LEWISBURG W.Va. (WVDN) – LEWISBURG W.Va. (WVDN) – The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) students in the Class of 2024 were recognized for their achievements in medical school during a Graduation Awards Ceremony on May 2. Graduation awards totaled $69,100 with students being recognized in 33 categories including awards, scholarships and membership in national organizations.
This year’s class consisted of 190 graduates, with 104 graduates entering primary care residency programs and a 100% residency placement rate for the class. The event recognized 19 students who graduated with honors.
In addition, 28 students were recognized as members of Psi Sigma Alpha, a national osteopathic scholastic honor society. Eleven students were recognized with American Medical Women’s Association Glasgow-Rubin Certificates of Commendation for Academic Achievement. Forty-one students received cords reflecting their membership in Sigma Sigma Phi – Nu Chapter, a national osteopathic medicine fraternity that
supports medical scholastic excellence. Thirty students from the Class of 2024 became the first WVSOM cohort to be inducted by the Gold Humanism Honor Society, a national honor society comprising medical students, physicians, and leaders who have been recognized for compassionate care. Six graduates were recognized with special coins for their military service.
Linda Boyd, D.O., WVSOM’s chief academic officer, said the awards ceremony is the perfect time to recognize graduates receiving financial assistance.
“These graduates are about to begin their medical careers and many of them have incurred tremendous debt. There is no better time than now to celebrate some of the medical students who have worked hard for four years to get to this point. Not only is graduation an electrifying time, but these graduation awards are exciting for those who will reap the financial benefits,” she said.
This was the inaugural year for the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation to recognize one graduating medical student and one faculty member who exemplifies humanism in patient care. These individuals are recognized by their peers for consistently demonstrating exceptional West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine dedication in providing care to those in need. This year’s recipients were Skarleth Moran and Chelsea Feger, D.O.
Moran, a native of Union City, N.J., will enter an emergency medicine residency at Rutgers-Community Medical Center, said she was honored to be the first-ever new WVSOM graduate selected for the award. “Humanism, for me, is making sure you’re incorporating every part of the body. We all know the osteopathic philosophy of mind, body and spirit, but it’s about being able to go the extra mile,” she said. “It’s not just the medicine, it’s about making sure a patient’s well-being is all-encompassing, whether that means overcoming a language barrier, making a patient feel more comfortable with a blanket, or providing emotional support. It’s making sure you have all those elements.”
Dawn Roberts, Ed.D., WVSOM’s associate dean for multicultural and student affairs, said she is pleased the school can present this national award at WVSOM’s ceremony.
“This prestigious award recognizes a graduating medical student and a faculty member who exemplify humanism in the care of patients. It spotlights those who are willing to go above and beyond in providing compassion but also acknowledges the recipient’s commitment to being an empathetic medical professional in the community,” she said.
The Graduation Awards Ceremony celebrates fourth-year students’ memberships in various national scholastic honor societies, but it also includes scholarships and awards specifically created for WVSOM through the school’s WVSOM Foundation and WVSOM Alumni Association. Both charitable organizations secure the financial contributions of businesses, individuals, and WVSOM alumni. Those who wish to become financial supporters have a variety of options to contribute and can do so online at www.wvsomfoundation.org/give-online or by calling 304-793-6852.
2024 Graduation Awards Ceremony recipients were:
Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award — Skarleth Moran and Chelsea Feger, D.O.
Student Researcher of the Year — Mark Haft
Student D.O. of the Year — Devin Towne
WVSOM Alumni Association Roland P. Sharp Graduate Award — Jona Del Rio and Stephen Sutphin
Olen E. Jones Jr. and WVSOM Foundation Academic Achievement Award — Camille Panas
Opal Price Sharp Memorial Fund Award — Trevor Lovell
WVSOM’s Rural Health Initiative — Jessica Brumbaugh, Jona Del Rio, Cheyenne Earle, Emily Harris, Abundance Hunt, Connor McKay, Samuel Plaska, Katherine Roach, Joshua Rosenberger, Keirston Sampson, Hunter Sheard, Travis Steerman, Stephen Sutphin, Aarron Ward, Nicholas Wilson and Skylar Woolman
MSOPTI West Virginia Primary Care Scholars Award — Elizabeth Coyle, Christian Kaftanic and Trevor Pritchett
West Virginia Emulation Endowment Trust/Dr. Olen E. Jones Jr. Scholarship — Abundance Hunt
WVSOM Foundation Scholars — Abundance Hunt, Trevor Pritchett and Kayla Vaughan
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia Farson-Smith-Earley Award — Cheyenne Earle
Donald Newell Sr. Memorial Award for Outstanding Graduating Senior — Kayla Vaughan
Gwen Clingman Memorial Scholarship — Kaylee Kriner
Drs. John and Nancy Chambers Memorial Scholarship Fund Award — Elizabeth Coyle
Stephanie Dawn Barragy Memorial Scholarship — Brooke Mendelson
Libby Kokott, D.O., Memorial Grant — Vennela Pulikanti
Olivia Claire Obrokta Pediatric Award — Jona Del Rio
Dr. Catherine A. Bishop Scholarship Fund Award — Travis Steerman
David Hinchman, D.O., Emergency Medicine Award — Jessica Aboloff
Dr. William R. Holmes Jr. Scholarship Award — Nicole Newman
Eugene McClung, M.D., Family Scholarship — Brooke Mendelson
West Virginia Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians Award — Jessica Brumbaugh
Order of Vesalius Award — Kylee Karczewski and John Michael Pirtle
RAMS Head Award — Ryan Russell and Maria Sena
Clinical Sciences Award — Patrick Quigley
Statewide Campus Outstanding Student Awards — Stephanie Giorno and Mark Haft, Central East region; Hunter Neely and Raya Saba, Central West region; Devin Towne and Carleigh Ward, Eastern region; James Easler and Rafael Hamawi, Northern region; Kaleb Bohrnstedt, Zubaira Khan, Marc Anthony Pajarillo and Nicole Santos, South Central region; Matthew Dyer and Julia Moore, South East region; and Taylor Route and Ryan Russell, South West region.
Donna Jones Moritsugu Memorial Award — Courtney Sutphin, spouse of Stephen Sutphin.
