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Fall Convocation and Award Ceremony

August 3rd, 2022
12:00-1:00 pm MBRB 2204

About the Fall Convocation and Award Ceremony | Student Awards | Faculty Awards | Past Lecturers

Watch The Recording

(Click Image For Official Event Program)

 


Awards

All award winners will be found in the official event program.

Student Awards

The James A. Bryan II Award
This award is a tribute to Dr. James Bryan II who, during more than three decades of service to the UNC School of Medicine, taught, mentored, and befriended countless students, and instilled in them an unwavering commitment to compassionate patient care. Created by the Class of 1999, the award honors a graduating UNC medical student who embodies the spirit of Dr. Bryan by improving the medical school community, and bettering the educational experience of fellow medical students.

The William deB. MacNider Award
This award was established in 1950 by the sophomore class and promotes public commendation of sophomore medical students who possess various intangible traits of good character, including personal integrity, a sincere and genuine interest in the lives of others, a willingness to help others at all times, humility, a cheerful attitude, and friendliness to all, as shown by Dr. Billy MacNider.

Lucius Blanchard Carolina Family Loyalty Fund
This scholarship is awarded annually to first-year medical students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, strong curiosity, leadership qualities, commitment to service, and, in some cases, financial need.

Alan W. Cross Social Medicine Paper Award Department of Social Medicine
The Alan W. Cross Social Medicine Paper Award is given each year to the best scholarly paper, essay, fictional or artistic work produced by a student for a Social Medicine class assignment. The award recognizes excellent writing that epitomizes the integration of social and clinical thinking; applies social science and humanities perspectives to medicine; and represents creative efforts to convey experiences of patients, physicians, and others related to health, illness, or treatment.

Faculty Awards

The Hyman L. Battle Distinguished Excellence in Teaching Award in the Clinical Sciences
This award was established in 1985 to recognize exceptional teaching in the clinical curriculum. Faculty members were nominated and the recipient selected by the Class of 2020.

The Best Application Phase Course Award
This award was established in 1985 by the third-year class to recognize the clinical courses that most significantly contributed to the education of third-year medical students.

The Outstanding AHEC Faculty Award
This award was established in 1992 to recognize the AHEC faculty member who has contributed significantly to the education of medical students at the Area Health Education Centers.

The Brett J. Pearce and Lauren K. Brown Memorial Award
Brett and Lauren were treasured classmates who, through their strength of character and courage in the face of illness, have inspired those who had the privilege of knowing them to be better people and better doctors. In their memory, this award was created by the Class of 2004 to honor a senior medical student who shares their qualities of generosity and compassion for those in need, dedication to service, and unwavering commitment to high ideals. This senior, nominated and chosen by classmates, has made a significant contribution to the education and personal growth of her peers.

Heusner Pupil Award
The Heusner Pupil Award was established in 1964 by the family and colleagues of Dr. A. Price Heusner, who served as Professor of Surgery at North Carolina Memorial Hospital (1952-1956) and as Professor of Anatomy at the UNC School of Medicine (1956-1963). It is provided to a member of the rising fourth-year class who best exemplifies qualities displayed by Dr. Heusner during his career as a physician, teacher, husband, and father: a capacity to grasp the principles of science, to demonstrate concern for the moral welfare of human beings, to heal the sick, to comfort the troubled, and to be humble. The recipient is honored for meritorious character and potential and is selected by a committee that includes members of the medical school faculty.

The Frank Lee Dameron Award
The Class of 1975 established the Dameron Award in memory of their classmate to recognize his achievements as a medical student and his commitment to return to his hometown in a medically underserved area of the state to practice medicine. The recipients are committed to practicing primary care in an underserved area of North Carolina.

The George T. Wolff Award
This award was established in 1999 to honor the dedication to quality and community-based medical education demonstrated by George T. Wolff, M.D., former Director of the Family Practice Residency Program at Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro. Third- and fourth-year students vote on this award from a list of eligible faculty members provided by the Department of Family Medicine.

Kaiser Permanente Excellence in Teaching Awards
These awards were created by the Class of 2000 to recognize those residents and interns who contribute in an exemplary way to the education of medical students with their enthusiasm for teaching, including students in patient care decisions, and promoting the involvement of students on the medical team.

The Hyman L. Battle Distinguished Excellence in Teaching Award in the Foundation Phase
This award was established in 1985 to recognize exemplary teaching in the pre-clinical curriculum. Faculty members are nominated and the recipient is selected by last year’s second-year medical students.

The Best Foundation Phase Coil Award
This award recognizes a coil from this curriculum that contributed in an effective manner to the education of second-year medical students.

Craver Medical Student Teaching Awards
Joseph M. Craver, MD ’67, a retired Thoracic Surgeon in Atlanta, GA, gifted the Craver Medical Student Teaching Awards in recognition of the beloved clinical teachers who challenged him along his UNC medical education journey. Presented annually to two faculty members from the Departments of Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Surgery, who are acknowledged by both their peers and students for their outstanding teaching and for their ability to inspire and change the lives of their medical students. Craver Medical Student Teaching Award selection is made twice a year, in consultation with the Vice Dean of Education, the Department Chairs, Academy of Educators, and Medical Alumni Affairs.

White Coat Black Doctors Excellence Award
The White Coat Black Doctors Excellence Award was created by the White Coats Black Doctors Foundation, founded in 2015 by UNC School of Medicine alumni and students: Celeste Brown, MD ’18, Spencer Carter, MD ’18, Kevin Courts, MD ’18, Anthony McClenny, MD ’19, and Jenay Powell, Class of 2020. The Foundation seeks to celebrate, unite and uplift Black medical students and physicians, and to support the development of future Black physicians. The awards are presented this year to two outstanding rising fourth-year students who have demonstrated an interest in and commitment to mentorship of underrepresented students; service to underserved patients; reduction of health disparities; and/or promotion of unbiased, culturally-sensitive patient-centered care. Eligible students are invited to apply, and a School of Medicine selection committee identifies each year’s recipients.

Foundation Phase Awards

The Foundation Phase Outstanding Director Teaching Award
This award recognizes a faculty member from the Foundation Phase curriculum who has enhanced the education of second-year medical students by fostering a collegial environment that supports and encourages excellence.

The Foundation Phase Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award
This award recognizes a faculty member from the Foundation Phase curriculum who contributed significantly to the education of Foundation Phase students through their energy, dedication, and extraordinarily excellent teaching.

The Best Foundation Phase Block Award
This award recognizes a block from the Foundation Phase curriculum that contributed in an effective manner to the education of second-year medical students.

About The Fall Convocation and Award Ceremony

The UNC SOM Student Government, formerly known as the Whitehead Medical Society, was named in honor of Dr. Richard H. Whitehead, who served as Dean from 1890-1905. The Fall Convocation and Award Ceremony was established in 1947 to recognize the high standards and leadership of Dr. Whitehead and has been an annual event since 1980.

2021-2022 UNC SOM Student Government Officers

Past Fall Convocation Lecturers

2021: Ana Felix, MBBCH., FAAN.
2020: Koyal Jain, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.S.N.
2019: Neva Howard, M.D., M.S.
2018: Cedric Bright, M.D., F.A.C.P.
2017: Brian C. Jensen, M.D.
2016: Frank C. Church, Ph.D.
2015: Alice D. Ma, M.D.
2014: Cheryl McNeil, M.D.
2013: Elizabeth B. Dreesen, M.D., FACS
2012: Sarah Street, M.D., Ph.D.
2011: Alan Cross, M.D.
2010: Kurt Gilliland, Ph.D.
2009: Arrel D. Toews, Ph.D.
2008: Susan C. Hadler, M.D., M.S.
2007: Edward T. Kernick, D.P.M.
2006: James P. Evans, M.D., Ph.D.
2005: Ronald A. Falk, M.D.
2004: Pamela G. Vick, M.D.
2003: Robert A. Bashford, M.D.
2002: Nicholas J. Shaheen, M.D., M.P.H.
2001: David L. McIlwain, M.D.
2000: J. Stephen Kizer, M.D.
1999: B. Anthony Lindsey, M.D.

2018 WH Lecture - Cedric Bright, M.D., F.A.C.P.