The Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine honored the outstanding achievements of its students and faculty at the annual Medical Faculty and Student Awards Ceremony. Honorees were recognized for their dedication, leadership, and impact—both within the college and in the community.
Congratulations to all the award recipients.
See photos from the 2025 Awards Ceremony
STUDENT AWARDS
Outstanding Academic Performance Award
Keelin McKenna (top student in the Class of 2025)
American Medical Women’s Association Glasgow Rubin Citation for Academic Achievement
Jami Alamar, Maria Valle Gonzalez, Rachel Sawah, Hannah Baker, Dayana Torres Barreiro, Gabriella Garcia, Aditi Desai, Samantha Barkan and Keelin McKenna.
Outstanding Clerkship Performance Awards
- Emergency Medicine: Gianna Arrizurieta
- Family Medicine: Carmelle Kuizon
- Geriatrics: Zachary Blashinsky
- Internal Medicine: Nicole Gonzalez
- Neurology: Daniel Karversky
- Obstetrics and Gynecology: Samantha Barkan
- Pediatrics: Samantha Barkan
- Psychiatry: Kalin Stoyanov
- Radiology: Mona Roshan
- Surgery: Jay Chandar
Outstanding Community Service Award
Rachel Siretskiy
Outstanding Leadership Award
Rachel Siretskiy
Dan Castellanos Ph.D. Professionalism Award
Caroline Ezekwesili
Peggy O’Leary Seigler Scholarship Award
Silas Helbig
Leonard Tow Humanism Award
Juliana Cazzaniga
Medical Service Alumni Award
Dr. Peter D’Amore (Class of 2017)
FACULTY AWARDS
Hippocratic Award
Gagani Athauda, M.D.
Leonard Tow Humanism Award
Amalia Landa-Galindez, M.D.
Resident and Fellow Clinical Teaching Award
Andres Vargas España, M.D., Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Excellence in Clinical Teaching in Emergency Medicine award
Joshua Young, M.D., Baptist Health
Excellence in Clinical Teaching in Family Medicine
Vivian Ortiz, M.D.
Excellence in Clinical Teaching in Geriatric Medicine
Marianne Desir, M.D.
Excellence in Clinical Teaching in Internal Medicine
Kebir Bedran, M.D., Baptist Health
Excellence in Clinical Teaching in Neurology
Luis Tornes, M.D., Baptist Health
Excellence in Clinical Teaching in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Juana Maria Montero, M.D., FIU Health
Excellence in Clinical Teaching in Pediatrics
Katherine Semidey, M.D.
Excellence in Clinical Teaching in Surgery
Rupa Seethamaraiah, M.D., Baptist Health
Excellence in Clinical Teaching in Radiology
Frederico Souza, M.D., Baptist Health
Excellence in Clerkship Direction
Shweta Akhouri, M.D.
AOA Voluntary Clinical Teaching Award
Ronald Tolchin, D.O., Baptist Health
Appreciation Award for Teaching/Neurological Clinical Rotations
Allan Herskowitz, M.D., Baptist Health
Course Director Teaching Award
Juan Lozano, M.D.
Unit Director Teaching Award
Dipendra Pendeya, Ph.D.
Excellence in Medical School Teaching for Large Group Interactive Teaching
Hanadys Ale, M.D., Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
Excellence in Medical School Teaching for Small Group
Lizzeth Alarcon, M.D.
Excellence in Clinical Teaching in Primary Care Preceptorship
Sophia Malary Carter, M.D., Baptist Health
Faculty Advisor or Mentor of the Year
Sarah Stumbar, M.D.
Invited Faculty Teaching Award
Sean Kenniff, M.D., Memorial Healthcare System