Medical student award recipients.
2026 Medical Faculty and Student Awards
The Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine celebrated standout achievements among faculty and graduating medical students at its 17th annual Medical Faculty and Student Award Ceremony. Honorees were recognized for their dedication, leadership and impact within the college and across the community.
Congratulations to all the award recipients.
See photos from the award ceremony
STUDENT AWARDS
Outstanding Academic Performance Award
Austen Hentschel (2026 Valedictorian)
American Medical Women’s Association Glasgow Rubin Citation for Academic Achievement
Austen Hentschel, Melissa Fernandez, Julia Steger, Valentina Roa Forster and Karla Santoyo
Luther W. Holloway Award
Chelsey Ameda
Outstanding Clerkship Performance Awards
- Emergency Medicine: Adam Roitman
- Family Medicine: Rosemary Wright
- Geriatrics: Julio Sanchez
- Obstetrics & Gynecology: Jessica Riopedre
- Surgery: Shaun Crist
- Internal Medicine: Austen Hentschel
- Neurology: Tarlan Kehtari
- Pediatrics: Hope Morales
- Psychiatry: Emilio Blair
- Radiology: Henrique Carvalho
Outstanding Community Service Award
Caroline Galloway
Dan Castellanos Ph.D. Professionalism Award
Christina Taragjini
Outstanding Leadership Award
Hope Morales
Peggy O’Leary Seigler Scholarship Award
Hope Morales
Leonard Tow Humanism Student Award
Daniella Guerra
FACULTY AWARDS
Hippocratic Award
Gloria Coronel-Couto, M.D.
Resident and Fellow Clinical Teaching Award
Abbey Joseph, M.D.’24, Southern Winds Hospital
Adela Buciuc, M.D., University of Miami/Jackson Health System
Excellence in Clinical Teaching Awards
- Emergency Medicine: Abhishek Roka, M.D., HCA Healthcare
- Family Medicine: Doris Cubas, M.D., FIU Health
- Geriatric Medicine: Jose Eduardo Gonzalez, M.D., Leon Medical Centers
- Internal Medicine: Nicole Cardona, D.O., Baptist Health
- Neurology: Samer Tabbal, M.D., Baptist Health
- Obstetrics and Gynecology: Sujata Yavagal, M.D., Baptist Health
- Pediatrics: Gloria Riefkohl, M.D., Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
- Psychiatry: Juan Espinosa, M.D., Memorial Healthcare System
- Surgery: Wilmer Mata, M.D., Baptist Health
- Radiology: Surya Chundru, M.D., Baptist Health
Excellence in Clerkship Direction
Alexandra Byrne, M.D., Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
AOA Voluntary Clinical Teaching Award
Anthony Cardella, M.D., Baptist Health
Course Director Teaching Award
Rakesh Nair, M.D.
Unit Director Teaching Award
Gagani Athauda, M.D.
Excellence in Medical School Teaching for Large Group
Israel Castillo, PharmD, Ph.D.
Excellence in Clinical Teaching in Primary Care Preceptorship
Karim Jamal, M.D.
Excellence in Teaching for Small Group
Tessa Haspil-Corgan, M.D.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor of the Year
Tessa Haspil-Corgan, M.D.
Leonard Tow Humanism Faculty Award
Rebeca Martinez, M.D.
Invited Faculty Teaching Award
Daniella Lamour, D.O., Mount Sinai Medical Center
Alumni Service Award
Oscar Hernandez, M.D.’20, HCA Healthcare
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