Last weekend, the University of Chicago held its 539th Convocation Ceremony, where graduates from all divisions and schools marked the culmination of some of the most challenging and enriching years of their lives.
Kunle Odunsi, MD, PhD, AbbVie Foundation Distinguished Service Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Professor of Medicine, and Dean for Oncology in the Biological Sciences Division, delivered the keynote address, encouraging students to work toward making the world a better place.
“It is precisely in moments like this, when our foundations feel unsteady, that we must recommit ourselves to excellence to forge a stronger future,” Odunsi said. “Right now, the world needs you. It needs your voice, your vision, and your courage to become advocates—not just for what is, but for what could be.”
Seventy PhD candidates across the BSD were recognized at a Divisional Academic Ceremony. After graduation, many PhD students will continue their academic careers in academic or government research positions or by returning to medical school; several others are pursuing careers in industry research, technology development, communications, policy and regulation, or business and commercialization.
Last week, the Pritzker School of Medicine held its own ceremony to individually recognize 87 graduating MD students, including 14 MD/PhD graduates. Most of the MD graduates are already preparing to continue their medical education in residency programs, including 20 who will undergo their residency at University of Chicago Medicine and pursue programs in various medical and surgical specialties.
As part of this year’s convocation ceremonies, several PhD and MD graduates received divisional and program awards for their research projects and scientific presentations.
PhD Program Awards
- Silas Busch, Best Overall Dissertation, Neurobiology
- Sihao Huang, Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
- Yichen Hou, Genetics, Genomics, & Systems Biology
- Hadley DeBrosse, Medical Physics
- Martin Sepulveda, Immunology
- Nathaniel Wright, Interdisciplinary Scientist Training Program
- Jennifer Blanc, Human Genetics
- Julio Miranda Alban, Development, Regeneration, and Stem Cell Biology
- Lili Wang, Genetics, Genomics, & Systems Biology
- Elizabeth de Laittre, Computational Neuroscience
- Emma Wilkinson, Cancer Biology
- Matthew Schechter, Microbiology
- Santiago Herrera Alvarez, Ecology and Evolution
- Andy Anderson, Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition
- Bei Wang, Public Health Sciences
Pritzker School of Medicine Awards
Overall Awards
- The Joseph A. Capps Award for outstanding proficiency in clinical medicine: Meagan Matuska
- The John Van Prohaska Award, for outstanding potential in teaching, research, and clinical medicine: Donald Rodriguez, PhD
- The Outstanding Achievement Award: Grace Keegan
- The Mary Roberts Scott Memorial Prize given to a female medical student who demonstrates leadership and academic excellence during both the basic and clinical science years: Tecora Turner
- The Pritzker Leadership Award for outstanding extracurricular accomplishments during four years in medical school: Jillian Bowman, Simi Ogunnowo, and Anna Thorndike
- The Urban Health Initiative Strongin Community Service Prize given to one or more senior medical students who has contributed the most through community service: Symphony Fletcher, MPH
- The Pritzker School of Medicine Advocacy & Equity Award given to a senior medical student who has been an advocate for service, research, and policy changes which address inequities in health and a leader in promoting a diverse and inclusive community for all, voted by their peers: Tiffany Xie
Clinical Department Award Recipients
- The Departmental Award in recognition of outstanding performance in the field of Anesthesia and Critical Care: Anthony Hung, PhD
- The Departmental Award for outstanding performance in the field of Family Medicine: Diana Li and Diana Marino-Nunez
- The Departmental Award for outstanding performance in the field of Medicine: Evan Neczypor
- The Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Excellence Award for demonstrated excellence in the specialty of Emergency Medicine: Symphony Fletcher, MPH
- The Richard W. Reilly Prize for Outstanding Aptitude in Gastroenterology: Amani Allen
- The Steven Lukes Memorial Prize for excellence in the fields of both Medicine and Neurology: Eli Falk
- The Peter Huttenlocher and Douglas Buchanan Prize in Neurology for best medical student clinician/researcher: Mario Shammas, PhD
- The Dr. Javad Hekmat-Panah Award for outstanding performance in the field of Neurological Surgery: Riley Driscoll
- The Departmental Award for outstanding performance in the general field of Neurology: Jillian Bowman
- The Departmental Award in recognition of outstanding performance in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology: Divya Choudhury
- The Departmental Award for outstanding performance in the field of Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Mikhayla Armstrong
- The Departmental Award for outstanding performance in the general field of Pathology: Donald Rodriguez, PhD
- The F. Howell Wright Award for outstanding performance in the general field of Pediatrics: Jillian Bowman
- The Diana Woo Memorial Award for excellence in Clinical Pediatrics: Bailey McGrew
- The Daniel X. Freedman Award for outstanding performance in the general field of Psychiatry: Tiffany Xie
- The Nels M. Strandjord Award for outstanding performance in the general field of Radiology: Alex Thomas
- The Departmental Award for outstanding performance in the general field of Surgery: David Fenton
