On the eve of commencement, one of the most significant days in the life of a medical student, the Florida State University College of Medicine Class of 2024 gathered inside the John Thrasher Building for one final time to celebrate.
Friday’s annual Presentation of Awards ceremony drew a full house inside the Durell Peaden Auditorium as 40 students from the 110-member M.D. class, many accompanied by family and friends, were feted.
Those recognized at the ceremony included members of the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society and the Chapman Chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS), as well as winners of 17 separate awards covering a host of medical specialties and eight college-wide awards selected from nominations by students, faculty and staff.
Sarah Hicks, who will be moving on to residency in pediatrics at the University of Alabama-Birmingham following graduation, had quite a day. In addition to being inducted into both the AOA and GHHS, she and classmate Anabelle Rosenthal were recipients of the Frank C. Walker Jr., M.D., Excellence in Pediatrics awards.
With family and friends on hand, who Hicks said “really made me who I am,” she was visibly moved when presented the final award of the night by the college’s interim dean, Alma Littles, M.D.
The J. Ocie Harris Outstanding Student Award, named in honor of the College of Medicine’s dean from 2003 to 2008, is presented to the student showing the best all-around promise of becoming a physician of the highest caliber.
“It made it really, really, special,” Hicks said between congratulatory greetings at the post-event reception. “It was not expected at all. When I stood up there and looked out at all my peers and so many amazing physicians who have already done so many amazing things, it meant so much to me and I’m so grateful.”
COMPLETE LIST OF AWARD WINNERS
WATCH THE CEREMONY
Soon-to-be physician Joey Cyriac began his FSU career eight years ago as an undergraduate member of the Honors Medical Scholars program, one of several pathway programs the College of Medicine offers for those exploring medical careers.
“The Honors Medical Scholars program was a big reason why a lot of us came to Florida State University,” said Cyriac, one of four HMS graduates presented awards. “The (HMS) mission statement is sort of similar and aligned with the College of Medicine, so our recognizing that as seniors in high school drew us to the College of Medicine. That sort of resonated and has grown stronger as we continued through our education. It’s a big reason why all four of us have stayed.”
Cyriac, along with Hanna Lateef, received the Linda Stine Interprofessional Leadership Award. Fellow HMS alumni in the M.D. Class of 2024 Sheena Chege, Khari King and Rida Darji, were multiple award winners.
Chege was honored with the Nobles/Brown Altruism in Medicine and the Luther W. Holloway Award for Pediatrics, in addition to being inducted into AOA and GHHS, where she was joined by King. Darji collected the J. Orson Smith, M.D. Scholarship in Internal Medicine and along with classmate Julian Melchor, was presented the Access to Care Award in Honor of Robin McDougall. Each of those was awarded by the Capital Medical Society Foundation.
Sharing the awards stage with his HMS classmates made it more special for Cyriac.
“The emotion that sticks out is appreciativeness,” he said. “Not only for the colleagues that we are so fortunate to have that are like-minded and driven that we were lucky to have over the past eight years, but also the mentors, faculty and staff, the countless people that kind of helped us come to where we are.
“I’m so thankful for the mentors, the relationships and everything else this journey has provided.”
Among the other major awards, Class of 2024 President Nick Thomas was presented the Myra M. Hurt Leadership in Medicine Award by his mentor, Dr. Anthony Speights, senior associate dean of Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences.
In addition to the honors society and M.D. Class of 2024 Presentation of Awards ceremonies, the College of Medicine also held a ribbon-cutting for the Chapman Wellness Garden and presented the second Hippocratic Award to Fort Pierce Regional Campus Clinical Assistant Professor George Fyffe, M.D.
Contact Bob Thomas at robert.thomas@med.fsu.edu