Loma Linda University School of Medicine’s Senior Awards Banquet is a time to reflect and honor graduating medical students. Award recipients were recognized for high achievement in academics, leadership and research.
The 2024 Senior Awards Banquet was held on May 22 in the Wong Kerlee International Conference Center.
2024 Student Story Videos:
President's Award
The President's Award, established in 1960, is presented in recognition of superior scholastic attainment and active participation in the student community, within the framework of Christian commitment. One recipient is selected from each school of the University.
Luke Berger
Dean’s Award
The Dean's Award is presented in recognition of a student that has shown outstanding academic accomplishments in addition to exemplifying the mission of Loma Linda University School of Medicine to Make Man Whole through their service to patients, fellow students, and professional community.
Sydney Meadowcroft
School of Medicine Awards
Established in 2022, these are presented in recognition of graduates who have exhibited exceptional leadership, extraordinary service, and genuine commitment to engaging in the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. Recipients are recognized in diverse leadership roles.
Academic Achievement Award:
Hannah Peterson
Lindi Newton
Nathaniel Srikureja
Impact on the World Leadership Award:
Sherrefa Burchell
Physician Scientist Award:
George Mukosera
Service to Our School Award:
Sharmayne Siu
Lorraine Siebold
Wholeness and Engagement Mission Award:
Rebekah Leigh
Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
Fourth year students are recommended for membership in the national honor medical society, Alpha Omega Alpha. Membership is determined based on scholastic, professional, and personal performance. The School of Medicine was granted a charter for establishing the Epsilon Chapter on April 1, 1957.
Caryn Ausenhus, Nathan Batres, Luke Berger, Julianne Byun, Ricky Chen, Gerald Cheng, Merai Estafanous, Yuna Han, Savannah Hodgkin, Daniel Jhang, Juliane Johnson, Haley Kempf, Rebekah Leigh, Brittany McPhee, Jennifer Merrill, George Mukosera, Antoine Nehme, Lindi Newton, Tiffany Pariva, Aliyah Patterson, Jonathon Payne, Hannah Peterson, Alphie Rotinsulu, Jacob Schettler, Amanda Shim, Lorraine Siebold, Sharmayne Siu, Nathaniel Srikureja, Andrei Tong, Shelley Villamor, Courtney Walters, Cheryl Wang, Matthew Wilson
Gold Humanism Honor Society
Recognizes students, residents and faculty who are exemplars of compassionate patient care and who serve as role models, mentors, and leaders in medicine.
Douglas Anderson, Caryn Ausenhus, Luke Berger, Barbara Bolivar, Lauren Borecky, Sherrefa Burchell, Jedel Butoy, Jeanette Byer, Gabriela De Los Santos, Merai Estafanous, Kathryn Cloete, Yuna Han, Karli Haugen, Lance Hofer-Draper, Haley Kempf, Lindsey Kim, Jennifer Merrill, George Mukosera, Lindi Newton, Hannah Peterson, Joshua Salguero, Jacob Schettler, Amanda Shim, Lorraine Siebold, Andrei Tong, Cheryl Wang
Alumni Association’s Herber Award
Marilyn Dart Herber '58 is a second-generation graduate of Loma Linda University School of Medicine. With only four women classmates, she developed a strong sense of dedication to helping women get into medical school and then guiding them into all specialties. She hosted a dinner in her home for 25 years where women alumni could meet with women medical students to give them advice on integration of home, family and practice. The School of Medicine Alumni Association Award is given to students who demonstrate outstanding leadership in furthering the mission of Loma Linda University School of Medicine.
Caryn Ausenhus, Barbara Bolivar, Jedel Butoy, Ricky Chen, Karli Haugen, Daniel Jhang, Juliane Johnson, Stephen Ortiz, Cheryl Wang
Class of 1990 Heart for Service Award
Established and funded by the class of 1990, the Heart for Service Award is given to senior medical students who exemplifies the character of Christ and demonstrates a commitment to service, either at home or abroad.
Lance Hofer-Draper
Wil Alexander Whole Person Care Award
The Wil Alexander Whole Person Care Award recognizes a senior medical student who has demonstrated to their peers and colleagues, during their clinical years, a growing excellence in the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and relational care of their patients as part of the art of medical practice.
Jennifer Merrill
DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS
Department of Anesthesiology
Bernard D. Briggs Award - For nearly six decades, Bernard D. Briggs '40 taught and mentored anesthesiology students and residents at Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston) and Loma Linda University School of Medicine. The Department of Anesthesiology, which he helped establish in 1957, is now recognized as a leading resident training center in the United States. The Bernard Briggs Award is presented by the department to an outstanding medical student entering the field of anesthesiology who exhibits the dedication, enthusiasm, and commitment of the visionary physician for whom it is named.
Kayla Canteras
Department of Emergency Medicine
3 a.m. Award - Presented to the student who most embodies the work ethic, positive attitude, and spirit of collegiality that makes the department grateful to be working next to them at all hours in the emergency department.
Amanda Shim
Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Award is offered to each medical school in the United States and Canada. It is awarded to the senior medical student who best exemplifies the qualities of an emergency medicine physician, as manifested by excellent clinical, interpersonal and manual skills, and a dedication to continued professional development leading to outstanding performance on emergency medicine rotations.
Jacob Schettler
Department of Family Medicine
Walter P. Ordelheide Award - Walter P. Ordelheide '54 served as department chair from March 1, 1981, to October 30, 1989. As the founding father of the Department of Family Medicine, he was an exemplary leader and role model for students. He continues to emulate the true spirit of the healing physician through his work as a missionary. In keeping with the style of Dr. Ordelheide's practice in medicine, we have established this award of distinction.
Jonathan Williams
Verena Tadros
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Harold E. Ziprick Award - Harold F. Ziprick '37 served as a professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Loma Linda University School of Medicine from 1963 to 1983, and as chair of the department from 1970 to 1979. This award, named in his memory, is in recognition of his dedication to superior medical education. Dr. Ziprick was a pioneer in establishing many of the training programs in gynecology and obstetrics, which continue to this day.
Merai Estafanous
Department of Medicine
Daniel D. Comstock Award - This award is given to the senior medical student with the highest grade in medicine. Dr. Comstock had the distinction of serving as chair of the Department of Medicine the greatest number of years - from 1919 to 1948 - a total of 29 years. During his years of leadership, a remarkable medicine curriculum was established that remained virtually unchanged for 50 years! This curriculum prepared the students to excel on board exams and produced outstanding interns.
Sydney Meadowcroft
Donald E. Griggs Award - This award is given to the senior medical student with the highest grade in clinical rotations in medicine. Soon after Donald E. Griggs '24 graduated, he and his bride, Loice, became missionaries to China, where he developed a life-threatening infection that resulted in the amputation of his left forearm. Returning to the United States, he spent the rest of his life working for his alma mater. Although he was chair of the Department of Medicine for several years, he is best remembered as chief of the cardiology division.
Luke Berger
Harold J. Hoxie Award - This award is given to a senior medical student for exceptional performance in medicine with emphasis on research. Immediately after finishing his internal medicine residency, Harold J Hoxie '33 became head of the clinical training of CME students at the Los Angeles County General Hospital. He organized the teaching rounds, student case presentations, grand rounds and resident teaching conferences with the assistance of many excellent volunteer faculty. He was also considered an excellent diagnostician, consulting in many difficult patient cases.
Andrei Tong
Haley Kempf
Varner J. Johns Jr. Award - This award is given to a senior medical student who is recognized as an outstanding student with the potential of becoming a future faculty member in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Johns graduated in the class of 1945 and later served as chair of the Department of Medicine for many years. His interest and encouragement to many medical students and residents greatly contributed to those individuals joining the faculty of the medical school. Dr. Johns was himself clearly recognized as an outstanding teacher and supporter of the School of Medicine.
Lindi Newton
Randy Sihotang
Department of Neurology
Guy M. Hunt Award - Guy M. Hunt '42 taught medical students in neurology and anatomy at Loma Linda University School of Medicine from 1945 to 1992 and was awarded the School of Medicine's Distinguished Service Award in 1997. Dr. Hunt created innovative educational techniques such as showing his own movies of patients to help correlate neuroanatomy with clinical neurology. His passion for education led him to devote significant portions of his clinical income toward the teaching of neuroanatomy.
Jeanette Marie Byer
AAN Medical Student Prize for Excellence -The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Medical Student Prize for Excellence is presented to the medical student who combines outstanding academic achievement and the spirit of gentle caring and shows promising career potential in neurology as seen by their institution’s faculty and residents.
Lorraine Siebold
Department of Ophthalmology
Ernest Zane Award - Ernest Zane’ 56 was “Doctor Loma Linda”, serving at this institution for 52 years. He was an amazing teacher and mentor, strongly advocating for medical student and resident education. The Dr Zane “Resident Teacher of the Year” award was created in his honor; he was also the 2016 Honored Alumnus. Dr Zane was a guiding force in the rebirth of the Department of Ophthalmology in 1999, serving as interim Department Chair. The Ernest Zane Award is given to an outstanding medical student entering the field of Ophthalmology who exemplifies a commitment to mission service and a deep interest in continuing the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus Christ.
Sharmayne Siu
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Philip H. Reiswig Award - Since the founding of the LLUMC Orthopaedic Residency in 1969, Philip Reiswig '61 has mentored residents and students in the field of orthopaedic surgery. Dr. Reiwig exemplifies the virtues of completeness of patient information collection and clarity of thought in problem-solving. Many graduates attribute their analytical skills to Dr. Reiswig. The Philip Reiswig Award is presented by the department and the Neufeld Society to an outstanding student entering the field of orthopaedic surgery who exhibits the dedication, enthusiasm and commitment of the physician-leader for whom it is named.
Brittany McPhee
Department of Pediatrics
Robert F. Chinnock Award - Robert F. Chinnock '44-A was the first chair of the Department of Pediatrics, from 1949 to 1975, in the School of Medicine with formal training in pediatrics. Dr. Chinnock was a brilliant hard-working individual who had intolerance for mediocrity and had a love for excellence. He loved to teach and motivate students who held him in awe because of his demand for excellence. He established the first camp for children with diabetes in California, which is still held each summer in our local mountains. When his untimely death in 1975 occurred, the pediatric faculty established a Robert F. Chinnock award in his honor. This award is given to the senior medical student who shows outstanding performance in pediatrics.
Kelsey Testman
Department of Preventive Medicine
Dysinger Family Preventive Medicine Award - The Dysinger Family Preventive Medicine Award is bestowed on medical students who demonstrate – through clerkship performance, interest group leadership, and residency choice – that they value disease prevention, population health, and the use of lifestyle medicine in disease treatment. The Award is in memory of Stephen Dysinger, who passed away in 2006 at age 13 years from a rhabdomyosarcoma. The award was set up by his grandfather, P. William Dysinger, MD, MPH, who helped found the Loma Linda University School of Public Health. His son, Wayne S. Dysinger, MD, MPH, was chair of the Preventive Medicine Department at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine for twelve years, taught Preventive Medicine to a generation of medical students, and helped establish the sub-specialty of Lifestyle Medicine and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.
Kathryn Cloete
Lance Hofer-Draper
Jonathon Payne
Department of Psychiatry
Benjamin Kovitz Award - This award is named for Benjamin Kovitz, MD, who has been a professor in the School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry since 1963. Dr. Kovitz' clinical skills, superb teaching, research contributions and role model have made him revered in the department and recognized nationally and internationally for his lifetime of contributions to psychiatry and society. This award is presented to a senior medical student who has demonstrated qualities of leadership and scholarship in the field of psychiatry.
Gerald Cheng
Department of Radiology
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Awards -These awards are given to students who are devoted to the field of radiology as evidenced by their distinguished service, exceptional performance, and commitment to pursuing radiology as a career.
Winter Smith
Courtney Walters
Department of Surgery
David B. Hinshaw Sr. Award - This award given by the Department of Surgery honors David B. Hinshaw Sr.'47, former department chair, Dean of the School of Medicine and Chief Executive Officer of Loma Linda University Medical Center. Dr. Hinshaw was the single individual most responsible for the relocation of the School of Medicine from Los Angeles to the Loma Linda campus in 1962. He has provided leadership through all phases of the development of our academic medical center as we know it today. Dr. Hinshaw devoted a great deal of his time to training general surgeons and to medical student education. The Hinshaw Award is presented to a senior student who has demonstrated outstanding qualities of leadership and scholarship, and who is entering a categorical surgery residency program with the intention of pursuing a career in general surgery.
Aliyah Patterson
Plastic Surgery Alumni - Robert A. Hardesty Plastic Surgery Award
The Robert A. Hardesty, MD award was established by the LLU Plastic Surgery Resident and Faculty Alumni Society. Dr. Hardesty is a LLUSM graduate (Class of 1978–A). Upon returning to his alma matter after fellowship, he started the integrated Plastic Surgery residency training program in the nation. He has demonstrated his leadership in numerous positions including as president of Medical Staff at LLUMC and as president of the California Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Hardesty is known for his research, teaching and advocacy for students and residents, and his international medical trips.
This award is presented to a senior medical student who has demonstrated and exemplifies the qualities of physician leadership, enthusiasm, scholarship, and mission of Loma Linda University School of Medicine.
Jonathon Payne
Department of Urology
Roger W. Barnes Award - This award in honor of Roger W. Barnes '22 is presented to a senior student who has demonstrated to an unusual degree, qualities of compassion, kindness, and humility - as exhibited by the physician and teacher for whom the award is named.
Douglas Anderson
Departmental Advising Award
The Departmental Advising Award is given annually by the Dean's Office to the clinical department that has provided outstanding career counseling and extraordinary support to help students achieve their career aspirations.
Urology
Residents of the Year Award
The Office of Medical Student Education started this award in 2015 to recognize the residents who exemplify professionalism and superb teaching skills.
Kelly Fong
Miao Wei