June 7, 2023

By Lisa Ryan

The annual Golden Apple Awards recognize outstanding service, teaching and mentoring by Drexel University College of Medicine faculty and professional staff, who are nominated by each class of medical students for the honor. Students 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 2023 Golden Apple Recipients Are:

Class of 2026

Foundations of Basic Science – Year 1

• Francis Sessler, PhD, Neurobiology & Anatomy (Queen Lane campus)
• Janet Smith, PhD, Neurobiology & Anatomy (Queen Lane campus)

Frontiers – Year 1

• Esther Chernak, MD, MPH, Department of Medicine (Queen Lane campus)

Class of 2025

Foundations of Basic Science – Year 1

• Kirsten Larson, PhD, Microbiology & Immunology (Queen Lane campus)
• Mike White, PhD, Pharmacology & Physiology (Queen Lane campus)
• Kelly Brenan, MD, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine (West Reading campus)
• Bob Rosenberg, PhD, Pharmacology & Physiology (West Reading campus)

Frontiers – Year 1

• Michael Weingarten, MD, MBA, Surgery (Queen Lane campus)
• Anthony Donato, MD, MHPE, Department of Medicine (West Reading campus)

Foundations of Patient Care – Year 1

• Pamela Duke, MD, Internal Medicine (Queen Lane campus)
• Renee Kottenhahn, MD, Pediatrics (West Reading campus)

Case-based Learning – Year 1

• Cheryl Hanau, MD, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine (Queen Lane campus)
• Jenna Hagerty, PhD, MS, Neurobiology & Anatomy (West Reading campus)

Health Advocacy Practicum – Year 1

• Steven Rosenzweig, MD, Emergency Medicine (Queen Lane campus)
• Eugene York, MD, Internal Medicine (West Reading campus)

Foundations of Basic Science – Year 2

• Joel Horwitz, PhD, Pharmacology & Physiology (Queen Lane campus)
• Eduardo Espiridion, MD, DFAPA, Psychiatry (West Reading campus)

Case-based Learning – Year 2

• Hwyda Arafat, MD, PhD, MSc, MEDL, Department of Medicine (West Reading campus)

Class of 2024

Foundations of Patient Care – Year 2

• Nathalie May, MD, Internal Medicine (Queen Lane campus)

Foundations of Basic Science – Year 2

• Amy Baranoski, MD, MSc, Medicine: Division of Infectious Diseases & HIV Medicine (Queen Lane campus)

Case-based Learning – Year 2

• Mark Greco, MD, Department of Medicine (Queen Lane campus)

Attending Physician

• Paul Brokman, MD, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Tower Health – Reading Hospital
• Justin Chura, MD, Gynecological Oncology, Crozer Health Medical Group Gynecological Oncology - Upland
• Andrew Klobuka, MD, Diagnostic Radiology, Allegheny General Hospital
• Caitlyn Moss, MD, Internal Medicine, Tower Health – Reading Hospital

Resident Physician

• Riju Gupta, DO, Internal Medicine, Tower Health – Reading Hospital

Class of 2023 - Attending Physician

• James Bruce, DO, Internal Medicine, Allegheny Hospital Medicine Specialists
• Gerson DeFreitas, MD, Department of Medicine, St. Luke’s University Health Network
• Jessica Feldman, MD, Neurology, Penn Medicine
• Ashley Henderson, MD, Pediatrics, Pediatrics Crozer
• Seth Patton, DO, Primary Care: Internal Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital Internal Medicine
• Om Sharma, MD, Internal Medicine, Independent clinician
• Emily Spengler, MD, Pediatrics, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children

Resident Physician

• Sachi Singhal, MD, Internal Medicine, Crozer-Chester Medical Center
• Ashley Uvanni, DO, Obstetrics & Gynecology, WellSpan York Hospital

Student Government Association Award

• Lauren Parent, Administrative Coordinator, Office of Student Affairs

Student Body Award

• Becks Wilson, Academic Coordinator, Women’s Health Education Program (Queen Lane campus)
• Orcel Kounga, MSEd, Director of Admissions and Student Affairs (West Reading campus)