The 57 graduating students in the MD Class of 2019 were celebrated and welcomed as alumni during the medical school’s annual Awards and Alumni Banquet.
The banquet was held on Thursday, May 2, 2019, at the CityScape Events Center in downtown Kalamazoo.
Each year at the banquet, WMed’s fourth-year students are welcomed as alumni as they prepare for commencement and then residency training. Faculty also are recognized during the event with awards chosen by the students.
During a special presentation at this year’s banquet, students in the Class of 2019 took a moment to honor someone close to their hearts – Jennifer Ezell, a custodian at the medical school’s W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus.
“This person has shown us what it means to be a generous, humble, hard worker,” fourth-year student Elizabeth Kinsella said before presenting Ezell with the class gift. “She has kept the halls of WMed immaculate and created a space for us that is inviting and clean. Beyond that, she’s been our friend and a constant voice of encouragement, always brightening our days with a quick chat or compliment.
“I speak for every member of the Class of 2019 in saying Jennifer, we admire you tremendously and love you dearly. We are so glad you’ve been part of our WMed family.”
Here’s a complete list of the students and faculty who were honored during the 2019 Awards and Alumni Banquet:
Outstanding Student Awards
Anesthesiology: Michael Chavarria and Jeffrey Friedman
Emergency Medicine: Nathan Whelham
Family and Community Medicine: Jennifer Kim
Medicine: Keegan Colletier and Amy Rechenberg
Obstetrics and Gynecology: Claire Cameron-Ruetz and David Lee
Orthopaedic Surgery: Evan Kohler
Pathology: Melanie Bourgeau
Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine: Kimberly Wells and Ai Yamasaki
Radiology: Peter Hoeksema
Surgery: Samuel Lai
CLEAR Awards
Clinician Award: Nicholas Sweda
Leader Award: Nathan Whelham
Educator Award: Neil Hughes
Advocate Award: Grace Parikh-Walter
Researcher Award: Samuel Lai
Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society Inductees
Ashley Akkal
Jordan Fenlon
Tyler Gardner
Peter Hoeksema
Xavier Jean
Audrey Jensen
Evan Kohler
Beau Prey
Nathan Whelham
Gold Humanism Honor Society Inductees
Claire Cameron-Ruetz
Michael Chavarria
Brittany Chow
Neil Hughes
Audrey Jensen
Elizabeth Kinsella
Nathan Whelham
Ai Yamasaki
Dean’s Endowed Scholarship
Nathan Whelham
Peter H. Capelli Endowed Scholarship
Jordan Fenlon
Military Recognition
Sarah Kemp
Beau Prey
Faculty Awards
Outstanding Basic Science Educator, Foundations of Medicine
Timothy Bauler, PhD
Outstanding Clinical Science Educator, Foundations of Medicine
Joel Reinoehl, MD
Outstanding Clinical Science Educator, Clerkship Director
Lisa Miller, MD
Outstanding Clinical Science Educator, Clinical Faculty
Sheldon Maltz, MD
Outstanding Clinical Science Educator, Resident Physician
Jairo Espinosa, MD
Outstanding Basic Science Educator, Foundations of Medicine, 2021
Jade Woodcock, MA
Outstanding Basic Science Educator, Foundations of Medicine, 2021
Joseph Prahlow, MD