Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine last week held its 2025 Honors Convocation — a special ceremony to pay tribute to outstanding achievements by students, faculty, and staff.
Nearly 300 people attended the 90-minute event at Oakland University’s Oakland Center.
The event is held annually on the day before the school’s commencement ceremony for the year’s graduating class.
The OUWB Honors Convocation recognized everything from outstanding student and faculty achievements to awards of distinction. (See complete list below.)
“This recognition reflects the culmination of the efforts of everyone at OUWB, our students, our faculty, and our staff,” said Christopher Carpenter, M.D., Stephan Sharf Dean, OUWB.
“I am filled with pride for everyone involved, and it's an honor to be able to celebrate their successes,” he added.
The event began with several special presentations. Richard Kennedy, Ph.D., associate dean, Research, received recognition of distinguished service. Kennedy has been with OUWB since 2015, joining the school after holding academic leadership positions at Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division and University of Arkansas.
Kennedy said the recognition reflects “everybody who works at OUWB.”
“In my mind, it’s a recognition of everybody pitching in to help move the research program forward,” he said. “And that’s what makes me happy…it’s really about all the people who made it happen.”
Nikita Lee (left) and Elizabeth Carlson |
Two students participated in the military promotion ceremony. Nikita Lee was promoted to captain in the U.S. Air Force. It was announced that Elizabeth Carlson would be promoted to captain in the U.S. Army
Ekaterina Liu-Clark Lavroushin, M.D., was recognized with the U.S. Excellence in Public Health Award. Later, she also would be honored for Outstanding Performance in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship, and as a recipient of the OUWB Scholarship. She, too, was recognized for induction into AOA and GHHS.
“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized for all the hard work…my own and everyone else’s as well,” she said.
She credited the OUWB community for helping her thrive as a medical student.
“It felt good to look out into the crowd as I walked up (to the stage) and see all the supportive faces that have allowed me to be where I am today,” she said.
After the special presentations, awards for outstanding student achievements were presented.
Amanda Bachand, M.D., was recognized for Class of 2025 M1 Award for Outstanding Academic Performance; Glasgow-Rubin Certificate of Commendation for Academic Achievement; Drs. Neelam and Narayan Verma Endowed Scholarship for Neurosciences; Corewell Health Foundation Scholarship Awards (for 2023-2024); and the Ran Scholarship. She also was recognized for being inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society and Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS).
“It’s been fantastic to get to celebrate like this with friends and family,” she said. “It’s really special to see all of this hard work come to fruition.”
She expressed gratitude to OUWB faculty, whom she called “tremendously supportive,” as well as various mentors, such as Daniel Menkes, M.D., chair, Department of Neurology. She said they not only helped her be successful at OUWB but set her up for success in residency (Bachand matched in neurology at University of California, San Diego.)
“I could not have found myself in a better position or better school…I’m so grateful for the opportunity,” she added.
Carpenter presented Kennedy with a recognition of distinguished service. |
Overall, for Carpenter, the event spoke volumes about the OUWB community.
“It demonstrates our resilience as a community and our sense of togetherness,” he said. “We share in everyone's success, and we are united in support of our mission to develop exceptional physicians.”
Here is a list of honorees from the 2025 OUWB Honors Convocation:
Awards for Outstanding Student Achievements
Class of 2025 M1 Award for Outstanding Academic Performance
Recipients: Amanda Bachand and Erin Mueller
Class of 2025 M2 Award for Outstanding Academic Performance
Recipients: Suhani Gupta, Garrett Peters, Madison Saunders
Class of 2025 M3 Clerkship Awards
Outstanding Performance in the Family Medicine Clerkship
Recipient: Nikki Nguyen
Outstanding Performance in the Internal Medicine Clerkship
Recipient: Max Troyke
Outstanding Performance in the Neurology Clerkship
Recipient: Jacqueline Morey
Outstanding Performance in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship
Recipient: Ekaterina Liu-Clark Lavroushin
Outstanding Performance in the Pediatrics Clerkship
Recipient: Emily Nolton
Outstanding Performance in the Surgery Clerkship
Recipient: David Howell
Class of 2025 M4 Clerkship Awards
Outstanding Performance in the Anesthesia and Pain Medicine Clerkship
Recipient: Jacqueline Morey
Outstanding Performance in the Diagnostic Medicine Clerkship
Recipient: Ryian Owusu
Outstanding Performance in the Emergency Medicine Clerkship
Recipient: Alexsandra Biel
Glasgow-Rubin Certificate of Commendation for Academic Achievement
Recipients: Amanda Bachand, Bianca Elias, Melanie Ermler, Slyvia Kashat, Erin Mueller, Madison Saunders, Tram Vo
Embark Competitive Scholarship Awards
2024 Kenneth J. Matzick Embark Program Competitive Scholarship, Manuscript of the Year
Recipient: Sarah George
Submission title: Examining Inclusive Language in Clinical Narratives in Medical Biochemistry Textbooks to Model Equitable Patient-Centered Care in Preclinical Undergraduate Medical Education. Mentors: Akshata Naik, Ph.D.; Brianne Lewis, Ph.D.
2024 Kenneth J. Matzick Embark Program Competitive Scholarship, Manuscript of the Year Honorable Mention
Recipient: Avianna Arapovic
Submission title: Frailty among Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty Recipients: Epidemiology and Propensity Score Weighted Analysis of Impact on In-hospital Postoperative Outcomes. Mentors: Inaya Hajj Hussein, Ph.D.; Tracy Wunderlich-Barillas, Ph.D.
Recipient: Elizabeth Carlson
Submission title: Impact of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Program and Clean Closing Trays on Colon and Rectal Surgical Site Infection. Mentor: Harry Wasvary, M.D.
Recipient: Madeleine DeClercq
Submission title: Influence of Medicaid and Medicare Payer Status on Outcomes Following Total Joint Arthroplasty: A 10-Year Report. Mentors: Leonardo Cavinatto, M.D.; Drew Moore, M.D.
Recipient: Jared Dixon
Submission title: Predicting Coronary Artery Calcium Using Abdominal Aorta and Visceral Artery Calcification. Mentor: Sayf Al-Katib, M.D.
Recipient: Saini Kethireddy
Submission title: Safety Profile of Spinal Cord Stimulator Paddle Lead Revision and Replacement. Mentor: Michael Staudt, M.D.
Recipient: Garrett Peters
Submission title: The Effect of the Adoption of the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer Process on Compliance Standards at a Single Institution. Mentor: Harry Wasvary, M.D.
Recipient: Corey Shafer
Submission title: Implementation of an Opioid Free Pediatric Hernia Repair Protocol. Mentor: Begum Akay, M.D.
Recipient: Bilal Tarar
Submission title: A Review of Risk Factors for Postoperative Failure after Isolated Primary Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction. Mentor: Betina Hinckel, M.D.
2024 Ravitz Foundation Embark Program Competitive Scholarship, Manuscript of the Year 1st Runner-Up
Recipient: Alexsandra Biel
Submission title: Stroke Risk After Emergency Department Treatment of Elevated Blood Pressure in Transient Ischemic Attack Patients. Mentor: Brett Todd, M.D.
2024 Ann V. Nicholson Embark Program Competitive Scholarship, Manuscript of the Year 2nd Runner-Up
Recipient: Bianca Elias
Submission title: Religiosity Influences Legalization of Marijuana among Chaldean Americans. Mentor: Florence Hoffert-Dallo, Ph.D., MPH
OUWB Scholarship Awards
The Ann Nicholson Community Service Scholarship
Recipient: Chance Stevenson (2023-2024)
The James V. Huebner, M.D., Oakland University Alumni Scholarship
Recipients: Mark Kamash (2021-2022), Anne Heukwa-Tefoung (2022-2023), Caroline Roberts (2022-2023)
The Michael and Zina Kramer Academic Success Scholarship
Recipients: Erin Mueller (2022-2023), Garrett Peters (2023-2024)
The OUWB Scholarship
Recipients: Elizabeth Carlson (2021-2022), Emily Brunett (2022-2023), Dinasha Dahanayake Navindi (2022-2023), Matthew Prevost (2022-2023), Ekaterina Liu-Clark Lavroushin (2023-2024), Brandon Phan (2023-2024)
The OUWB Community Student Scholarship
Recipients: Erin Mueller (2023-2024), Cristy Ortega (2023-2024), Dinasha Dahanayake Navindi (2024-2025)
The Marvin and Betty Danto Scholarship
Recipient: Sarah George (2024-2025)
Drs. Neelam and Narayan Verma Endowed Scholarship for Neurosciences
Recipient: Amanda Bachand (2024-2025)
Corewell Health Foundation Scholarship Awards
Alina Avetisyan (2021-2022), Darshana Blaise (2021-2022), Joanna Wasvary (2021-2022), Max Troyke (2022-2023), Amanda Bachand (2023-2024), Alexsandra Biel (2023-2024), Charlotte O’Sullivan (2023-2024), Kevin Van (2023-2024), Emily Nolton (2024-2025), Garrett Peters (2024-2025), Kristin Sarsfield (2024-2025)
The Ran Scholarship
Recipient: Amanda Bachand (2022-2023)
The Schostak Family Scholarship
Recipients: Madison Romanski (2021-2022), Tulasi Talluri (2022-2023), Sarah George (2023-2024), Madeleine DeClercq (2024-2025), Austin Kantola (2024-2025), Nicholas Ludka (2024-2025)
Awards of Distinction
Excellence in Diversity Awards
Excellence in Diversity Faculty Award
Recipient: Srikala Yedavally-Yellayi, D.O., associate professor, Department of Family Medicine
Excellence in Diversity Staff Award
Recipient: Katie Weyand, MOL, coordinator, Faculty Affairs
Excellence in Diversity Student Award
Recipient: Jade Ayers, Class of 2026
Awards for Outstanding Faculty Achievements
Awards for Educational Excellence
Foundational Medical Studies Educator of the Year
Recipient: Paul Megee, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies
Clinical Educator of the Year
Recipient: Mohamad Al-Hakim, M.D., assistant professor, Department of Neurology
Foundational Medical Studies Excellence in Research Award
Recipient: Mohamed Al-Shabrawey, MBBCH, Ph.D., founding director, OUWB Eye Research Center, professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies
Clinical Excellence in Research Award
Recipient: Nishaki Mehta, M.D., associate professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Foundational Medical Studies Excellence in Service Award
Recipient: Inaya Hajj Hussein, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies
Clinical Excellence in Service Award
Recipient: Brian Felice, M.D., assistant professor, Department of Emergency Medicine
Dean’s Distinguished Professor Award
Recipient: Misa Mi, Ph.D., MLIS, director, Medical Library, professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies
Golden Apple Awards
M1 Foundational Medical Studies Faculty Award
Recipient: Kesava Mandalaneni, MBBS, assistant professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies
M1 Clinical Faculty Award
Recipient: Abdul-Majid Khan, M.D., assistant professor, Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Molecular Imaging
M2 Foundational Medical Studies Faculty Award
Recipient: Varna Taranikanti, M.S., Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies
M2 Clinical Faculty Award
Recipient: Jacqueline Macknis, M.D., associate professor, Department of Pathology
M3 Teaching Resident/Fellow Award
Recipient: Lauren Leiby, M.D., resident, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
M3 Clinical Faculty Award
Recipient: Justine Nasr, M.D., assistant professor, Department of Internal Medicine
M4 Teaching Resident/Fellow Award
Recipient: Leon Quach, M.D., OUWB ’22, resident, Department of Emergency Medicine
M4 Teaching Clinical Faculty Award
Recipient: Sayf Al-Katib, M.D., assistant professor, Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Award of Honor
Michelle D. Raible Award
Recipient: Zeeshan Javed, Class of 2027
For more information, contact Andrew Dietderich, senior marketing specialist, OUWB, at [email protected].
To request an interview, visit the OUWB Communications & Marketing webpage.
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