Honors Convocation 2007

Friends and family gathered at the USA Mitchell Center to celebrate spring Commencement and Honors Convocation for the Class of 2007. Sixty-four new graduates were hooded, with the family of Regan Robinson Young accepting her hood and diploma posthumously.

Convocation was presided over by Dr. Samuel J. Strada, Interim Dean of the College of Medicine and Dr. Maggie O’Brien, Associate Dean of Student Affairs. Dr. Errol Crook, Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine, was elected by the graduating seniors to be the keynote speaker. Response from the class was by senior graduate Dr. Marianthe D. Grammas who will enter a pediatric residency at Yale New Haven Medical Center.

The Dean’s Award for the highest scholastic average was presented to Tricia Day Gibbs. Dr. Gibbs will also start a pediatric residency at the University of Alabama Medical Center in Birmingham.

Dr. Lamar Duffy, president of the Alumni Association, presented the Medical Alumni Leadership Award to Dr. Sarah E. Styers. This award is by class vote in recognition of her service and leadership for the Class of 2007 during the four years of medical school.

Graduates who received Alpha Omega Alpha honors were Jonathan S. Adkison, Tara M. Brents, Amy Bowden Cooper, Tricia Day Gibbs, Marianthe Grammas, Stacey M. Miller, Christy Gautier Mumphey, Sean M. Roark, Kashif H. Taufique, and Elizabeth Dueitt Wood. Brandon W. Nichols received honors in research.

Six graduates took the Military Oath with Colonel Frank S. Pettyjohn presiding: Sherry L. Levio (AF), Justin M. Owens (AF), William H. Porr (Army), Sean M. Roark (Navy), William A. Scroggs (AF) and William H. Ward (Navy).

Presentation of Awards

• Dean’s Award
Tricia Allison Day Gibbs, M.D.
Highest accumulated scholastic grade-point average for four years of medical school

• Outstanding Student in the Anatomical Sciences
Tricia Allison Day Gibbs, M.D.
Stacey Michelle Miller, M.D.
Faculty awarded best performance in the four anatomical science courses

• Merck Award
Christy Gautier Mumphrey, M.D.
Stacey Michelle Miller, M.D.
Faculty awarded for superior academic achievement

• Hollis J. Wiseman Award for Excellence in Pediatrics
Christy Gautier Mumphrey, M.D.
Best exemplifies compassion, involvement, enthusiasm and love for patients, family, friends, & colleagues

• Samuel Eichold Award
Stacey Michelle Miller, M.D.
Outstanding achievement in Internal Medicine

• Charles M. Baugh Award
Sean Michael Roark, M.D.
Student who excelled in all aspects of the medical Biochemistry course

• The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award
Sarah Elaine Styers, M.D.
John Schultz, M.D.
From Arnold P. Gold Foundation, peer elected for demonstration of outstanding compassion to patients

• Community Service Award
Sarah Elaine Styers, M.D.
From Medical Society of Mobile County, peer elected for ideals of humanitarian public service

• Medical Alumni Leadership Award
Sarah Elaine Styers, M.D.
Classmate elected in recognition of outstanding leadership of the graduating class

• Medical Assurance Award
Tara Marie Brents, M.D.
Plans to remain in Alabama for residency and who excels in patient communication

• William A. Gardner, Jr., Pathology Award
Tara Marie Brents, M.D.
Achievement in pathology

• SNMA Leadership Award
Chenita Marie Landry, M.D.
From Student National Medical Assoc. for community, school and organizational service and leadership

• Lewis D. Anderson Medical Student Achievement Award
Timothy Lee Frerichs, M.D.
For excelling in and surpassing requirements of elective rotation

• Obstetrics/Gynecology Award
Cara Brooke Lenz, M.D.
Demonstrated excellence in Obstetrics and Gynecology

• John W. Donald Memorial Award in Surgery
Jonathan Scott Adkison, M.D.
Clinical and academic excellence in the surgery clerkship

• Charles W. Urschel Achievement Award in Physiology
Holly Jeanette Wimpee Gunn, M.D.
Outstanding performance in the Physiology course and/or Physiology research

• Pharmacology Achievement Award
Justin Doyle Campbell, M.D.
Outstanding student performance in Pharmacology

• Excellence in Emergency Medicine Award
Christie Leigh Jones, M.D.
Kashif Hussain Taufique, M.D.
From Society of Academic EM and our EM faculty for outstanding clinical skills and proficiency in EM

• H. C. Mullins, M.D. Award
Regan Robinson Young, M.D.
Excellence in the ability to apply principles, practice and philosophy of FM in caring for patients and families

• American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Award
Daniel Don Dees, M.D.
Exemplifies outstanding scientific achievement and clinical acumen in Neurology and Neuroscience along with integrity, compassion and leadership