Commencement Award Descriptions
 

ANNUAL COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AWARDS

The annual college awards are the highest honors presented to graduating seniors. The Service to Class, College and Community Awards were established by NEOUCOM's charter Class of 1981. The Ideal Physician Award was first presented in 1982. The Falor Research Award was established in 1986 and became a major college award in 2001.

William H. Falor Research Award

• Sponsored by the late William H. Falor, M.D., and Mrs. Ann Falor.

• Awarded by the senior class to a senior who has demonstrated pursuit of research projects, presentations and publication of research results.

Ideal Physician Award  

• Sponsored by the NEOUCOM Foundation and Merck and Company, Inc.

• Awarded to four seniors whom students would most like to have as their own physician, as exemplified through their excellent intellectual and clinical skills, empathy and patient rapport, as well as their diligence and support of fellow classmates.

Service to Class Award 

• Sponsored by NEOUCOM Foundation.
  

• Awarded by fellow classmates to the senior who has provided outstanding service and demonstrated a commitment to the class through leadership and organizational skills, donation of time to class activities, and has supported and advocated class concerns.

Service to College Award 

• Sponsored by the NEOUCOM Foundation.
  

• Awarded to the senior who has significantly contributed time, energies, ideas and support to College functions and activities, committees, faculty and staff. Award recipient is selected by the College's Student Aid and Awards Committee based on student information.

Service to Community Award 

• Sponsored by the NEOUCOM Foundation.
  

• Awarded to the senior who has gratuitously provided time and support to community service programs, who has displayed a caring attitude and is committed to bettering the community. Award recipient is selected by the College's Student Aid and Awards Committee based on student nominations.

DEPARTMENTAL & SPECIAL SERVICE AWARDS

American College of Physicians Outstanding Student Entering Internal Medicine

• Sponsored by the Ohio Chapter of the American College of Physicians - American Society of Internal Medicine.

• Designated for the senior who best exemplifies the traditions of internal medicine and has the compassion and clinical skills of a practitioner of internal medicine.

Amercian Academy of Neurology Medical Student Prize for Excellence in Neurology

• Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology.

Area Health Education Center Student Recognition Award

• Sponsored by Jean Baird and the Rho family.

• Awarded to a senior seeking a primary care or preventive medicine residency, or enrolled in a public health graduate program; demonstrates a strong concern for the healthcare needs of underserved populations in rural or inner city communities and who has shown involvement in voluntary community service.

Associated Hospitals Award for Excellence in Internal Medicine  

• Sponsored by Akron General Medical Center, Affiliated Hospitals at Canton, St. Elizabeth Health Center, Summa Health System, Forum Health-Western Reserve Care System.

• Awarded by the Internal Medicine Council and designated for the senior entering internal medicine who best exemplifies the traditions of internal medicine and has the compassion and clinical skills of a practitioner of internal medicine.

Department of Family Medicine John P. Schlemmer, M.D., Memorial Family Practice Award 

• Sponsored by the Department of Family Medicine.
  

• Granted by the Awards Committee of the Council of Family Medicine and presented to a member of the class who has demonstrated the qualities of being a caring and compassionate physician, who has made a special contribution to the specialty of family practice and who has shown a strong commitment to family practice and the further development of the specialty.

Douglas M. Evans, M.D., Award for Outstanding Clinical Work in Surgery

• Sponsored by the Department of Surgery.

• Awarded by the Surgery Council of Chiefs to a senior based on outstanding performance in surgery and who expresses an interest in a surgery career.

The Endocrine Society Medical Student Achievement Award

• Sponsored by the Endocrine Society.
  
• Awarded to one graduating medical student to recognize excellence during an endocrinology elective and matched with an Internal Medicine residency program.

Excellence in Emergency Medicine Award

• Sponsored by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.

• Awarded to the senior who demonstrates excellence in emergency medicine courses and exhibits involvement in extramural and other activities related to emergency medicine.
  

Excellence in Obstetrics/Gynecology Award

• Sponsored by the Council of Obstetrics/Gynecology.

• Awarded by the Council of Obstetrics/Gynecology to the senior with the best overall record and performance in the obstetrics/gynecology clerkship.

Excellence in Pediatrics Award

• Sponsored by the Pediatric Council of Chiefs.

• Awarded by the Pediatric staff to the senior who has shown outstanding academic performance and achievements in pediatrics.

Excellence in Psychiatry Award

• Sponsored by the Department of Psychiatry.

• Awarded by the Department of Psychiatry to the senior who has outstanding psychiatry performance and participation in fellowship and/or research experiences in psychiatry and who has demonstrated qualities of being a caring, compassionate medical student.
  

Geriatric Research Award

• Sponsored by the Office of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology.

• Awarded by Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology clinical faculty to a senior who has demonstrated a strong and continuing interest in geriatric research.
  

Lange Meritorious Service Award

• Sponsored by the Lange Publishing Company.

• Awarded by the Student Aid and Awards Committee to a senior who have contributed exceptional service to the College and graduating class.

Matthew Allen Lewis Award for Outstanding Patient Care and Mastery of Science of Medicine

• Sponsored by Richard and Joyce Lewis.

• Awarded by the Student Aid and Awards Committee and recognizes a student physician possessing outstanding communication skills, empathy and compassion with patients and families, plus a high level of technical expertise and skills in the science of medicine.

North American Primary Care Research Group Student Award

• Sponsored by the North American Primary Care Research Group.
  
• Awarded by the Department of Family Medicine to recognize outstanding family medicine/primary care research performed by a graduating senior.

Ohio Department of Aging Geriatric Medicine Award

• Sponsored by the Ohio Department of Aging.

• Awarded by Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology clinical faculty to the senior who demonstrates a strong interest in geriatric medicine.

Outstanding Achievement Award

• Awarded by the Student Aid and Awards Committee to a senior based on exemplary academic accomplishments, class rank and contributions to the College and community.

Pasteur Award

• Sponsored by the Internal Medicine Infectious Disease Section and the Muriel and Joseph Rosenthal Memorial Fund.

• Awarded by the Department of Microbiology/Immunology and the Internal Medicine Infectious Disease Section to a senior who has excelled in the area of microbiology/immunology and infectious disease based on clinical and academic performance and research pursuits in these areas.

St. Elizabeth Award for Knowledgeable and Compassionate Care

• Sponsored by St. Elizabeth Health Center faculty and staff.

• Awarded to the senior who has shown warmth and understanding while providing empathic and humane care as demonstrated by interactions with patients, faculty and staff.

STEP Residency Incentive Program

• Sponsored by Aultman Hospital.
  
• Awarded to a senior who matches with Family Practice Residency at Aultman Hospital.

STEP Residency Incentive Program

• Sponsored by the Canton Medical Education Foundation.
  
• Awarded to a senior(s) who match(s) with the Internal Medicine Residency of the Canton Medical Education Foundation.

George Van Buren Surgical Residency Award

• Sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. George Van Buren.

• Presented to a graduating senior who has matched to serve residency in General Surgery at Akron City Hospital.