The School of Medicine recognized nearly 30 graduating students who participated in the university’s virtual December commencement ceremony on Dec. 19. Similar to the virtual commencement last May, UMKC worked with friends and supporters across Kansas City to celebrate Fall semester graduates with a spectacular “Light Up the Night” salute, with iconic Kansas City buildings lit up in vivid Roo blue and gold.
This school’s list of participants included 18 students who received their M.D. and 11 who received either a graduate certificate or master’s degree.
“Earning a degree from an accredited research university such as ours is a true achievement, one worthy of celebration,” said Chancellor Mauli Agrawal, Ph.D. “In these times, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, our celebrations must be planned with care. The health and safety of our graduates and their loved ones must remain our highest priority.”
In addition to going virtual in December, UMKC announced that it still intends to have an in-person commencement for May and December 2020 grads at some future date but will postpone setting a date until health and safety conditions permit. Earlier in the year, UMKC had hoped to hold that in-person celebration in December.
In a letter to campus, Chancellor Agrawal and Provost Jenny Lundgren said: “Clearly, we do not know when large events will be safe again and cannot realistically set a date at this time.”
But they noted that they “firmly believe that every UMKC graduate should have the opportunity to be personally recognized for the degree they’ve worked so hard to earn in the presence of their loved ones and closest friends and fellow graduates.”
UMKC leaders worked with students to plan the virtual ceremony last spring and consulted with them again on the decision to stay virtual this fall while continuing to plan for an in-person ceremony once it is safe to hold one.
Students earning a Doctor of Medicine
Sarah Atallah
Austin Bachar
Rico Beuford
Jaco Bly
Tom Chen
Julia Clem
Anna Curtis
Manuela Garcia
Nina Govalla
Andrew Jozwiakowski
Connor King
Alex Luke
Michael Manalo
Adiba Matin
Deanne Pisarkiewicz
Kavelin Rumalla
Margaret Urschler
Brandon Wesche
Students earning a Graduate Certificate
Binod Wagle
Tamika Cranford
Sarah Studyvin
Travis Gratton
Bini Moorthy
Students earning a Master of Science in Bioinformatics
Moghniuddin Mohammed
Andy Tran
Yahia Mohamed
Students earning a Master of Health Professions Education
Melanie Camejo
Courney McCain
Joy Solano
Erica Sherry, 2020 graduate of the master of science of anesthesia program, is hooded by her husband in the School of Medicine’s virtual commencement ceremony.
Graduation had a slightly different look and feel because of the coronavirus pandemic, but the excitement and joy was the same. The UMKC School of Medicine honored 145 members of the Class of 2020 on May 18 with an online commencement ceremony.
School of Medicine Dean Mary Anne Jackson, M.D., joined Chancellor C. Mauli Agrawal, Ph.D., and Dana Thompson, M.D., ’91, the E. Grey Dimond, M.D., Take Wing Award recipient, in applauding the graduates.
The celebration included video clips of graduates being hooded by family and friends at home as each name was read following a congratulatory message from each individual’s docent and program director.
“It’s been inspiring to see the resilience and determined efforts of our students, faculty and staff,” Jackson said. “But our success has not been surprising because the School of Medicine has always taken a different approach.”
This class will be part of a team of health care providers involved in developing and implementing new diagnostics, therapies and vaccines going forward, she said.
“You will continue to be the heart of the health care system as we traverse the next days, weeks and years of this pandemic,” Jackson said. “Be proud and celebrate this day. We are honored to have been a part of this success.”
In her recorded message, Thompson talked about the values of learning, diversity, integrity, accountability, respect and collaboration that the school has imparted upon its more than 4,000 graduates.
“As health care professionals, all of you are also leaders,” Thompson said. “Each one of you will lead teams, policies, processes and procedures that will change health care education, research and delivery. These values have shaped each one of you for success as you start your careers at this time of unprecedented change in medicine. As the world changes, so must we. You will be called upon to shape and change the future of medicine.”
Dean of Students Honors Recipients
Fourteen School of Medicine students are among those nominated as Dean of Students Honors Recipients. Students are nominated by faculty and staff for their commitment to academic success while actively participating in leadership and service to the community and our university outside of the classroom.
The students are Priyesha Bijlan, Morgan Dresvyannikov, Elsa George, Thomas Haferkamp, Chizitam Ibezim, Anusha Kodidhi, Christopher Kurian, Rmaah Memon, Anthony Oyekan, Nicole Rogers, Subhjit Sekhon, Mehr-Zahra Shah, Saumya Singh, Garima Thakkar.
Nominators and students recorded videos reflecting on this semester’s honors.
School of Medicine 2020 Senior Awards
Master of Science in Anesthesia
Sadie Laddusaw | Student Ambassador Award
Doctor of Medicine
Priyesha Bijlani | Dean of Students Honor Recipient
Emily Boschert | Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation; Missouri State Medical Association Honors Graduates
Tim Brotherton | Malhotra Family Scholarship for Academic and Clinical Excellence
Shelby Chesbro | Dean of Students Honor Recipient; Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation
Jordan Dhuse | Dean of Students Honor Recipient
Morgan Dresvyannikov | Dean of Students Honor Recipient
Karen Figenshau | Malhotra Family Scholarship for Academic and Clinical Excellence; Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation
Elizabeth George | Dean of Students Honor Recipient
Keerthi Gondi | Friends of UMKC School of Medicine Harry S. Jonas, M.D., Award; Missouri State Medical Association Honors Graduates
Thomas Haferkamp | Dean of Students Honor Recipient
Chizitam Ibezim | Dean of Students Honor Recipient
Robert Johnson | J. Michael de Ungria, M.D., Humanitarian Award
Anusha Kodidhi | Dean of Students Honor Recipient
Christopher Kurian | Dean of Students Honor Recipient; UMKC School of Medicine Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Senior Partner
Robert Link | Pat. D. Do, M.D., Matching Scholarship in Orthopedics
Cynthia Liu | Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation
Neil Maitra | ACP Senior Student Book Award; Friends of UMKC School of Medicine Basic Science Award
Rmaah Memon | Dean of Students Honor Recipient
Daniel O’Toole | Bette Hamilton, M.D., Memorial Award for Excellence in Immunology; Lee Langley Award; Merck Manual for Outstanding Achievement in Medical Education; Richardson K. Noback Founders’ Award for Clinical Excellence; Thomas R. Hamilton, M.D., Award for Excellence in Microbiology; Thomas R. Hamilton, M.D., Award for Excellence in Pathology
Anthony Oyekan | Dean of Students Honor Recipient
Nikita Rafie | Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation
Zachary Randall | Dean of Students Honor Recipient; James F. Stanford, M.D., Patient Advocate Scholarship; UMKC School of Medicine Alumni Association Award for Excellence in Medical Education
Marcella Riley | Dean of Students Honor Recipient
Nicole Rogers | Dean of Students Honor Recipient
Landon Rohowetz | Dean of Students Honor Recipient; Friends of UMKC School of Medicine Award for Research; Merck Manual for Outstanding Achievement in Medical Education; Missouri State Medical Association Honors Graduates; Ratilal S. Shah Medical Scholarship Fund
Subhjit Sekhon | Dean of Students Honor Recipient
Mehr Zahra Shah | Dean of Students Honor Recipient
Saumya Singh | Dean of Students Honor Recipient
Shane Storm | Laura L. Backus, M.D., Award for Excellence in Pediatrics
Garima Thakkar | Dean of Students Honor Recipient
Krishna Trivedi | Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation
More than 130 UMKC School of Medicine celebrated receiving their doctor of medicine and graduate degrees at the 2019 commencement ceremony on May 20 at Kansas City’ Kauffman Center for the Preforming Arts.
This year’s class included 95 doctor of medicine graduates and 41 students who earned their master’s degrees in the anesthesia assistant, bioinformatics, health professions education and physician assistant programs.
Reminded that they have become part of a rich legacy and long-standing tradition of outstanding alumni of the School of Medicine, the graduates heard from two of those alumni.
Interim Dean Mary Anne Jackson, M.D., a 1978 graduate, told the graduates to view what they do in patient care as both an honor and a privilege.
“Be passionate and persistent,” she said. “And work for the greater good of your patients.”
Arif Kamal, M.D., ’05, MBA, MHS, winner of the 2019 E. Grey Dimond, M.D., Take Wing Award, encouraged the graduates that more than care providers they will also be clinicians, healers and compassionate.
The quality and outcomes officer for the Duke Cancer Institute in Durham, North Carolina, Kamal gave the graduates one final charge.
“Stop asking people what’s the matter with them,” Kamal said. “And start asking what matters to them.”
2019 Senior Awards
Master of Science in Anesthesia Kayla Hickey – Student Ambassador Award Hector Sierra Escobedo – Student Ambassador Award
Master of Science Bioinformatics Frances Grimstad, M.D. – Dean of Students Honor Recipient Award
Doctor of Medicine Naman Agrawal – Friends of UMKC School of Medicine Basic Science Award Joseph Bennett – UMKC School of Medicine Alumni Award Association Outstanding Senior Partner Deven Bhatia – Richardson K. Noback Founders’ Award for Clinical Excellence; Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Award Lauren Bulgarelli – Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation Taylor Carter – Dean of Students Honor Recipient Award Ahmed Elbermawy – Merck Manual for Outstanding Achievement in Medical Education Ella Glaser – Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation; Malhotra Family Scholarship for Academic and Clinical Excellence Jonah Graves – Missouri State Medical Association Honors Graduate Luke He – Missouri State Medical Association Honors Graduate; Richardson K. Noback Founders’ Award for Clinical Excellence Cindy Jiang – Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation Christian Lamb – Merck Manual for Outstanding Achievement in Medical Education Megan Lilley – James F. Stanford, M.D. Patient Advocate Scholarship John Logan – Malhotra Family Scholarship for Academic and Clinical Excellence Haley Mayenkar – Missouri State Medical Association Honors Graduate Niraj Madhani – Bette Hamilton, M.D. Memorial Award for Excellence in Immunology; Thomas R. Hamilton, M.D. Award for Excellence in Pathology Raksha Madhavan – Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation Rebecca Maltsev – J. Michael de Ungria, M.D. Humanitarian Award Imran Nizamuddin – Lee Langley Award; Thomas R. Hamilton, M.D. Award for Excellence in Microbiology; ACP Senior Student Book Award; Dean of Students Honor Recipient Award Carlee Oakley – Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation; UMKC School of Medicine Alumni Association Award for Excellence in Medical Education; Friends of UMKC School of Medicine Award for Research Sarah Pourakbar – Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation Grace Rector – Friends of UMKC Harry S. Jonas, M.D. Award; Laura L. Backus, M.D. Award for Excellence in Pediatrics Mitchell Solano – Pat. D. Do, M.D., Matching Scholarship in Orthopaedics
Members of the School of Medicine Class of 2018 line up to have their names called during the Commcencement ceremony on May 21 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
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
Three students from the School of Medicine received their degrees and participated in the UMKC Mid-Year Commencement Ceremony on Dec. 16 at Swinney Recreation Center.
Apurva Bhatt and Claire Smith received their Doctor of Medicine degrees, and Deborah Montgomery received her Master of Science in Bioinformatics degree.
The combined mid-year ceremony honored graduates from the Conservatory of Music and Dance, Henry W. Bloch School of Management, School of Biological Sciences, School of Computing and Engineering, School of Education, School of Law, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy and the School of Graduate Studies.
The School of Medicine’s spring graduation ceremony is scheduled for 3 p.m. on May 21, at the Kauffman Center.
The School of Medicine Class of 2015 celebrates its upcoming graduation on May 20 and the Kansas City Music Hall.
In his first commencement address to graduating students of the School of Medicine on May 20, Dean Steven Kanter, M.D., welcomed the Class of 2015 to the medical profession and encouraged each one not to sell themselves short.
As the keynote speaker, the first-year dean congratulated a class of more than 130 students receiving their medical degrees, master’s degrees in anesthesia and bioinformatics, and graduate certificates in clinical research. Kanter told those about to enter the medical profession that they are heirs of the longstanding traditions of excellence established by those who had graduated from the School of Medicine before them.
Borrowing from David Letterman, Kanter offered up his own Top 10 List with questions, comments and anxieties he said he had heard from students during the weeks leading up to graduation day and his replies. The top comment, he said, “I can’t wait to graduate, then I won’t have to tell the patient I am the student on the team. I can say, ‘I’m your health care provider.’ ”
“My advice,” Kanter said. “Don’t sell yourself short. You will be much more to your patients than just a health care provider.”
Providing care, he said, is only part of the role. As health care professionals, the graduates will also serve as healers, helpers and advocates for the sick.
“Go forth and embrace the challenges of our profession,” Kanter said. “You are about to embark on an adventure of a lifetime.”
Timothy Buie, M.D. ’84, recipient of the 2015 E. Grey Dimond, M.D., Take Wing Award, told the graduates that joy in life will come from the adventure itself and, while they may have a plan for their lives, they should be open to whatever opportunities may come.
“Be proud of your accomplishments, but be more proud of the way you accomplished them,” Buie said. “Do your work, care for your family, care for your patients, care for your colleagues with love, respect and empathy. You’ll be more proud of those accomplishments, and people will share those accomplishments with you.”
Lance Brandenburgh, M.D. ’15, is hooded by his docent, Fariha Shafi, M.D., while holding his son, Beau, at the School of Medicine’s commencement ceremony on May 20 at the Kansas CIty Music Hall.
Medicine graduates were hooded by their individual docents just prior to the full class reciting the Oath of Physicians. For one grad, Lance Brandenburgh, the ceremony became a family affair as he carried his son, Beau, with him on the stage when he was hooded by his docent, Fariha Shafi, M.D.
UMKC Chancellor Leo Morton addressed the graduating class as well, saying that it had distinguished itself as a group of scholars, community volunteers and leaders. He said the graduates are well-prepared to meet the demands of a world that will expect a great deal of them. “I know that you are up to the challenge,” Morton said.
John Phillips, a member of the University of Missouri Board of Curators, also offered his congratulations and urged members of the class to use their knowledge to realize their full potential. “You have proven you have the dedication and the ambition to be successful in today’s constantly changing world,” he said. “Treasure this foundation and build wisely.”
Student Award Winners
Master of Science Anesthesia
Landon Streed | Student Ambassador Award
Master of Science Bioinformatics
Timothy Fendler, M.D. | Academic Excellence Award
Greyson Twist | Academic Excellence Award
Doctor of Medicine
Leny Abraham | James F. Stanford, M.D. Patient Advocate Scholarship
Lisa Brown | Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation
Adnan Cheema | Pat. D. Do, M.D. Matching Scholarship in Orthopedics; UMKC School of Medicine Alumni Association Award for Excellence in Medical Education
Kathryn Clarkston | Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation
Steven Curti | Merck Manual for Outstanding Achievement in Medical Education; Missouri State Medical Association Honors Graduate
Scott Helgeson | ACP Senior Student Book Award; Friends of UMKC School of Medicine Award for Research
Bailey Hunkler | R. R. Hannas, M.D. Emergency Medicine Award
Matthew Kliethermes | Malhotra Family Scholarship for Academic and Clinical Excellence; Friends of UMKC School of Medicine Basic Science Award
Sheeba Kunnel | Michael de Ungria, M.D. Humanitarian Award
Megan Litzau | Missouri State Medical Association Honors Graduate; Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Award; Thomas R. Hamilton, M.D. Award for Excellence in Microbiology; Thomas R. Hamilton, M.D. Award for Excellence in Pathology; Vice Chancellor’s Honor Roll Recipient Award; Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation
Nishika Middasani | Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation
Kaitlin Nickols | Laura L. Backus, M.D. Award for Excellence in Pediatrics
Nasreen Quadri | Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation
Christopher Schiavo | Bette Hamilton, M.D. Memorial Award for Excellence in Immunology; Malhotra Family Scholarship for Academic and Clinical Excellence
Erin Sieck | Gold Humanism Leonard Tow Award
Senthil Sukumar | Lee Langley Award; Merck Manual for Outstanding Achievement in Medical Education
Jessica Van Mason | UMKC School of Medicine Alumni Award Association Outstanding Senior Partner
Benjanmin Van Treek | Missouri State Medical Association Honors Graduate
Kaitlin Vogt | Women in Medicine Scholarship Achievement Citation
Samantha Wiemann | Friends of UMKC School of Medicine Harry S. Jonas, M.D. Award
The School of Medicine recognized nearly 30 graduating students who participated in the university’s virtual December commencement ceremony on Dec. 19. Similar to the virtual commencement last May, UMKC worked with friends and supporters across Kansas City to celebrate Fall semester graduates with a spectacular “Light Up the Night” salute, with iconic Kansas City buildings lit up in vivid Roo blue and gold.
More than 130 UMKC School of Medicine celebrated receiving their doctor of medicine and graduate degrees at the 2019 commencement ceremony on May 20 at Kansas City’ Kauffman Center for the Preforming Arts.
