Stoyanoff Sydney Blake Thornton Jonathan Tomoichi Tobin Kelsey Thuy Thao Truong Devon Scott Varney Lauren Nicole Witmer Elijah Jay Wojdyla Christian Kavon Woo Luis Fernando Ycaza, Jr. Wayne Barrett Tate Rachel Ann Thomas

Austin Blake Gordon Sally Sarah Greenberg Jessica Dolores Grisez Susanna Emily Grow John Edward Higgins Ashley Brooke Jordan Hasan Kaleem Hannah Elizabeth Kasper Sophiah Georginah Fumi Kawachi Caroline Hannah Koon Rachael Catherine Larkin Rachel Thi Lê Ellis Genevieve Linder Anastasiya Loos Lynda Sierra Love-Matheny Benita Luke Shelby Nicole Madren J. Drew McCauley Julia Beth McCaulley McGuire De’Mari Monique Menefee Sophia Elizabeth Menendez Suferah Zafar Khan Kyle Lieser Knachel

Kendyl Ellis Fahmy Cole Lane Faulkner Erin Malone Field

Class of 2026 Graduation Clinical Site Ambassadors

Augusta Shourik Dutta Blacksburg

Eastern Virginia Elijah Jay Wojdyla Mary Washington Alexandra Valerie Solomonova Roanoke Sally Sarah Greenberg Salem Gabriella Marie Dunemann Mark Andrew Johnston

Salisbury Rachael Catherine Larkin Tri-Cities Joseph Michael Palazzi Widad Hany Salah Woodbridge Alexa Trerice Fritz Wytheville Jacob Gutman

Shawn Patrick Dziepak Olivia Catherine Silveri Christiansburg Austin Blake Gordon Ashley Brooke Jordan Danville Elizabeth Ngoc-Tuyen Do

Class of 2026 Graduation Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine Residency The Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine Residency (ONMM3) Residency at VCOM is a one-year program that can be completed after finishing any other ACGME-approved residency program. The ONMM3 Residency provides the educational experiences necessary for the resident to achieve the knowledge, psychomotor skills, interpersonal skills, professional attitudes, and practical experience required of the NMM-OMM physician specialist.

Curtis Matthew Smith, DO

Kai Yuan Teng, DO

Class of 2026 Graduation Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship

VCOM Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship is a one-year postgraduate training program, following the completion of residency training. Sports medicine fellows acquire general orthopedic and medical knowledge in addition to learning to apply osteopathic principles in the evaluation and treatment of patients. The fellows have the opportunity to participate in a variety of clinical and biomedical research programs and acquire clinical skills in the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound. They also act as team physicians for Virginia Tech and Radford University athletics, Montgomery County Public Schools, and provide other regional coverage. This program is part of the HCA Healthcare LewisGale Montgomery Hospital VCOM Consortium.

Brett Brodsky, DO Kyle Hopkins, DO

Nicholas Hora, DO Andrew Krueger, DO, ATC