Join us in celebrating our exceptional colleagues!
You can submit a Professionalism Accolade using the PAIR Webform.
Recently Submitted Student Accolades
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Erik Jaklitsch (MS4)
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Erik has been a wonderful mentor and role model not only to me but also to other younger medical students. He is extremely approachable and always willing to assist with questions regarding studying, class schedules, and research. Despite his own busy schedule, Erik consistently prioritizes helping others, making each interaction feel meaningful and valued. His genuine kindness, reliability, and wisdom are truly admirable.
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Hannah Piston (MS4)
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I was fortunate to be in Hannah's POCUS group during clinical assessment week…Hannah has been in the longitudinal ultrasound course/certificate program and was kind enough to share what she knew with the group in order for everyone to learn and get hands on experience performing a FAST exam. She pointed out structures we were seeing and she also helped the group learn ways to hold the ultrasound probe, orient ourselves to the images on the screen, and gave us tricks such as fanning the probe to get clearer views of abdominal structures. Her skills were very impressive, it is clear she has a passion for ultrasound and I'm thankful she took the time to share them with myself and the group.
– Submitted by a Medical Student
Rising MS4 Assessment Week, Spring 2024 -
Aita Rohit (MS1)
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I want to recognize Rohit's quiet and consistent leadership throughout the Fall 2023 semester. Throughout our fall coursework and especially during the Physical Examination section, when some of students' enthusiasm began to wane, Rohit remained a steady role model, someone who always came prepared to class, was consistently engaged, and demonstrated a degree of focus and professionalism that inspired his classmates.
– Submitted by a Faculty Member
Physical Examination (3RC), Fall 2023 -
Cheeho "James" Kim (MS1)
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...Balancing all that the students do is a challenge. James seems to be doing that well and being conscientious about staying connected and communicating with people in his orbit. Furthermore, James' maturity was evident to me in retrospect because while he was apparently doing a lot of work outside of class, he was present, and participated well in small group. That is a service to his peers that I appreciate.
– Submitted by a Faculty Member
Digestion & Nutrition, Spring 2024 - Michael Talamo (MS2)
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Michael, on the day of one of last pre-dedicated lunch talks about STEP revealed to us his personal story, to the entire class in the class Groupme…In four lessons, he reminds us (and I paraphrase as best I can) to 1. Not let anyone adjudicate for us the right way to go about medical school; 2. Value our mental health; 3. Our friends and family are our team - let them help you and help them in return; and 4. Passion for doing what we're doing is what has gotten us this far - and that will continue to be the case during dedicated.
…Michael went out of his way to remind us of who we are and to remain grounded when everything around us seems to be so much more precarious.
To be so selfless to share his own story about his life to not garner any sympathy from us, but to pass whatever lessons he learned to us is what any person should envision when they hear the word "compassionate". I hope to one day be able to emulate Michael's maturity and kindness as he was able to exemplify to all of us today. I just wanted to thank him again for being awesome and caring for the rest of us as much as he does.
- So La Bruna (MS2)
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Sol has single-handedly held together the MS2 class throughout our pre-clinical years. From the very first week of med school - before she was even elected president of our class - she was doing the most for our class and she has continued to do so over the past 2 years. Sol has been our voice both inside and outside the classroom, always taking the initiative to reach out to admin or course directors when we're all freaking out over some little discrepancy and immediately relaying information back to us to relieve the collective neuroticism. Not only is she an incredible advocate, she's also been instrumental to the success of much of our class's learning experience; before each block, Sol created and shared spreadsheets that aligned lectures with 3rd party resources and Anki tags, some of which ended up being more helpful than the syllabi themselves. Sol is the keystone to our class's spirit of camaraderie and cooperativity!
- Viraj Govani (MS1), Nit Anantharaman (MS2)
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Nit and Viraj did an extraordinary job jointly organizing and conducting the UPSOM Talent Show this year that benefits the Match Days of the Classes of 2026 and 2027. They coordinated all of the acts, the scheduling, the rehearsals, and ensured that the event ran smoothly and efficiently, providing opportunities for students to demonstrate their talents to their peers and creating an environment of celebration and levity. The amount of planning that went into such an event, and particularly an event that ran so smoothly, is a testament to their high levels of professionalism, foresight, and hard-working natures. Their hard-work created a beautiful event that brought students across classes together in celebration of comedy, art, and music.
– Submitted by a Medical Student
2024 UPSOM Talent Show, Spring 2024 - Viraj Govani (MS1)
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Viraj was an invaluable partner in making the Pitt Med Talent Show so successful this year. He contributed great ideas to enhance the event and followed through on tasks consistently and promptly. He even took on additional work despite the stress of being in cardio. I really appreciated the enthusiasm and endless energy he brought to the planning process. We would not have been able to do it without him!
– Submitted by a Medical Student
2024 UPSOM Talent Show, Spring 2024 - Gabriella Ficerai-Garland (MS2)
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Gabriella has been an extremely effective, organized, and communicative leader of our research project. She developed an interesting idea, recruited a team of her peers, and established faculty mentorship for the project. Gabriella's direction has been instrumental in steering our research endeavors and creating an environment where collaboration thrives. Despite being the lead of the project, she actively seeks out and values each team member's suggestions, ensuring that our collective expertise is harnessed for the project's success.
- Christian Vivar Ramon (MS2)
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Christian made every small group session a warmer, kinder, safer place! Every small group session, he actively listened to each and every group member's ideas and contributions, and was quick to respond in a way that was so respectful, thoughtful, and encouraging. He is easily one of the best listeners I have encountered in medical school, making everyone feel comfortable and heard. He always asked great questions in every setting, whether that be during organ system workshops, LRP presentations, or Racism in Medicine discussions. He also enlightened discussions whenever he shared about his thought-provoking experience base, perspectives, and insights-- whenever he spoke, everyone was tuned into every word. He truly brightened each session, whether it be through his kind greetings to his classmates, his concern for the well-being of others, or his greatly appreciated cat photos.
--Submitted by a medical student
Small Group Sessions, Fall 2023 - Wenjing "Lilly" Tang (MS2)
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Lilly coordinates MusiCARE and has done a terrific job so far. I especially appreciate how she was always readily available if a question or point of clarification was needed, particularly regarding CE-U requirements. With her leadership and organizational abilities, as well as her willingness to help out peers, I am confident Lilly will make a great physician one day.
- Tom Rubino (MS2)
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The Scaife evacuation triggered alarms in the old wing of Scaife that led to confusion and panic among AMI students, faculty, and standardized patients. People who were in the small group rooms could not completely hear the evacuation instructions and did not immediately know what was going on. One standardized patient was particularly frightened and displaying signs of anxiety. Tom quickly calmed her down in the hallway and directed her to the lobby and out of the doors. Outside of Scaife, Tom stood with the woman, comforting her and assuring her that she was OK and that we were safe. In a time of panic and confusion, Tom was calm, cool, and collected, offering this panicked woman a sense of security. Kudos to Tom for his highly professional behavior. He is an excellent representation of the support we should strive to be for our patients and fellow community members in times of uncertainty and beyond.
- Tom Rubino (MS2)
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Tom generously donated his time to help other students find anatomical landmarks using ultrasounds, and stayed well beyond his assessment time to make sure all of the Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) students felt comfortable and confident performing ultrasounds before engaging with standardized patients. This is a small instance of Tom's ability to go above and beyond and his excitement the first to volunteer to ensure fellow students have successful experiences. His skill to create comfort in new experiences makes him a strong member of the PittMed community.
- Nathalie Chen, Peyton Groves (MS2), Nidhi Iyanna (MS2), Sean Sweat (MSTP), Kayla Stanley (MS2)
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OMED wishes to acknowledge the strong work of our medical students in creating, organizing and running October Flex Week experiences for our first year students. These students designed wonderful experiences around a central topic that MS1 students could opt in to during their flex week.
Nathalie Chen - A Wonderful World of Bugs: An Introduction to Infectious Diseases
Nidhi Iyanna, Kayla Stanley - Introduction to Surgical Subspecialties
Peyton Groves, Sean Sweat - What are the Alternatives? An Exploration of Integrative Medicine
Sean Sweat - Rare Diseases Aren't So Rare
Sean Sweat - Taking Better Care of Patients with Disabilities - Nicolas Aycardi (MS1), Ryan Gilbert (MS2), Regan Shanahan (MS2), Sean Sweat (MSTP)
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We are grateful for the following students who took time out of their busy med student lives to plan, organize, and execute Flex Week experiences for the First Year students in September. Flex Weeks are a new curricular requirement within the Three Rivers Curriculum where students break with the curriculum for a week to explore and dive deeper into projects and skill building that the students find important.
Nico Aycardi - Introduction to Crochet
Ryan Gilbert - Wilderness Medicine Camping Trip
Regan Shanahan - Neurological Surgery Investigative Group
Sean Sweat - Rare Diseases Aren't So Rare - Onaje Cunningham (MS2)
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Onaje, in fiscal responsibility, has shown himself to be an exemplary leader as our SNMA Treasurer. He consistently demonstrates sound judgment and a keen understanding of financial matters. Beyond his technical expertise, his commitment to transparency and accountability has fostered a culture of trust and confidence among our Pitt Med SNMA members. His clear communication and willingness to engage with others on financial matters have elevated our community's financial literacy and strengthened our organization's bonds. Just in his time as treasurer, he has raised nearly $2,000 and has ensured that students get the opportunity to attend AMEC at little or no cost. Thank you for all you do!
--Submitted by a medical student
Student National Medical Association, Fall 2023 - Morgan Bolger (MS2)
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Morgan is intelligent, selfless, and a joy to work with. He consistently steps up to do the jobs no one wants to do in the interest of everyone's educational benefit. While he embodies these characteristics daily, two very specific examples come to mind. First, in our anatomy lab course, he consistently led the group through the most emotionally difficult dissection days and while bearing the brunt of the work, still checked in to make sure the rest of his group members were doing okay. Second, in our ultrasound elective, it was clear that none of the female students were comfortable lifting their shirts for the thorax and abdominal exam, so Morgan volunteered to have everyone practice on him and even got his own practice by ultrasounding himself.
- Kouadio Toukou (MS2)
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Kouadio's unwavering dedication and strong leadership culminated in the first-ever SNMA Black Men in Medicine Brunch a reality that has truly made a significant impact. His passionate commitment and careful planning have been crucial in bringing this groundbreaking event to life. His vision to celebrate and empower Black men in the field of medicine is not only impressive but also game-changing. Kouadio's leadership perfectly embodies the spirit of the SNMA, and we are deeply thankful for his pivotal role in advancing our mission.
--Submitted by a medical student
SNMA Black Men in Medicine Brunch, Fall 2023 - Sabrina Bruno (MS2),
Selina Chang (MS2),
Alison Choi (MS2),
Owen Clinger (MS3),
Phillip Dorsey (MS1),
Katherine Du (MS2),
Tonge Enoh (MS2),
Korrina Gidwani (MS1),
Sharon Kim (MS2),
Susan Kong (MS1),
Alessandra Larimer-Picciani (MSTP),
Emily Levin (MS2),
Baraa Nawash (MS4),
Ellie Qian (MS1),
Amrish Selvam (MS4),
Stavan Shah (MS3),
Claire Simmons (MS2),
Wenjing "Lilly" Tang (MS2),
Shiva Yagobian (MS2),
Amy Yu (MS2), and
Arman Zarnegar (MS3) -
These students gave generously of their time to the vision mission at the Mission of Mercy event on 10/27 and 10/28. Over two days they worked alongside an interprofessional team to provide care for over 800 of our neighbors in need. During the event, our students directed traffic and measured glasses and refractive error. As importantly they made real connections with real people. They exhibited the highest level of professionalism, worked seamlessly as part of an interprofessional team, learned about social determinants of health and barriers to care and demonstrated a spirit of genuine care. Each of these students make me proud to be on the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
-- Submitted by a Faculty Member
Mission of Mercy, Summer 2022 - Faith Kehinde (MS2)
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Faith has been an invaluable member of the interview coordination team over the past year. Faith has helped lead interview recruitment efforts, serve as a liaison between our class and the admissions office, facilitate special admissions events, and lead Sunday Night Chat sessions. Faith is incredibly personable and fosters a welcoming environment for prospective students. She provides invaluable insight as a leader of SNMA and speaks highly of the PittMed community. Thank you for your continued service to the current and future classes of PittMed.
--Submitted by a medical student
Coordinating Interviews for the Admissions Team, Fall 2023 - John "Jack" Donohue (MS2)
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Jack has served as one of four interview coordinators with the Admissions team for the past year. He has consistently ensured that all aspects of the interview process were organized, from maintaining the MS1/2 schedule and coordinating swaps to hosting Sunday Night Chat sessions with prospective students. Most notably, he has exhibited exceptional professionalism and flexibility in taking on emergency interviews for our peers unable to make their interviews. Jack has hosted numerous interviews on the spot this semester and has allowed applicants to have a low-stress and memorable student interview despite the circumstances. His prompt responses, attention to detail, and sharp communication skills have allowed him to be a strong member of the interviewing team. Jack demonstrated a strong commitment to upholding the highest standards of professionalism in all aspects of day-to-day operations and in the training of the new class. His approachable, courteous, and respectful demeanor, has made him an invaluable asset to our school's recruitment efforts. Thank you for being a great teammate, Jack. Your efforts do not go unnoticed!
--Submitted by a medical student
Coordinating Interviews for the Admissions Team, Fall 2023 - Ryan Camacho (MS2)
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Ryan has been a valuable member of the interview coordination team for the past year. Ryan led the fall scheduling initiative and spent a lot of time working to accommodate our classmates' busy schedules to ensure a successful interview season. Ryan also was a key contributor to the MS1 training initiative and worked to make the student interview process accessible and easy to understand for all students. He has been highly responsive to special events from admissions and has helped tremendously to cover last-minute interviews within our class. He is highly dependable and a strong team player. Ryan's commitment to the position and upholding the goals of PittMed admissions are commendable.
--Submitted by a medical student
Coordinating Interviews for the Admissions Team, Fall 2023 - Sabrina Bruno (MS2)
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Sabrina went out of her way to create study materials to share with her classmates. She recognized the large memorization load of certain portions of the course and took the time to share resources she had created, reducing other students' workload. She not only improved our learning, but also took the time explain material despite the limitations on her own time. Sabrina is an outstanding medical student and colleague.
- Alexandria Tso (MS2)
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Alexandria was in my small group during our Renal course. Alexandria embodies qualities of a great classmate that go beyond a classroom setting. When I had a question or a difficult time understanding a concept, Alexandria would take time out of her day to review those topics with me after class…I greatly appreciated Alexandria taking the time to listen to me, provide helpful advice, and be a source of care and companionship. I believe that great classmates are those that not only cheer on their classmates professionally and academically, but also care for their well-being and personal growth. Alexandria’s kindness was instrumental to my success during Renal and this quality of hers should be recognized and applauded by our Pitt Med community.
- Marissa Tremoglie-Barkowski (MS2)
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Marissa uses the skills she gained through her prior research experience to not only achieve her own goals, but to also help her classmates navigate the intricacies of clinical research. Some examples of topics I have witnessed her clarify for her classmates include designing protocols, applying for grants, and navigating the resources available for organizing a study. She is a wonderful listener, a problem solver, and a true leader among her peers.
-Submitted by a Medical Student, Medical Student Research, Fall 2023
- Keily Ortega (MS3)
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…Clinic was short-staffed... Everyone's help was needed to vital and room patients, including attendings and residents…Keily Ortega offered to help with rooming and taking vitals on patients.
She was PHENOMENAL and brought such a positive presence to clinic. Keily probably took vitals and roomed between 5-10 patients. [We were] so lucky to have her! It wasn't an essential part of her education, but she stepped up and helped with the clinic flow. Keily's actions highly spoke about her professionalism, teamwork, flexibility and dedication to patient care.
-Submitted by a Faculty Member, Pediatrics Clerkship, Fall 2023
- Hector Nieves (MS3)
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…Clinic was short-staffed... Everyone's help was needed to vital and room patients, including attendings and residents. …Hector Nieves offered to help with rooming and taking vitals on patients.
He was PHENOMENAL and brought such a positive presence to clinic. Hector helped to room in several patients. [We were] so lucky to have him! It wasn't an essential part of his education, but he stepped up and helped with the clinic flow. Hector's actions highly spoke about his professionalism, teamwork, flexibility and dedication to patient care.
-Submitted by a Faculty Member, Pediatrics Clerkship, Fall 2023
- Tien Nguyen (MS2)
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Tien has been a joy to have in my small group thus far. During Cardiology, Tien not only consistently demonstrated an outstanding commitment to her own understanding of the class material, but also went above and beyond to ensure that those around her understood the material as well. There were several times where she stayed behind after workshops had ended to further explain confusing concepts, which I really appreciated. Tien is generous with her time and attention, and it is obvious that she deeply cares about those around her and roots for their success. Tien always offers thoughtful ideas; her excitement to learn has made workshops a more enriching, warm, and positive experience. With her energy and passion, Tien is a wonderful addition to the PittMed community, and I’m sure she will be an excellent addition to whichever specialty she chooses to pursue!
-Submitted by a Medical Student, BFH Cardiovascular, Fall 2023
- Emily Gainor (MS2)
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Emily showed remarkable professional and a deep concern for the learning environment through her work with ELEAP. In the week of our cardio final, Emily advocated for the student body when trying to understand the changes to our healthcare plans…Additionally, Emily also helped clarify our Flex Day policy through clear and effortful communication.
- Emma Bryant (MS2), Kendal Curtis (MS2), Devan Kowdley (MS2), Sahana Krishna Kumaran (MS2), Amaan Rahman (MS2), Lauren Rebel (MS2), Victoria Wong (MS2), Samir Yellapragada (MS2)
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A wonderful group of MS2s volunteered their time, enthusiasm, and teaching skills to partner with two fifth grade classes at Falk Laboratory School. The seven MS2s built creative, interactive, and informative presentations on different body systems and presented them to the classes. The fifth-grade students were so lucky to have you as their guest lecturers!
-Submitted by a Faculty Member, Falk Laboratory School Presentations, Fall 2023
- Fidelia Gaba (MS2)
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In this venue, Fidelia is a more senior student participating in debrief sessions of MS1 students regarding the new curriculum. OMED staff and faculty are present. Fidelia expands the discussion and, consequently, its meaningful impact in the loveliest of ways. Fidelia asks the most thoughtful, open-ended questions. MS1s were asked to describe what didn't work well for them in the curriculum, and they often made suggestions for what they'd like to see. Fidelia repeatedly matures the conversation and introduces space for a deeper dialogue by asking, in a thoughtful and gentle voice, "What would that look like (i.e., if your suggestion was implemented)?". The language that Fidelia chose was received by MS1s as an invitation to think through how their suggestions might unfold. This had the effect of giving MS1 students the space to revise their stated perspective and sometimes even change their mind in real time (wow). Fidelia's curation of the dialogue is remarkable.
-Submitted by a Faculty Member, MS1 Feedback Friday, Fall 2023
- Sahana Krishna Kumaran (MS2)
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Sahana was a prime example professionalism when she dedicated many hours of her precious study time to help her peers prepare for their upcoming DSRP poster presentations. As a PSTP student, she is not a part of DSRP herself, yet she willingly shared her expertise for the betterment of others. Her research knowledge was undoubtedly vital to the completion of these projects. This interaction with Sahana was unsurprising, given that she is one of the most generous members of the UPSOM class of 2026. She is always more than willing to help people in need and never seems to mind setting aside her time others. We are lucky to have her as a classmate.
- Lily Bessette (MS2)
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Lily is a joy to have in the Pitt Med community. Her classmates love the presence that her and her precious dog Chico bring to our community. She is cheerful, bright, passionate, and wicked smart. Through her SEC role, she has poured countless hours into improving the experiences of Pitt Med students, from her incredible organizing of the Black Bag Ball to her advocacy during our JoLT meetings and for making sure that MSTP students don't get left out. I am proud of everything that she has accomplished and look forward to seeing what she does next to improve the Pitt Med experience.
- Alyson Lee (MS2)
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Aly is one of the kindest people at Pitt Med. Her personality shines through her gentle humanism, through her positive interactions with others, through her genuine smile and laughter, and notably through her writing. She is a co-coordinator for Lit Med, the new literature in medicine group, which has been an undoubtedly positive contribution to the Pitt Med learning environment. Her unique ability to deeply and introspectively dissect and analyze issues facing patients in her community and globally and her special innovative thinking skills when considering a problem will be invaluable attributes for when she is caring for her own patients. She is a staunch advocate and is unafraid to share her difficult and also incredible life experiences and how they have shaped her way of viewing the world. I am lucky to have Aly as a colleague and a friend, and all of Pitt Med should have their eyes on her, given what I know she will be able to accomplish in the future. I'm looking forward to watching her continue to shine.
- Sol La Bruna (MS2)
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Sol is invaluable to improving the learning environment for all Pitt Med students, particularly for the MS2 class. As the class president and also simply an outstanding human being, she is constantly and fiercely advocating for our class on many different issues of great importance, most recently regarding attendance policies and health insurance issues. She always has her pulse on what is going on in the medical school, and everyone knows that they can go to Sol if they need help with something or just need an ear to listen to what is going on in their life. Sol is astonishingly kind, witty, and intelligent, and I am genuinely lucky to not only know her as a peer and a class rep, but also as a friend.
- Regan Shanahan (MS2)
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Regan's contributions as Orientation Coordinator cannot be overstated. She was the driving organizational force behind months of logistical planning, despite balancing her obligations as orientation leader with a myriad of other research and extracurricular duties. Throughout the summer, Regan took constant initiative and demonstrated her incredible work ethic when contacting vendors, navigating the finer details of the budget, and coordinating with admin. She responded to challenges with patience and grace, and executed her tasks with a competence as inspiring as it is baffling. During orientation week, Regan was kind and honest as she offered thoughtful and comforting advice to the new MS1s. Feedback on the evening social events was overwhelmingly positive, and I truly cannot stress enough how much credit Regan deserves for pulling off a wonderful orientation.
- Henry Hoffman (MS2)
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Henry deserves recognition for his role as Orientation Coordinator for the incoming PittMed class. Henry spent time during his summer off diligently planning the events and supporting the incoming students. During orientation, Henry shared his transparent experiences in and out of the classroom, offering students realistic and optimistic expectations for the year ahead. Throughout the week, he served as an accessible resource and was an excellent representation of our medical school. Working alongside Henry reminded me of the power of sharing a positive attitude with others. Henry is a stud in the PittMed community and should be universally known for his kindness.
- Kaley Murday (MS2)
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Kaley did an excellent job as Orientation Coordinator for the incoming PittMed class. Kaley spent time during her summer off diligently planning the events and supporting the incoming students. During orientation, Kaley reminded the students of the importance of maintaining their hobbies outside the classroom and retaining their identity in medical school. Kaley served as an accessible, adaptable, and affable coordinator and supported all students to the best of her ability. Kaley deserves recognition for her role as a positive role model for the incoming class. Kaley is a stand-out person and her dedication to orientation is a harbinger for the outstanding care she will provide to her future patients. I am lucky to call Kaley a classmate and a friend!
A full list of student accolades is available.
Recently Submitted Faculty, Staff, & Resident Accolades
- Nat Jones, MD (Resident, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences)
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Dr. Jones was one of the most outstanding residents I have ever worked with. They made sure to involve me in each part of the workflow of the OR day and encouraged me to ask questions at any point. Additionally, they would facilitate interactions between me and the attending so that I could take a larger role in procedures. They made me feel like I truly had a role on the team and was valued. Any student would be lucky to work under Dr. Jones during their time at Pitt Med.
– Submitted by a Medical Student
Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship, Spring 2024 - Rachel Brown, MD (Resident, Department of Psychiatry)
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Rachel went above and beyond any resident I've worked with previously. She provided detailed, additional teaching sessions and resources to help me and other students excel during the rotation. In addition, she gave very thoughtful, detailed feedback far beyond what is normally expected from a resident. Beyond her commitment to education, Rachel showed genuine interest in my own career and goals tailoring my psych experience to try and incorporate those as much as possible.
-- Submitted by a Medical Student
Psychiatry Clerkship, Spring 2024 - Heather Mikes, DO (Faculty, Department of Family Medicine)
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Dr. Mikes was an exceptional facilitator in our Advanced Medical Interviewing course, consistently going above and beyond to ensure that each member of our small group maximized their learning and cultivated the empathy and communication skills required for compassionate clinical practice. Rarely have I encountered a facilitator so perceptive of each student’s individual learning needs, and so effective in challenging us to step out of our comfort zone in the spirit of growing as communicators. Dr. Mikes fostered a judgment-free environment where learning was as profound as it was personal, and I know that the lessons we take with us from this course will make us more sensitive and thoughtful physicians, empowered to tackle the trickiest of scenarios with confidence and compassion.
– Submitted by a Medical Student
Advanced Medical Interviewing, Spring 2024 - Christopher Reed, MD (Fellow, Department of Critical Care Medicine)
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Dr. Reed modeled daily to the team not only how to be an excellent clinician, but also how to be patient, friendly, and collaborative with all interdisciplinary team-members and trainees (even on his post-call mornings). Dr. Reed is one of the smartest doctors I've ever worked with, and was committed to teaching medical students while balancing the demands of the ICU - from providing us with specific learning objectives to focus on every morning when planning patient presentations, to walking me through his thought process when evaluating a patient in the room, to doing more formal teaching in the afternoons on topics including the coagulation cascade. Getting to learn from Dr. Reed was one of the best parts of my CCM elective experience!
--Submitted by a medical student
Critical Care Medicine Elective, Fall 2023 - Cole Hansell, MD (Resident, Department of Medicine)
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Dr. Hansell is not only an incredibly competent provider in terms of his knowledge of medical management for patients, but he also excels in the social, emotional, and psychological management of patients within the intensive care unit. He possesses a deep and comprehensive understanding of critical care, coupled with a remarkable ability to apply this knowledge in clinical settings...Dr. Hansell also approaches patient care with a holistic perspective, consistently prioritizing each patient’s needs and well-being. Furthermore, I find Dr. Hansell’s communication skills exceptionally admirable. He has an innate ability to convey complex medical information in a clear and compassionate manner, ensuring that patients feel heard and understood...His interactions with staff, from nurses to fellow physicians, are marked by respect, kindness, and a collaborative spirit, contributing to an efficient and positive workplace atmosphere—a testament to his caring and kind-hearted personality. As a resident mentor and teacher, Dr. Hansell has significantly impacted my education. He possesses a gift for teaching, simplifying complex concepts into digestible lessons, and always encouraging questions. His guidance has been invaluable, especially in understanding the nuances of medical patient care, procedural patient care, and clinical decision-making...I have been consistently impressed by his composure and his ability to maintain a calm and effective environment. His leadership during such times has not only ensured optimal patient care but also provided a valuable learning experience in managing challenging scenarios.
--Submitted by a medical student
MICU Acting Internship, Fall 2023 - Amudan "Jay" Srinivasan, MD (Resident, Department of Surgery)
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Jay was an exceptional senior resident during surgery clerkship. He always took the time to teach, answer questions, and provide thoughtful, constructive feedback. He also consistently treated me with genuine respect, kindness, and empathy. Jay is an exceptional teacher and leader because he couples kindness and humility with passion and competence. I am grateful for Jay's example as a remarkable physician leader.
--Submitted by a medical student
Surgery Clerkship, Fall 2023 - Christof Kaltenmeier, MD (Resident, Department of Surgery)
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I recently finished my surgery AI in transplant surgery with Dr. Tevar, and I wanted to highlight one of the residents for his unparalleled commitment for teaching and fostering a fantastic learning environment. Dr. Christof Kaltenmeier is extraordinary. His ability to not only teach but excite his peers about the topic or case at hand is truly incredible. He took the time to get me involved, allowed me to learn surgical skills/physiology appropriately, and made this rotation my favorite thus far. I've had the privilege of working with many residents in my prior career (I was a clinical researcher at Penn for close to a decade before starting medical school) and I can say without a shadow of a doubt, that Dr. Kaltenmeier far surpassed any resident I've worked with in regard to teaching, motivating, and incorporating medical students within the team. I'm not sure if there is a resident award internally in your department, but please consider Dr. Kaltenmeier as he is exceptionally deserving of it. The surgical department here at UPMC should be proud of the kind of resident that Christof is. He is truly a wonderful human and will do great things in the future. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
--Submitted by a medical student
Transplant Surgery Acting Internship, Fall 2023 - Ander Dorken Gallastegi, MD (Resident, Department of Surgery)
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Ander was one of the best residents that I've had the pleasure of working with. From day one, he was enthusiastic about teaching, helping me get accustomed to my role, and helping me improve on my clinical practice. Ander always treated me with respect, kindness, and empathy. In addition, he intentionally took the time to teach, answer questions, and provide real-time feedback and mentorship. Ander demonstrated attributes that make an exceptional teacher and leader who will surely continue to do great things. I am grateful for his exceptional professionalism.
--Submitted by a medical student
Surgery Clerkship, Fall 2023 - Gregory Watson, MD, FACS (Faculty, Department of Surgery)
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Dr. Watson demonstrated exceptional professionalism and kindness throughout our time together in clinic and in the OR. He was always intentional about providing quality teaching and thoughtful feedback and encouragement, even when he was coming off of an overnight shift. He has a remarkable way of making those he works with feel seen, heard, dignified, and empowered. I am grateful for Dr. Watson's example as an exceptional physician leader.
--Submitted by a medical student
Surgery Clerkship, Fall 2023 - Helbert Rondon, MD, MS, FACP, FASN, FNKF (Faculty, Department of Medicine)
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Dr. Rondon was an outstanding facilitator for our Body Fluid Homeostasis Renal course. He went above and beyond what most facilitators do, including coming to the class an hour early to write diagrams on all the whiteboards and creating separate worksheets for us to conceptualize the material. Our small group felt that his instruction singlehandedly helped us succeed in renal, a notoriously difficult topic. Dr. Rondon's commitment to medical student education and passion for his field is inspiring, and his excellence in teaching is well-deserving of recognition.
- Estefany Villalobos (Physician Assistant, Department of Critical Care Medicine)
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Estefany was both an exemplary educator and kindhearted. While managing multiple patients within the ICU, she took the time to teach about foundational topics and showcasing evidence-based exam findings. She was shared informational material that aided in the development of her illness scripts and treatment plans. More than just teaching, Estefany approached each interaction with deep empathy, ensuring that both her patients, patient families, and staff felt valued, heard, and understood. Her commitment to combining education with compassion set a standard for excellence even under challenging circumstances.
-Submitted by a Medical Student, Critical Care Clerkship, Fall 2023
- Yue "Max" Qiu, MD (Resident, Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine)
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Even though we were covering a variety of complex patients, Max displayed remarkable blend of skill and compassion. She recognized multiple learning opportunities for me to learn how to do ultrasound guided IVs and guided me though the set up and follow through. She also gently guided me through the procedure when I felt like I was reaching an impasse, encouraging me to continue and to remain patient. Beyond just the clarity and simplification of procedures to me, she also went above and beyond for her own patients, checking on their wellbeing and visiting them when they had eventually transferred out of the ICU.
-Submitted by a Medical Student, Critical Care Clerkship, Fall 2023
- Thomas Fiorica, MD (Resident, Department of Psychiatry)
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…Tom had heard this [difficult interaction] and immediately debriefed this situation with me...he made sure that I knew that he was available if I ever needed to talk. He absolutely made sure my overall experience wasn't affected…he has constantly checked in to make sure I was having a good experience even when he was so inundated himself.
-Submitted by a Medical Student, Psychiatry Clerkship, Fall 2023
- Alexandra Bursic, MD (Faculty, Department of Medicine)
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Dr. Bursic was my small group renal course facilitator and she was absolutely fantastic. Renal is a difficult course with lots of confusing nuances but Dr. Bursic was a wonderful teacher who would always happily answer questions and clarify confusing concepts with diagrams and further explanations.
- Blaise Abramovitz, DO, FASN (Faculty, Department of Medicine)
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Dr. Blaise Abramovitz has been an incredibly enthusiastic and professional facilitator. He has created a learning environment where all students feel comfortable asking questions or attempting to answer a question, taking time to ensure that everybody understands concepts before moving on. Through jokes, nephron-enthusiasm, and amazing muffins (thanks to his wife!), renal workshop became one of the best learning experiences thus far in medical school and also very fun.
- Blaise Abramovitz, DO, FASN (Faculty, Department of Medicine)
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Dr. Blaise Abramovitz has been an incredibly enthusiastic and professional facilitator. He has created a learning environment where all students feel comfortable asking questions or attempting to answer a question, taking time to ensure that everybody understands concepts before moving on. Through jokes, nephron-enthusiasm, and amazing muffins (thanks to his wife!), renal workshop became one of the best learning experiences thus far in medical school and also very fun.
- Blaise Abramovitz, DO, FASN (Faculty, Department of Medicine)
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Dr. Abramovitz was a wonderful facilitator and course director that ensured all students understood the material and what was important for the class and boards. His teaching style facilitated discussion and equal participation among all the students, and his explanations were straightforward and made the kidney seem fun. Additionally, the course, as it is designed, is incredibly organized, with useful workshops and incredible lectures and syllabus notes. The course directors also provided explanations to many of the First Aid diagrams, setting us up to do well for Step. Dr. Abramovitz also brought us baked goods for nearly all workshops, brightening our 8ams!
- Roger Klein, MD, PhD (Resident, Department of Urology)
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Dr. Klein was a fantastic educator who went above and beyond to help teach the first-years pelvic anatomy. In addition to expertly assisting groups in dissecting and preserving relevant anatomy, Dr. Klein stayed for a couple of hours well after most groups had finished dissecting and had left the anatomy lab, repeatedly walking anyone who wanted through the various prosections around the room. Beyond simply teaching the gross anatomy, Dr. Klein integrated clinical pearls that helped to contextualize and solidify the importance of the anatomical relationships, extending into some of the functional actions of the structures that we would be expected to know for our didactic exam. After doing this, Dr. Klein then orchestrated a de facto anatomy practical, pointing to certain structures and asking for us to name them, reinforcing what he had just taught us. After the morning in the anatomy lab, I walked away having confidently learned the required anatomy of the pelvis and didn't need to further study it outside of class -- a testament to Dr. Klein's exceptional teaching.
- Abby Phillips, MD (Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology)
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I worked with Dr. Phillips on my first day of being in an OR, and she was extremely kind and made me feel like I was part of the team. She took the time to show me proper scrubbing technique, gave me the opportunity for hands-on learning, and created a safe learning environment where I felt comfortable asking questions. Additionally, Dr. Phillips's bedside manners were inspiring. She offered reassurance to patients before their surgeries, held their hand while they were being prepped, and waited after the surgery for them to wake up. I truly enjoyed working with her and appreciate the time she took to teach me.
-Submitted by a medical student, Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship, Summer 2023
- Humza Ahmed, MD (Resident, Department of Neurology)
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Humza was always so understanding even when I think he himself was so overwhelmed with patient care. We had an exceptionally bad week, still, he was always trying to teach me, encourage me, and make me feel welcomed. Overall, from a medical student perspective, Humza is the exact epitome of what you'd hope to have as a resident. He's someone who truly cares not only about his patients but also his students.
-Submitted by a medical student, Neurology Clerkship, Summer 2023 - Anthony Oyekan, MD (Resident, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery)
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It was my pleasure to work with Anthony during my short time in the ED. Although we spent less than a day together, his kindness, good nature, and gentle demeanor made him stand out. He is infectiously happy and made me feel like a valuable part of the team even as a medical student. He used a healthy amount of positive reinforcement and his obvious joy with his work made me, who has never considered orthopedics, excited about orthopedics!! This is such a special quality that Anthony possesses. He will be an excellent mentor and teacher to other residents and students and I strongly believe that it reflects very well on the department that he's a chief resident!
Overall, it was refreshing to meet him. Anthony was inclusionary and didn't gatekeep. He made me feel excited about his specialty and made it feel accessible. He made ortho feel fun and exciting and encouraged whatever skills he saw and was the first person actively engaging me as a student. Although it was probably a very little thing to him, it was huge to me.-Submitted by a medical student, Pediatrics Clerkship, Summer 2023
A full list of faculty, staff, and trainee accolades is available.