Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Awards Day

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine recently presented end-of-year awards that recognize our students for their dedication to the community, military service and excellence in medicine.

Military commissioning:

U.S. Army Major Andre Clayburn recognized:

• Brian Banas, MD, 2nd lieutenant in the United States Air Force Reserve, commissioned to captain, United States Air Force. Dr. Banas matched into an anesthesiology residency program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C.

• Timothy Boorady, MD, 2nd lieutenant in the United States Air Force Reserve, commissioned to captain, United States Air Force. Dr. Boorady matched into a radiology residency program at David Grant Medical Center in Fairfield, Ca.

• Emily Christie, MD, 2nd lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve, commissioned to captain, United States Army. Dr. Christie matched into a general surgery residency program at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. 

• Johanna Dungca, MD, 2nd lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve, commissioned to captain, United States Army. Dr. Dungca matched into an OB/GYN residency program at Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington.

• Sara Graham, MD, 2nd lieutenant in the United States Air Force Reserve, commissioned to captain, United States Air Force. Dr. Graham matched into an internal medicine residency at San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium in San Antonio, Texas.
  
  

MD class of 2022 awards:

Alfred Hamilton, MD, Service to Class Award, pre-clinical years 
Presented to a student who has contributed most to the class during pre-clinical years.

Tian Mauer, MD, and Hannah Sofield, MD, Service to Class Award, clinical years 
Presented to students who have contributed most to the class during clinical years.

Caitlin Tillson, MD, Service to Community Award, pre-clinical years
Presented to a student who has contributed most to the community during pre-clinical years.

Service to Community Award, clinical years
Presented to students from each regional campus who have contributed the most to the regional community during clinical years. 

• AtlantiCare – Cecelia Allison, MD
• Central – Mark Mandel, MD, and Alexander Mettler, MD
• Guthrie – Antony Han, MD, and Misha Patel, MD
• North – Monica Joglekar, MD, and Michael Pheasant, MD
• South – Caitlin Tillson, MD

John Pacheco, MD, Service to College Award
Presented to a student who has devoted time and energy to the development of Geisinger Commonwealth as a new and innovative medical institution. Their ideas and dedication have helped build a better Geisinger Commonwealth through school involvement, committee membership and community development.

Irene Ganahl, MD, Excellence in Public Health Award from the U.S. Public Health Service Physician Professional Advisory Committee, presented by Commander Stephanie Daniels-Costa with the United States Public Health Service.

Mark Mandel, MD, and Gabriella SantaLucia, MD, Excellence in Research Award
Presented to two fourth-year students with the most significant contributions to research as demonstrated by their scholarly work.

Mark Mandel, MD, Clinical Scholar Award
Presented to the student with the highest achievement during clinical years.

Angelica DeFreitas, MD, Excellence in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Presented to the student who exemplifies academic and clinical excellence in and commitment to the field of obstetrics and gynecology.

Haadi Ali, MD, Excellence in Internal Medicine
Presented to the student who exemplifies academic and clinical excellence in and commitment to the field of internal medicine. 

Jacob Huegel, MD, Excellence in Family Medicine 
Presented to the student who exemplifies academic and clinical excellence in and commitment to the field of family medicine. 

Brady Morgan, MD, Excellence in Psychiatry
Presented to the student who exemplifies academic and clinical excellence in and commitment to the field of psychiatry.

Mary Pelkowski, MD, Excellence in Pediatrics
Presented to the student who exemplifies academic and clinical excellence in and commitment to the field of pediatrics.

Cecelia Allison, MD, Excellence in Emergency Medicine
Presented to the student who exemplifies academic and clinical excellence in and commitment to the field of emergency medicine.

Mark Mandel, MD, Excellence in Surgery
Presented to the student who exemplifies academic and clinical excellence in and commitment to the field of surgery or its subspecialties.

River Jordan, MD, Excellence in Neurology
Presented to the student who exemplifies academic and clinical excellence in and commitment to the field of neurology.

Janki Patel, MD, The John R. & Maureen J. Pesavento Community Service Award 
Created by the late Maureen Pesavento through the Scranton Area Community Foundation in recognition of exemplary community service. The Geisinger Commonwealth Class of 2022 was required to perform 100 hours of community service. This year’s recipient logged 215 hours of service, with most of those hours dedicated to service at the Friends of the Poor and Congolese Refugee with the University of Scranton. Dr. Patel also helped with organization of the Steamtown Health Fair.

Terrence Habiyaremye, MD, The Dr. Lester Saidman Award for Excellence in Emergency Medicine 
Established by his family to honor service to the medical profession and the community. 

The Dr. Lester Saidman Award for Excellence in Emergency Medicine recipient demonstrates both passion for and excellence in the emergency room. 

We’re proud of this year’s award recipients.