2012 Rachel Hart

Rachel Hart is truly committed and vehemently dedicated to the care of geriatric patients. From the beginning of her career in medical school, Rachel was determined to eventually complete a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine. She truly welcomes the challenges of taking care of the complicated cases which present frequently with the elderly. She planned her clinical rotations in order to maximize her exposure to geriatric medicine in every specialty. In a fast-paced time where most students of her generation like to finish things as quickly as possible, Rachel instead enjoys slowing down and taking the time to get to know each patient and to understand the complexities of their health.”

2011: Majida Giancola  

The following was given for her nomination & selection: "In the nearly 8 years I have served as a preceptor for OU-HCOM I have never met a more conscientious, dedicated, enthusiastic, hard-working student who also exhibited appropriate compassion.   She interacted well and received positive reviews from patients, families, staff and clinical faculty.  She was confident in the nursing homes even seeing dementia patients and obtaining ROS from nursing staff. She was organized in her patient presentations and accurate in her diagnoses/plans.  In my mind, Maggie set the bar higher for what I perceive as an "honor" student."

2010: Katherine Ritchey

Katherine Ritchey pursued geriatric medicine throughout her time at OU-HCOM. She served as president of the Geriatric Medicine Club; received the Jerome Kowal Scholarship Award, Ohio Geriatric Society; participated in The Charles J. Cannon Edinburgh Geriatric Tutorial; received an AFAR Geriatrics Research Fellowship at Memory Disorders Clinic, OSU Department of Neurology; organized and co-chaired a seminar for fellow medical students and faculty/staff entitled "Mind, Body, Spirit" of Caregiving and Strategies for Caring; and during the completion of a MPH she conducted a pilot to verify the reliability of digital photos to conduct home hazard assessments.

2009: Jennifer Drost

Jennifer Drost worked in two nursing homes and for hospice; was one of two students selected to spend a month in Scotland in 2007 for Charles J. Cannon Edinburgh Geriatric Medicine Tutorial; and she went to Kenya twice to work on a study examining stress levels in grandparents who are raising grandchildren. Many of the children were orphaned when their parents died from AIDS.

2008: Lauren Wasson

Lauren Wasson was selected as the student of the year in 2008. She has shown her commitment to working with the elderly throughout her undergraduate and medical school career. She volunteered and worked at nursing homes and for Hospice, selected nursing homes during her electives, served as president of the Geriatric Medicine Club, participated in an AMSA End-of-Life fellowship, and was one of two students selected to spend a month in Scotland. In her Charles J. Cannon Edinburgh Geriatric Medicine Tutorial application she stated that the experience of nearing the end of life is profound, and that she discovered while working in nursing homes and Hospice that “ignoring the feelings and thoughts evoked by such experience is to reject a connection with another human being and to deny that compassion which makes us human.”
 

Rachel Liptak and Wayne Carlsen, D.O., Chair, Department of Geriatric Medicine chatting after graduation.Rachel Liptak was selected as the student of the year in 2007.

Sara Snyder was recognized at the 2006 OU-COM graduation as a Ohio Department of Aging Geriatric Medicine Student of the year.

In an interview for Aging Issues, a monthly column from Merle Grace Kearns, Director of the Ohio Department of Aging, Sara stated that she shifted her career path immediately following her geriatric rotation at Akron City Hospital. “I chose geriatrics because I believe that this is an underserved population. It seems like they are often passed over, even by doctors treating them.”

Sara also feels that geriatrics is one of the most osteopathic-minded practices. “It is important to get their living status, their functional level, their religious affiliations and their beliefs and concerns,” said Sara. “I feel like every time I am treating a patient, I get to treat the whole person, and I enjoy it immensely.”

Matthew Lowe and Allison Batchelor, M.D. after the 2005 award announcement.

 Dr. Batchelor wrote about Matthew:

“I realize there may be other students who are sincere about geriatric care and may make fine geriatricians someday; however, I have NEVER had a student so committed as Matt Lowe in my 16 years of teaching all levels of trainees ( students, interns, residents, and fellows).  Matt stands out way beyond the typical student rotating through our dept.  His commitment to extra exposure to geriatrics --working with me to do additional home visits and clinics (not as part of formal rotations but as extra) whenever he could goes way beyond the call of duty.  It shows me he really wanted to learn all he could for the right reasons.  Not because he had to but because he wanted to!!  Most of you have worked with Matt and know he is an older student who brought other life experiences to his medical student role.  Matt brings the maturity and commitment to stellar clinical geriatrics that strongly reflects our teaching efforts in a positive light.  It makes me proud to be a faculty member to see such fine students as Matt.  What else can I say -- it is rare that I feel so strongly about such an award, but I ask for your support in selecting Matt -- he will make our dept. proud throughout his career.”

2012 Rachel Hart

2011 Majida Giancola  

2010 Katherine Ritchey

2009 Jennifer Drost

2008 Lauren Watson

2007 Rachel Liptak

2006 Sara Snyder
2005 Matthew Lowe
2004 Sunyata Austin
2003 Ami Hall
2002 Laura Shoemaker
2001 Gina Merritt & Michael Gerardo
2000 James Lawlor
1999 Cynthia Luck
1998 Deborah Harris
1997 Tracey O'Neal, Marietta and Sharon Merryman, Dayton
1996 Melita Marcial-Schuster, Sandusky
1995 Chau Pham, Youngstown
1994 Darrin Bunting, Sandusky
1993 Paul Whitney, Sandusky
1992 Kurt Kuhlman, Columbus
1991 Marianne Sturr, Youngstown
1990 Arla Gilliland, Columbus
1989 Michael Malmer, Youngstown
1988 Gerald Lane, Columbus
1987 Karen Jacobs, Cleveland and Janet Hawkins-Kegely, Massillon
1986 Maita Jarkewiez, Cleveland
1985 Joan McDonough, Cleveland
1984 H. Stuart Edmiston, Massillon
1983 Mark S. Wagner, Youngstown