Graduates of the School of Medicine participated in a unique, two-day commencement ceremony at Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium.
A combined ceremony on the afternoon of May 15 brought together graduates of the schools of School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing and Health Studies, and Pharmacy. The following afternoon, UMKC held a ceremony to celebrate May 2020 and December graduates.
The School of Medicine recognized students with its annual senior awards. Five SOM students were also selected by the university as Dean of Student Honors recipients.
Mario Castro, M.D., ’88, who received the School’s 2021 E. Grey Dimond, M.D., Take Wing Award, addressed the graduation classes on Saturday afternoon, saying they would remember this time like no other in their careers.
He shared three particular thoughts. Castro told the graduates to have faith in their training and themselves. He reminded them to be inquisitive and maintain the curiosity that got interested in medicine to begin with. And, he encouraged them to pursue their passions as a physician or health care provider.
“Class of 2021, have faith, question and pursue. Take Wing,” he said.
2021 Dean of Students Honor Recipients
Saniya “Sunny” Ablatt
Charles Burke
Varsha Muthukumar
Isabella Nair
Ginikachukwu Osude
2021 UMKC School of Medicine Senior Awards
Anesthesiologist Assistant Program
Master of Science in Anesthesia Student Ambassador Award
Taylor Brundage
Alex Sextro
Physician Assistant Program
Pi Alpha Honor Society
Nicholas Farace
Chandra Grimes
M.D. Awards
ACP Senior Student Book Award
Varsha Muthukumar
Bette W. Hamilton Memorial Award for Excellence in Immunology
Varsha Muthukumar
Friends of UMKC School of Medicine Award for Research
Yicheng Bao
Friends of UMKC School of Medicine Basic Science Award
Kavelin Rumalla
Friends of UMKC School of Medicine Harry S. Jonas, M.D., Award
Charlie Burke
J. Michael de Ungria, M.D., Humanitarian Award
Tom Mathews
James F. Stanford, M.D., Patient Advocate Scholarship
Claire Wolber
Laura L. Backus, M.D., Award for Excellence in Pediatrics
Maggie Urschler
Lee Langley Award
Brandon Wesche
Malhotra Family Scholarship for Academic and Clinical Excellence
Sarah Jacob
Jacob Perera
Merck Manual for Outstanding Achievement in Medical Education
Brandon Wesche
Vishnu Harikumar
Richardson K. Noback Founders’ Award for Clinical Excellence
Brandon Wesche
Ratilal S. Shah Medical Scholarship Fund
Yicheng Bao
Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Award
Vishal Mittal
Thomas R. Hamilton, M.D., Award for Excellence in Microbiology
Sarah Jacob
Thomas R. Hamilton, M.D., Award for Excellence in Pathology
Prarthana Patel
UMKC School of Medicine Alumni Association Award for Excellence in Medical Education
Vishnu Harikumar
UMKC School of Medicine Alumni Award Association Outstanding Senior Partner
Anna Curtis
Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation
Sarah Jacob
Prarthana Patel
Rashmi Thimmapuram
Komal Kumar
Koral Shah
Alisha Shah
