Faculty & Peer Nominated Awards
2026 Award Winners
Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute Award
Ryan Sindewald
The CTRI Award is provided to an outstanding student whose research best exemplified translational research, by moving discovery from the laboratory to clinical innovation or by enhancing adoption of best practices in the community.
Roderick K. Calverley Humanitarian Service Award
Sidney Lin
The Roderick K. Calverley Humanitarian Service Award is given to a student of high moral character and personal qualities who, during his/her medical school career, has provided outstanding humanitarian service, either in a single event or by a consistent pattern of activity.
Ruth Covell Award In Geriatrics
Nhi Ngoc Quynh Nguyen and Karen Villegas
The Ruth Covell Award in Geriatrics is given to a graduating medical student who has expressed an interest in and demonstrated a commitment to geriatrics through scholarly activities, leadership, and/or participation in geriatrics programs at UC San Diego.
Sandra Daley Award For Advancement of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Nash Daniel Toma
The Sandra Daley Award for Advancement of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion aims to recognize a graduating student who champions the ideals of equity diversity and inclusion.
Mark B. Fefferman, Md Award for Humanitarian Leadership
Vince Adair
The Mark B. Fefferman Memorial Award was established to encourage young physicians to always strive for the betterment of humankind.
Terry Freitas Award for Environmental Health and Medicine
Savannah Kathleen Fakhouri
The Terry Freitas Award recognizes a graduating medical student who has demonstrated an interest in environmental health and medicine and/or an interest in serving the underserved communities.
George G. Glenner Memorial Award
Sponsored by the Department of Pathology
Sandhya Kalavacherla
The George G. Glenner Memorial Award is given to a student who has demonstrated superior clinical skills, dedication to compassionate medical care, and a commitment to study, apply and advance scientific knowledge.
Arlene J. and Dr. Bernard Goodhead Service Award in Oncology
Lily Nguyen
The Arlene J. and Dr. Bernard Goodhead Service Award in Oncology recognizes a graduating student who has completed original research and/or shown an outstanding interest in the field of Oncology, as well as demonstrated academic excellence.
Igor Grant, MD Endowed Award for Academic Excellence and Biomedical Research
Leo Meller
The Igor Grant, MD Endowed Award for Academic Excellence and Biomedical Research recognizes a graduating senior(s) who ranks at the top of their class academically who also sought additional opportunities to conduct biomedical research.
Donald Guiney Memorial Award for Excellence in Infectious Diseases Research
Alexis Elliott
The Donald Guiney Memorial Award for Excellence in Infectious Diseases Research recognizes one senior medical student annually for outstanding independent research project in the general field of Infectious Diseases.
S.B.H. Memorial Thesis Award, in Memory of Samuel B. Hamburger
First Prize: Ananya Venkatesh
Second Prize: Sabrina Straus
Third Prize: Miranda Robinson and Yasoda Satpathy
The S.B.H. Memorial Thesis Award, in memory of Samuel B. Hamburger, is given to graduating medical students for an outstanding Independent Study Project.
The Center for Healthy Aging and Stein Institute's Jackuelyn Harris Award for Excellence in Aging Research
Emma Rice and Liz Timple
This award, named in honor of Jackuelyn M. Harris, MD, recognizes a graduating student who has demonstrated special interest, dedication and success in the field of aging research while maintaining genuine compassion and generous spirit with which Harris was so richly endowed.
Tyler Pardee, MD, Memorial Award
Stephanie Ann Lushniak
The Tyler Pardee, MD Memorial Award recognizes a graduating medical student who best embodies Tyler's personal qualities: active, adventurous, and well-balanced with enormous concern for the well-being and happiness of others.
The Lola Romanucci-Ross and John Ross Jr. Award in Medical Anthropology
Allison Foreman
The Lola Romanucci-Ross and John Ross Jr. Award in Medical Anthropology award is given to a student who has completed a substantive research study (which could be an ISP) concerned with the influence of cultural factors on the delivery of health care, or on the practice of medicine, either in the United States or abroad.
The John and Lola Ross Award in the Sciences and Culture of Medicine
Alec J. Calac
The John and Lola Ross Award in the Science and Culture of Medicine is given to a graduating medical student who has shown high capability and dedication to the medical sciences as well as demonstrable interest and involvement in scholarly or professional activities that are concerned with cultural influences on medical practice and research.
J. Joseph Shelley Award
Gabrielle Shuman
The J. Joseph Shelley Award is given to a graduating medical student committed to working in an underserved community.
Joseph Stokes, III, MD Award
Ananya Venkatesh
The Joseph Stokes, III, MD Award recognizes a graduating medical student who initiated and designed (and when possible implemented) an outstanding ISP in the areas of primary care, clinical epidemiology and preventive medicine in the context of community health and health promotion.
The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award Presented by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation
Zoe Adelaide Matticks
The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, presented by the Arthur P. Gold Foundation, is given to promote humanism and compassion in the care of patients.
Stephen Calderon Memorial Award
Austin Powell
The Steven Calderon Memorial Award is given in memory of Stephen to a graduate who is committed to mentoring others.
David M.Carlson, MD '19 Stoic Resilience in Medicine Award
Linette Acosta-Mercado
This award recognizes a graduating medical student who has faced and surmounted a significant personal or academic obstacle with bravery and determination, demonstrates financial need, and expresses a strong interest in geriatric medicine, psychiatry or longevity.
School of Medicine Awards
Outstanding Contributions to the Medical School Community Award
Zoe Adelaide Matticks
School of Medicine Leadership Award
Celeste Yu-Ling Hsu
Departmental Awards
Emergency Medicine Senior Award from The Society Of Academic Emergency Medicine
Evan Ashcraft
Department of Medicine Senior Award
Yasoda Satpathy
The Paul and Barbara Insel Endowed Award on Behalf of a Medical Scientist Training Program Graduate
James Deng and Diana Mun Yee Smith
American Academy of Neurology Student Award
Emma Rice
Department of Neurosciences Senior Award
Soumya Ravichandran
Department Of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences Senior Award
Anika Ashcraft
Excellence in Pallative Care
Yasmin A. Zuch
Excellence in Ophthalmology Award
Leo Meller
Dr. Steven Robert Garfin Medical Student Excellence in Orthopaedic Surgery Award
Emily Grace Pedrick
UC San Diego Excellence in Otolaryngology/ Head and Neck Surgery Award
Sandhya Kalavacherla
Award for Excellence in Pathology
Yasmin A. Zuch
Department of Pediatrics Senior Award
E.J. Curtis
Primary Care Clerkship Award
Aidan Galati
Department of Psychiatry Senior Award
Amber Li
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Inclusive Excellence Award
Linette Acosta-Mercado
Department of Radiology Senior Student Award
Lily Nguyen and Anthony Ho
Elliott Lasser Excellence in Radiology Research Award
Nicole Alexis Gamboa and Anthony Ho
Foundation Achievement Award in Surgery
Sadie Elizabeth Munter and Sabrina Straus
Pain Medicine and Rehabilitation Book Award for Excellence
Matthew R. Allen
Community Awards
American Medical Women’s Association Glasgow-Rubin Citation for Academic Achievement
Madison Alexander
Anika Ashcraft
Abbey Mae Ervin
Sandhya Kalavacherla
Bryanna J. Lee
Stephanie Ann Lushniak
Letitia Audrey Mueller
Pooja Karthika Nair
Emily Grace Pedrick
Miranda Robinson
Diana Mun Yee Smith
Sabrina Straus
Halle Rae Walls
The Kiwanis Club of San Diego Foundation / Walter A. Zitlau Memorial Award
Mirha Mahmood
Merck Award for Outstanding Academic Accomplishments
Madison Alexander
James Deng
Leo Meller