April 16, 2021

By Lisa Ryan

The annual Golden Apple Awards recognize outstanding service and teaching by Drexel University College of Medicine faculty and professional staff. Each class of medical students nominate faculty and professional staff for the honor and vote to determine the award winners.

Non-faculty awards are given to acknowledge professional staff who have provided outstanding service to the student body and the College. The awards for professional staff are voted on by the entire student body. The Special Recognition Awards are voted on by the Student Government Association.

THE 2021 GOLDEN APPLE RECIPIENTS ARE:

Class of 2024

Foundations of Basic Science – Year 1

• Bradford Jameson, PhD, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
• Francis Sessler, PhD, Neurobiology & Anatomy
• Janet Smith, PhD, Neurobiology & Anatomy

Frontiers – Year 1

• Edward Gracely, PhD, Epidemiology & Biostatistics

Class of 2023

Foundations of Basic Science – Year 1

• Haviva Goldman, PhD, Neurobiology & Anatomy
• Kirsten Larson, PhD, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Foundations of Patient Care – Year 1

• Maya Bass, MD, Family Medicine

Frontiers – Year 1

• Esther Chernak, MD, MPH, Environmental & Public Health

Case-Based Learning – Year 1

• Todd Strochlic, VMD, PhD, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Health Advocacy Practicum – Year 1

• Steven Rosenzweig, MD, Internal Medicine

Case-Based Learning – Year 2

• Cheryl Hanau, MD, Pathology
• Michael Weingarten, MD, MBA, Surgery

Foundations of Basic Science – Year 2

• Vanessa Pirrone, PhD, Microbiology & Immunology
• Anh-Thu Vu, MD, Neurology

Health Advocacy Practicum – Year 2

• Laura Mullin, Office of Community Engagement

Class of 2022

Attending Physician

• Lorraine Cummings, MD, OB/GYN, WellSpan York Hospital
• Matt Diffley, MD, Pediatrics, Kaiser Permanente – Bay Area
• Julian Diaz Fraga, MD, Internal Medicine, Tower Health – Reading Hospital
• Allan Philp, MD, Surgery, Allegheny General Hospital
• Tracey Roesing, MD, Family Internal Medicine, Abington Health

Resident Physician

• Mais Arwani, MD, Internal Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital
• Marshall Bahr, MD, Internal Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital
• Kriti Taneja, MD, Internal Medicine, UPMC Pinnacle
• Pooja Shah, MD, Internal Medicine, Reading Hospital – Tower Health

Case-Based Learning – Year 2

• Sara Schultz, MD, Infectious Disease, Partnership Comprehensive Care Practice

Foundations of Patient Care – Year 2

• Michael Spear, MD, Pediatrics

Class of 2021

Attending Physician

• Tariq Cheema, MD, Internal Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital
• Subbarao Elapavaluru, MD, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Allegheny General Hospital
• Emil Fernando, MD, Surgery, Allegheny General Hospital
• Angela Keleher, MD, Surgery, Allegheny General Hospital
• Sunil Verma, MD, Psychiatry, Tower Health – Brandywine

Resident Physician

• Vinay Edlukudige Keshava, MD, Internal Medicine, Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital
• Maryam Tetlay, MD, Internal Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital

Student Government Association Award

• Dior Boyer-Smith, Custodial Staff
• Patrick Emile, Custodial Staff
• Maria Escobar, Custodial Staff
• David Gizinski, Custodial Staff
• Dally Gonzalez, Custodial Staff
• Gregory Guillaume, Custodial Staff
• Gladys Jimenez, Custodial Staff
• Joyce Johns, Custodial Staff
• Steve Levandoski, Technology in Medical Education (TIME) Staff
• Richard Ludwig, Custodial Staff
• Liliana Mazuera, Custodial Staff
• Carmen Mendez, Custodial Staff
• Lori O’Connell, Technology in Medical Education (TIME) Staff
• David Ross, Technology in Medical Education (TIME) Staff

Student Body Award

• De’Shea Bentley, Public Safety
• Caitlin Curcio, Student Affairs
• Dennis DePace, PhD, Neurobiology & Anatomy
• Leon McCrea, II, MD, MPH, Family, Community & Preventative Medicine