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2025 CAP Distinguished Medical Student Award

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The Distinguished Medical Student Award from the College of American Pathologists (CAP) is given to a medical student, in any year of training, for outstanding achievement, aptitude, or interest in pathology. The awardee is recommended for recognition by the pathology contact (department chair, program director, or faculty member) at a US allopathic or osteopathic medical school.

The CAP's Distinguished Medical Student Award honors the student's initiative in learning about pathology and participating in pathology-related activities. It intentionally elevates the specialty by leveraging the involvement of pathologists in medical students' training as they interact prior to and during the selection process. 

Criteria

The award is intended to be recommendation-based rather than application-based. While medical schools may have current award criteria and selection mechanisms, ultimately the pathology department chair, program director, or faculty member will recommend the medical student based on the student's knowledge of/interest in pathology, participation in pathology electives, or activities revolving around pathology.

  1. The student may be in any year of medical training.
  2. The student should exhibit knowledge of and enthusiasm for pathology.
  3. The student should be involved in pathology courses, interest groups, electives, research, or a preceptorship associated with the medical school and/or other organizations outside the medical school.
  4. The medical school may, at its discretion, use selection criteria and mechanisms already in place in the institution.
  5. The medical school must complete and submit one electronic nomination to the CAP.

Certificate and Monetary Award

The CAP will provide a frameable certificate and a $250 monetary award to the recipient. These will be sent directly to the institution's contact for presentation to the recipient.

Award Presentation

It is at the medical school’s discretion as to when to confer the CAP Distinguished Medical Student Award. Options might include giving it at the medical school graduation when excellence awards are presented, during pathology events so the medical student can be recognized with future pathology colleagues, or during interdisciplinary academic awards presentations. Each institution may decide the best time to present the award.

Each institution may decide the best time to present the award; however, it should be presented before the end of the academic year and prior to June 16, 2025. After that date, the CAP will publish the names of award recipients and their respective schools on cap.org.

2025 CAP Distinguished Medical Student Award Winners

This year, the award attracted nationwide attention, with a record-breaking 98 outstanding medical students nominated by esteemed physicians from institutions across the United States.

Here are the 2025 award winners:

Aaron Dobbins, University of North Carolina School of Medicine

Adrian Rajab, The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Alexandra Job, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine

Amanda M. Maxfield, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth

Aneka Patterson, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Anjani Guda, Drexel University College of Medicine

Aratara Nutcharoen, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine

Blaine Baker, UC Davis Medical Center

Brandon Bui, Medical University of South Carolina

Brooke Ortiz, University of Florida

Camille Ng, California Northstate University COM

Carley C. Kida, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii

Carson Clark, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine

Cheston Nathaniel Porter, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University

Christopher Jannotta, Harvard Medical School

Clare Hartman, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine

Dan Dou, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Dayanita McCutcheon, University of California San Diego

Diego Flores, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine- Virginia Campus

Eleanor Mackey, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Eli Rust, University of Rochester Medical Center

Eliza Cruickshank, Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont

Ellee Pisey Vikram, University of California Irvine School of Medicine

Emilio Miret, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Emily Torres, Hackensack Meridian School of Medical

Emma Thames, University of Texas Houston, McGovern Medical School

Erin J. Saunders, University of Virginia

Eumee Cha, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Fatima Sattar, The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine

Fiona Lane, Western University of Health Sciences

Francesca J. Noelette, Stanford University

Francesco E. Emiliani, Dartmouth Health and Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth

Gary Kevin Davis, Jr., Mercer University School of Medicine

Gentry Ensign, Rocky Vista University

George Huang, Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin

Gianna Daley, Howard University College of Medicine

Heather Short, University of Kentucky

Hei-Yong Lo, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Henry Elsenpeter, University of North Dakota

Hong Ly, Penn State College of Medicine

Hunter Jansson, A.T. Still University, Kirksville, MO

Jake Price, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Jaya Nicole Alagar, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

Jeffery Hayashi, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine

Jennifer Beckman, Indiana University School of Medicine

Jessica Graham, UAB Heersink School of Medicine

John F. Emery, Dartmouth Health and Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth

Joseph Maggiore, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Joshua Pantanowitz, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine

Julia Vance, ATSU- Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine

Justin Johnson, Yale University

Karima Osman, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Kristen Oliveria, Baylor College of Medicine

Kyle Schroeder, Florida Atlantic University, Schmidt College of Medicine

Larissa Suzette Leiva Pelaez, Indiana University School of Medicine

Larissa Ybañez, University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine

Laura Budvytyte, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine

Laura Duzett, Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine

Lauren Belanger, University of Minnesota

Lauren Reiman, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California

Lauren Roberts, University of Missouri in Kansas City

Leah Brown, University of Mississippi Medical Center

Liam Kit, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine

Madeleine Taddei, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix

Madison Brooks, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

Mason Maniloff, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

Matthew J. Carr, Des Moines University

Maya T. Handberry-Howard, Mercer University School of Medicine

Michael Rosario, Washington University in St. Louis

Molly Geraghty, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Nadia Nicole Sahli, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Natalie Sadeghy, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine

Nathan Ryan, Northeast Ohio Medical University

Nicholas Barron, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Oscar Norberto Perales, Yale University

Patricia Lupu, University of. Missouri-Columbia

Paul Nagao, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Pauline Tran, California Health Sciences University - College of Osteopathic Medicine

Philip E. Makedon, University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine

Renee Ouellette, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Robert McFarling, Rocky Vista University- Colorado

Rony Moon, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Samantha K. Engrav, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine

Samuel S. Kraus, University of Arizona

Sarah Lawson, Thomas Jefferson University

Sarah Weiss, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix

Stephany Bustamante, University of Central Florida

Supriya Iyer, Oregon Health & Science University

Theodore N. Muka, University of New Mexico School Of Medicine

Thomas V. Wong, University of Texas Health San Antonio

Tiffany Sanchez Garcia, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine

Tori Lee, Loma Linda University School of Medicine

Trent H. Davids, Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Troy Hefner, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

Truman J. Do, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Tyler Scott Yeager, Oregon Health & Science University

Tyler Steidl, Rutgers University New Jersey Medical School

Zhaoyi Wang, University of Washington

Previous Years

Adam Berry, Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine - Utah

Adnan S. Syed, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Alayna Westcom, Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont

Alysia Bryll, UMass Chan Medical School

Anaisa S. Quintanilla-Arteaga, Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University, Chicago

Anirudh Murthy, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook

Anna Shadid, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine - Tulsa Campus

Avigail Soloveichik, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Basma Klump, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Beatrix Dudzik, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine

Benjamin Robert Highland, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Briana Fernandez, Baylor College of Medicine

Channah R. Mills, Uniformed Services University

Charles Chandler Herndon, Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine - Nevada

Christian Santiago, OUWB School of Medicine

Charles Patrick Ehster, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Christian Tran, Sidney Kimmel Medical College - Thomas Jefferson University

Cody Forsyth, Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine - California

Connie Shinru Chang, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii

Darby Naheedy, Midwestern University - Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

David Shepherd, Indiana University School of Medicine

Davina Dobbins, University of Arizona

Derek Sung, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Elizabeth Kruse, University of Missouri in Kansas City

Emery Price, University of North Carolina School of Medicine

Emily Hartsell, University of South Alabama- Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine

Gabriel Christopher Purnell, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Gonzalo Astudillo, Foster School of Medicine, TTUHSC El Paso

Hannah P. McQueen, Mercer University School of Medicine

Hayley Elise Sanchez, Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Ian Clapp, Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of Pikeville

Isabella Zappi, University of Rochester School of Medicine

Jacob Shaner, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix

Jenna Aungst, DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

Jennifer Bentz, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine

Jennifer Lee Quinter, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

John S. Overton, University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Medicine

Joshua C. Sciurba, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Keaton Ott, Tulane School of Medicine

Kristina Renae Slyh, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

Krystal English, McGovern Medical School

Laura Daphne Tennis, University of California Irvine School of Medicine

Leah Johanna Gruen, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Lucy Greenwald, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Luis Felipe Quistian, Medical University of South Carolina

Luke Morales, SUNY Downstate College of Medicine

Maryknoll Linscott, Penn State Health/College of Medicine

Matthew Lanehart, West Virginia University School of Medicine

Matthew Loberg, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Matthew Lordo, The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Meagan Drury, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine

Megan Erin Dukes, Case Western Reserve University

Melissa Murphy, University of Kentucky

Micahel A. Metrick II, University of Illinois at Chicago

Michael A. Pettit, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine

Morgane McGuire, University of Washington School of Medicine

Nicholas Osborne, Northeast Ohio Medical University

Pierre Tran, Western University of Health Sciences

Raquel Perry, Duke University School of Medicine

Sabrina Hollar, Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine - Colorado

Samuel Alexander McCollum, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Sangeetha Sonney, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Sarah Mirkhaef, Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine

Serica J. Hallstead, Alpert Medical School

Shahzaib Saleem, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Sharanpreet Hira, Des Moines University

Shawn Alexa Rosario, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine

Sherri Irwin, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center - Oklahoma City Campus

Taylor Christian Boggess, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University

Tomasz Gruchala, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Tristan Joseph Jordan, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Veronica Alvarez, Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

Victoria Lee, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

William Francis O'Connor, University of Maryland School of Medicine

Aaishah Raquib, Western University College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest

Aaron Jones, State University of New York Upstate Medical University

Alex Tannenbaum, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Andrew Gerber, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine

Ariel Flotte, Eastern Virginia Medical School

Bader Semakieh, Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine

Brittany Leilani Mika Pa'ahana Sato, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii

Cari Carpenter, Larner College of Medicine at The University of Vermont

Carli R. Cox, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Christopher Dilli, Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Chuan Hao (Alex) Chen, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

David Kyle Carlson, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Devin James Hunt, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Emily Cobb, University of Mississippi

Emily Hatheway Marshall, Duke University School of Medicine

Emma Hawkins, Medical University of South Carolina

Harry Nesta, University of Kentucky

Ian Taylor-Cho, Duke University School of Medicine

James Fleming, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Jenny Liu, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Jeremy Rouanet, University of California Irvine School of Medicine

Joanna Coker, UC San Diego School of Medicine

Konnie Le, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

Laraine Cheung, Howard University

Lauren Larson, Wayne State University

Marci Crowley, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine

Maya Fares, Penn State College of Medicine

Melanie Chan, California Northstate University College of Medicine

Michael Goldbeck, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center

Natalie Moore, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Nicole Bracewell, University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Nicole Maddie, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine

Nikitha Samy, John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Medical School at UTHealth

Niraj Vyas, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

Ragini Phansalkar, Stanford University

Ronan Talty, Yale School of Medicine

Ryan Cooper, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California

Samantha Wahlers, University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria Campus

Sara Sakowitz, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Sebastian Kolaj, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

Serina Williams, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute

Stephne Rasiah, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences