CMSC Awards
Awards Heading link
The Chicago Medical Student Council (CMSC) Awards Night recognize the exceptional contribution of the people who make our College of Medicine a community of which we are all proud members. Awards are held annually near the end of the spring semester. Nominations and voting are open to every member of the student body, to better reflect the best of the College of Medicine.
The Frank T. Sparks Memorial Award for Excellence in Medical Education Support Staff
This award promotes and recognizes the outstanding contributions of the late Frank T. Sparks to the area of medical education by a support staff member.
The C. Thomas Bombeck Award for Excellence in Medical Education
This award promotes and recognizes the outstanding contributions of the late C. Thomas Bombeck to the area of medical education by a faculty member.
The Abbas Hyderi Leadership Award
This award recognizes two members in each class who have displayed outstanding student leadership and advocacy during their careers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine.
The Maria Devens Memorial Award
The Dr. Maria Devens Memorial Award seeks to honor those individuals who promote interpersonal cooperation and aim to alleviate the psychosocial stressors associated with medical training through their actions. Students are invited to nominate any peers, faculty, or staff who they have witnessed engage in such an action, no matter whether the action affects two people or two hundred. The award seeks to honor the memory of Dr. Devens, who devoted much of her research to educating students and residents about sources of stress within the medical profession and promoting attention to personal well-being during medical training.
Nominations will be solicited in the spring each academic year and a recipient will be chosen through a selection committee composed of individuals from the Chicago Medical Student Council Executive Board, each Class Board, and one representative from the Department of Family Medicine. The Devens Memorial Award will be awarded at most once per academic year, but if a deserving recipient is not found by the selection committee, it may not be awarded each year.
The Pulido Award for Excellence in Medical Education in Surgery
The purpose of this award is to acknowledge outstanding teaching of medical students by a faculty member in the surgery or the surgical subspecialties. The criteria include enthusiasm for the subject, respect for the medical students, and the promotion of lifelong learning and research.
The Reeves Memorial Award
This award commemorates a UIC medical student who died during his third year. Each year, the third year class chooses a third year student to receive this award. The student who receives this award should exemplify one or more of the following qualities:
- A student who has suffered unusual hardship
- Outstanding student leadership or representation
- Outstanding student volunteer or tutor
- Outstanding strength of character
The Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Medical Education
This award recognizes one faculty member for each class for their outstanding teaching of medical students and contribution to the education of that class.
Past Award Recipients Heading link
2024 CMSC Award Recipients
| Award | Eligibility for nominating | Description | Awardee | Last year's awardee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparks Award | all students, M1-M4 | This award promotes and recognizes the outstanding contributions of the late Frank T. Sparks to the area of medical education by a support staff member. | Chad McCoy | Kimberly Densmore |
| Bombeck Award | all students, M1-M4 | This award promotes and recognizes the outstanding contributions of the late C. Thomas Bombeck to the area of medical education by a faculty member. Note: Winners of the Bombeck award have a two-year waiting period before regaining eligibility. | Dr. Fred Zar | Dr. David Allison |
| Hyderi Award | all students, M1-M4 (students can nominate up to FOUR students per class) | This award recognizes two members in each class who have displayed outstanding student leadership and advocacy during their careers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine. | M1: Andrés Gascon, Tykira Fisher; M2: Hassan Khan, DeAnthoni Wilkins; M3: Sakshi Dureja, Valerie Santos; M4: Jhunnelle Walters, Sara Cooper; MSTP: Tova Bergsten, Julianne Jorgensen | M1: Sarah Medina-Aguirre, David Wu M2: Ashwini Deshpande, Emily Muscat M3: Ange Uwimana, Yanzhen (Janet) Pang M4: Akila Ally, Zoie Sheets |
| Devens Award | all students, M1-M4 | This award seeks to honor those individuals who promote interpersonal cooperation and aim to alleviate the psychosocial stressors associated with medical training through their actions. Students are invited to nominate any peer, faculty, or staff member who they have witnessed engage in such an action, no matter whether the action affects two people or two hundred. | Dr. Claudia Boucher-Berry | Nirali Chauhan |
| Pulido Award | M3-M4 students only (since they are nominating a clerkship attending) | The purpose of this award is to acknowledge outstanding teaching of medical students by a faculty member in the surgery or the surgical subspecialties. The criteria include enthusiasm for the subject, respect for the medical students, and the promotion of lifelong learning and research. | Dr. Ankit Mehta | Dr. Alejandra Mercedes Perez-Tamayo |
| Reeves Award | M3 students ONLY, they nominate a fellow M3 | This award commemorates a UIC medical student who died during his third year. Each year, the third year class chooses a third year student to receive this award. The student who receives this award should exemplify one or more of the following qualities: - A student who has suffered unusual hardship - Outstanding student leadership or representation - Outstanding student volunteer or tutor - Outstanding strength of character | Sam Jiang | Alondra Diaz |
| Golden Apple | all students (M1-M4), but sent to each class separately in order to nominate a faculty for their respective year. | Since 1996, the Golden Apple Award for Teaching Excellence has highlighted medical school professors that are committed to the advancement or improvement in medical education. AMSA members are urged to nominate a chapter educator that deserves notoriety for their contributions to field of academic medicine or that has made a significant impact on their personal academic career. | M1: Dr. Emily Klopp ; M2: Dr. Fred Zar ; M3: Dr. Pooja Monpara; M4: Dr. Pavan Srivastava | M1- Dr. Amy Lin, M2- Dr. David Allison, M3- Dr. Richard Stringham, M4- Dr. Christopher Fernandes |
| Outstanding Student Organization Award | All students | This award recognizes one student led organization who has displayed outstanding student leadership, advocacy, or initiative during the previous academic year at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine. Open to all CMSC affiliated student organizations. | Mobile Migrant Health Team: Sarah Medina-Aguirre and Sara Izquierdo | Chicago Street Medicine |
| Clara Ryan Memorial | Sara Izquierdo | Zoie Sheets | ||
| Bennet Award | Jhunnelle Walters | - | ||
| SRFC Award | Sara Cooper | Gaby Ruzgas |
2023 CMSC Award Recipients
| Award | Eligibility for nominating | Description | Awardee | Last year's awardee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparks Award | all students, M1-M4 | This award promotes and recognizes the outstanding contributions of the late Frank T. Sparks to the area of medical education by a support staff member. | Kimberly Densmore | Kimberly Densmore |
| Bombeck Award | all students, M1-M4 | This award promotes and recognizes the outstanding contributions of the late C. Thomas Bombeck to the area of medical education by a faculty member. Note: Winners of the Bombeck award have a two-year waiting period before regaining eligibility. As such the following professors are not eligible to be nominated for this year's award: Dr. Groth, Dr. Pescitelli. | Dr. David Allison | Dr. Mahesh Patel |
| Hyderi Award | all students, M1-M4 (students can nominate up to FOUR students per class) | This award recognizes two members in each class who have displayed outstanding student leadership and advocacy during their careers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine. | M1: Sarah Medina-Aguirre, David Wu M2: Ashwini Deshpande, Emily Muscat M3: Ange Uwimana, Yanzhen (Janet) Pang M4: Akila Ally, Zoie Sheets | M1: Essie Ghafoor, Katherine Petrovich; M2: Jorge Rivera, Natasha Mehta; M3: Sarah Russel, Emily Green; M4: Dante Mesa, Savan Patel |
| Devens Award | all students, M1-M4 | This award seeks to honor those individuals who promote interpersonal cooperation and aim to alleviate the psychosocial stressors associated with medical training through their actions. Students are invited to nominate any peer, faculty, or staff member who they have witnessed engage in such an action, no matter whether the action affects two people or two hundred. | Nirali Chauhan | Joseph Geraghty |
| Pulido Award | M3-M4 students only | The purpose of this award is to acknowledge outstanding teaching of medical students by a faculty member in the surgery or the surgical subspecialties. The criteria include enthusiasm for the subject, respect for the medical students, and the promotion of lifelong learning and research. | Dr. Alejandra Mercedes Perez-Tamayo | Dr. Alejandra Mercedes Perez-Tamayo |
| Reeves Award | M3 students ONLY, they nominate a fellow M3 | This award commemorates a UIC medical student who died during his third year. Each year, the third year class chooses a third year student to receive this award. The student who receives this award should exemplify one or more of the following qualities: • A student who has suffered unusual hardship • Outstanding student leadership or representation • Outstanding student volunteer or tutor • Outstanding strength of character | Alondra Diaz | |
| Golden Apple | all students (M1-M4), but sent to each class separately in order to nominate a faculty for their respective year. | Since 1996, the Golden Apple Award for Teaching Excellence has highlighted medical school professors that are committed to the advancement or improvement in medical education. AMSA members are urged to nominate a chapter educator that deserves notoriety for their contributions to field of academic medicine or that has made a significant impact on their personal academic career. | M1- Dr. Amy Lin, M2- Dr. David Allison, M3- Dr. Richard Stringham, M4- Dr. Christopher Fernandes | M1-Dr. Groth (2nd place tie Dr. Lin/Dr. Zar);M2-Dr. G and Dr. S tied; M3-Dr. Zar; M4: Dr. G |
| Outstanding Student Organization Award | All students | This award recognizes one student led organization who has displayed outstanding student leadership, advocacy, or initiative during the previous academic year at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine. Open to all CMSC affiliated student organizations. | Chicago Street Medicine | Chicago Street Medicine |
| Clara Ryan Memorial | Zoie Sheets | |||
| Bennet Award | - | |||
| SRFC Award | Gaby Ruzgas |
2022 CMSC Award Recipients
| Award | Eligibility for nominating | Description | Awardee | Last year's awardee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparks Award | all students, M1-M4 | This award promotes and recognizes the outstanding contributions of the late Frank T. Sparks to the area of medical education by a support staff member. | Angelica Bevelle | Erich Wallbruch |
| Bombeck Award | all students, M1-M4 | This award promotes and recognizes the outstanding contributions of the late C. Thomas Bombeck to the area of medical education by a faculty member. Note: Winners of the Bombeck award have a two-year waiting period before regaining eligibility. As such the following professors are not eligible to be nominated for this year's award: Dr. Groth, Dr. Pescitelli. | Dr. Mahesh Patel | Dr. Ana Gangopadhyaya |
| Hyderi Award | all students, M1-M4 (students can nominate up to FOUR students per class) | This award recognizes two members in each class who have displayed outstanding student leadership and advocacy during their careers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine. | M1: Essie Ghafoor, Katherine Petrovich; M2: Jorge Rivera, Natasha Mehta; M3: Sarah Russel, Emily Green; M4: Dante Mesa, Savan Patel | M1: Matthew Grande, Ange Uwimana; M2: Nirali Chauhan, Daniel Loizzo; M3: Hoda Sayegh, Jasmine Solola; M4: Natasha Mehta, Rachel Lombard |
| Devens Award | all students, M1-M4 | This award seeks to honor those individuals who promote interpersonal cooperation and aim to alleviate the psychosocial stressors associated with medical training through their actions. Students are invited to nominate any peer, faculty, or staff member who they have witnessed engage in such an action, no matter whether the action affects two people or two hundred. | Joseph Geraghty | Dean Heather Heiman |
| Pulido Award | M3-M4 students only (since they are nominating a clerkship attending) | The purpose of this award is to acknowledge outstanding teaching of medical students by a faculty member in the surgery or the surgical subspecialties. The criteria include enthusiasm for the subject, respect for the medical students, and the promotion of lifelong learning and research. | Dr. Norman Lieska | Dr. Gelila Goba |
| Reeves Award | M3 students ONLY, they nominate a fellow M3 | This award commemorates a UIC medical student who died during his third year. Each year, the third year class chooses a third year student to receive this award. The student who receives this award should exemplify one or more of the following qualities: • A student who has suffered unusual hardship • Outstanding student leadership or representation • Outstanding student volunteer or tutor • Outstanding strength of character | Ravand Samaeekia | Jasmine Solola |
| Golden Apple | all students (M1-M4), but sent to each class separately in order to nominate a faculty for their respective year. | Additional Notes: Last years winners: M1 – Dr. Mahesh Patel M2 – John Groth, MD M3 – Richard Stringham, MD M4 – Dr. Fred Zar | M1-Dr. Groth (2nd place tie Dr. Lin/Dr. Zar); M2-Dr. G and Dr. S tied; M3-Dr. Zar; M4: Dr. G | M1: Dr. Mahesh Patel; M2: Dr. Claudia Lora; M3: Dr. Brittani James; M4: Dr. Asra Khan |
| Outstanding Student Organization Award | All students | This award recognizes one student led organization who has displayed outstanding student leadership, advocacy, or initiative during the previous academic year at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine. Open to all CMSC affiliated student organizations. | Chicago Street Medicine | SNMA; Presidents: Miriam Guzman & Folasade Odeniyi |
2021 CMSC Award Recipients
| Sparks Award | Erich Wallbruch | |
| Bombeck Award | Dr. Ana Gangopadhyaya | |
| Hyderi Award | ||
| M1 | Matthew Grande | |
| M1 | Ange Uwimana | |
| M2 | Nirali Chauhan | |
| M2 | Daniel Loizzo | |
| M3 | Hoda Sayegh | |
| M3 | Jasmine Solola | |
| M4 | Natasha Mehta | |
| M4 | Rachel Lombard | |
| Devens Award | Dean Heather Heiman | |
| Pulido Award | Dr. Gelila Goba | |
| Reeves Award | Jasmine Solola | |
| Golden Apple | ||
| M1 | Dr. Mahesh Patel | |
| M2 | Dr. Claudia Lora | |
| M3 | Dr. Brittani James | |
| M4 | Dr. Asra Khan | |
| Andrea Plaut Award (SRFC) | Alexandra (Ali) Lamacki | |
| Granville Bennett | Ally Young | |
| Outstanding Student Organization Award | SNMA Presidents: Miriam Guzman & Folasade Odeniyi |
|
| COM Cup | Richmond House | |
| COM Artists: Body Electric Winners | No 2020-21 winner |
2020 CMSC Award Recipients
Check out the online award ceremony for the 2020 CMSC Awards Night on Prezi.