In his final commencement address as UMKC School of Medicine Dean, Steven L. Kanter, M.D., applauded the Class of 2018 for its accomplishments and welcomed the graduates to the health care profession on May 21 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
The School of Medicine recognized more than 150 graduates with degrees for doctor of medicine, masters in anesthesia, bioinformatics, health professions education, physician assistants, and a graduate certificate in clinical research.
Kanter, who will assume the role of president and chief executive officer of the Association of Academic Health Centers and the Association of Academic Health Centers International (AAHCI) on July 1, reminded the graduates that they are now part of a rich legacy and long-standing tradition of outstanding alumni of the School of Medicine.
One of those alumni, Michael Hinni, M.D. ’88, spoke to the class as the 2018 E. Grey Dimond, M.D., Take Wing Award winner. A renowned surgeon and chair of the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at the May Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, recounted his time at the School of Medicine how it prepared him for his current role in medicine. Specifically, to the more than 110 new physicians, he encouraged them to trust themselves and their education.
He said he was more prepared than he imagined when began his residency because of his vast training at the School of Medicine.
“And you will be, too,” Hinni said. “So, a shout out to the School of Medicine and all of your achievements and your careers.”
2018 Student Award Winners
Master of Science Anesthesia
Jennifer Nolan | Student Ambassador Award
Master of Science Bioinformatics
Carrie Kriz | Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics Award for Excellence
Krishna Patel | Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics Award for Excellence
Doctor of Medicine
Gaurav Anand | Missouri State Medical Association Honors Graduate
Danielle Cunningham | Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation; UMKC School of Medicine Alumni Association Award for Excellence in Medical Education; Richardson K. Noback, M.D., Founders’ Award for Clinical Excellence; Thomas R. Hamilton, M.D., Award for Excellence in Microbiology; Lee Langley Award
Dorothy Daniel | Merck Manual for Outstanding Achievement in Medical Education; Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation; Bette Hamilton, M.D., Memorial Award for Excellence in Immunology
Sanju Eswaran | Merck Manual for Outstanding Achievement in Medical Education; Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation; Lee Langley Award; Richardson K. Noback, M.D., Founders’ Award for Clinical Excellence
Ravali Gummi | Ratilal S. Shah Medical Scholarship Fund; Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Honor Recipient
Ahsan Hussain | J. Michael de Ungria, M.D. Humanitarian Award
Margaret Kirwin | Thomas R. Hamilton, M.D. Award for Excellence in Pathology
Brooks Kimmis | Missouri State Medical Association Honors Graduate
Peter Lazarz | James F. Stanford, M.D. Patient Advocate Scholarship
Eric Dean Merrill | Friends of UMKC School of Medicine Award for Research
Steven Philips | UMKC School of Medicine Alumni Award Association Outstanding Senior Partner
Omar Qayum | Malhotra Family Scholarship for Academic and Clinical Excellence
Nidhi Reddy | Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation
Alexandra Reinbold | Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation
Salvador Rios | Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Award
David Sanborn | Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Honor Recipient
Meghna Singh | Friends of UMKC Harry S. Jonas, M.D., Award; Laura L. Backus, M.D. Award for Excellence in Pediatrics
Shikhar Tomur | Friends of UMKC School of Medicine Basic Science Award
Sai Vanam | ACP Senior Student Book Award
Christopher Wester | Pat D. Do, M.D., Matching Scholarship in Orthopedics
Danielle Witt | Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation; Malhotra Family Scholarship for Academic and Clinical Excellence
