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Awards Ceremony Celebrates Graduate School Class of 2024

May 14, 2024

By August Ryan

Last week, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies (GSBSPS) celebrated the class of 2024 and faculty members during its annual awards ceremony.

The May 8 event, held at the Health Sciences Building in University City, was a precursor to students’ graduation during Drexel University College of Medicine’s 2024 Commencement Ceremony.

Elisabeth Van Bockstaele, PhD, founding dean of GSBSPS, chief strategy officer, senior vice president for graduate and online education, and dean of the Graduate College at Drexel, opened the ceremony.

“We, the Graduate School leadership, as well as the faculty, are proud to have been allowed to guide and accompany our students through their years of hard work and dedication, the summit of which we celebrate now,” Dr. Van Bockstaele said. “To our faculty and staff: you all play such an important role in the lives of our students and in helping them achieve their goals.”

During the ceremony, Jed Shumsky, PhD, senior associate dean of educational and academic affairs, and professor of neurobiology and anatomy, addressed the class of 2024.

“In your time as students, we hope you grew personally and professionally, learned what you set out to learn and achieved what you aimed to,” he said. “As you embark on the next leg of your career, you will be able to draw from and build on these experiences.”

As he kicked off the awards presentation, Dr. Shumsky encouraged students to enjoy the celebration of their achievements.

“Be proud of your accomplishments and allow yourself to bask in the praise and support of your friends and loved ones,” he said. “You deserve it.”

Take a look at photos from the awards ceremony.

STUDENT AWARDS

The Amedeo Bondi, PhD Endowed Graduate Award

This award is given annually to a graduating PhD student for excellence in research performance during the training experience. There were two winners from the class of 2024:

  • Giang Le Minh, PhD, Biochemistry
    • Advisor(s): Mauricio Reginato, PhD
    • Thesis: “Understanding Mechanisms of OGT/O-GlcNAc Regulation of Breast Cancer Stem Cells”
  • Mitchell Isaac Parker, MD, PhD, Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics

Excellence in Student Mentoring Award

This award was given to Nima Sarfaraz, MS, a PhD candidate in Molecular & Cell Biology & Genetics, for work with students.

Excellence in Student Teaching Assistance Award

This award was given to Neuroscience PhD candidates Kendra Case and Andrew Lockhart for their work with students.

Dr. Jane Clifford Best PhD Dissertation Thesis Award

This award was named in honor of Jane Clifford, PhD, who was the chair of the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology for more than 20 years. The award was given to:

  • Photis Rotsides, PhD, Biochemistry
    • Advisor(s): Patrick J. Loll, PhD
    • Thesis: “The Antibiotic Sensing Mechanism of VanS from Type-B VRE”

Dr. Jane Clifford Best Master’s Thesis Award

This award was named in honor of Jane Clifford, PhD, who was the chair of the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology for more than 20 years. The award was given to:

  • Ana Dumitrescu, MS, Biochemistry of Health and Disease
    • Advisor(s): Shae Padrick, PhD
    • Thesis: “Development of Novel Fungal Arp2/3 Complex Inhibitors”

Outstanding Achievement Awards, Interdisciplinary and Career-Oriented Programs

The following awards for academic excellence were given to:

  • Brianna Achenbach, MS, Drug Discovery and Development
  • Keziah Adjei, MS, Molecular Medicine
  • Sabrina Aronis, MS, Immunology
  • Kyle DePlancke, MS, Infectious Disease
  • Hannah Dunnous, MS, Biomedicine and Business
  • Olubukola Jimoh, MS, Biomedicine and Entrepreneurship
  • Giovanna Kinahan, MS, Clinical Research Organization and Management
  • Madeline Montero, MS, Biomedicine and Digital Media
  • Ariel Napoles, MS, Drug Discovery and Development
  • Rebecca Pouey, MS, Clinical Research Organization and Management
  • Hannah E. Shaw, MS, Laboratory Animal Science
  • Zaira Sylvain, MS, Molecular Medicine
  • Carla Triolo, MS, Biomedicine and Law
  • Rachel Wainwright, MS, Pathologists’ Assistant
  • Christine Whitehead, MS, Clinical Research Organization and Management
  • Nicholas Wilson, MS, Drug Discovery and Development

Outstanding Achievement Awards, Pre-medical and Pre-health Programs

The following awards for academic excellence were given to:

  • Trevor DeSilva, MS, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
  • Kelem Mengesha, MS, Drexel Pathway to Medical School
  • Tasnim Mujir, MS, Drexel Pathway to Medical School
  • Cedrick Ofori, MS, Intensive Medical Sciences
  • Janel Sewell, MS, Biomedical Studies
  • Pastora Quarless, Drexel Pathway to Medical School

Excellence in Teaching Assistance

This award was given to Trevor DeSilva, MS, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences.

Common Good Award

This award was given to Jyothii Kulasingam, MS, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences.

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FACULTY AWARDS

Students from each educational division chose the following award recipients.

Best Professor

Best Mentor

Best Adjunct Professor

Best Student Advocate

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On May 9, 2024, faculty, staff and students gathered to celebrate the GSBSPS class of 2024 and their peers in the MD program during the annual Commencement ceremony. The College of Medicine is proud to count all its graduates among our alumni, and grateful for the faculty members who supported them during their academic careers.