Celebrating our 2025 internal medicine residency graduates
The Department of Medicine celebrated its 2025 internal medicine residency graduation with a ceremony at the University of Wisconsin Union South on June 6, 2025.
"The graduates of the Class of 2025 have excelled as clinicians, researchers, teachers, educators, and advocates," says residency program director Andy Coyle, MD, associate professor, General Internal Medicine. "They've made an indelible mark on the residency program and had a huge impact on their patients and our community. We are so excited to see them enter the next phase of their career!"
In addition to remarks by Department Chair Lynn Schnapp, MD, George R. and Elaine Love Professor, the ceremony featured speaker Brian Griffith, MD, clinical associate professor, Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, as well as a presentation of special trainee and faculty awards.
Resident awards
Graduating residents who receive the TEACH Certificate have demonstrated their commitment and dedication to medical education by engaging in extra hours of conferences and journal clubs, by having their teaching directly observed and receiving feedback, and (for those in the Pathway) by completing an education capstone project. This year’s TEACH residents are Brandon Leding, MD; Jeanette Liou, MD; and Jessica Comerford, MD.
The following PG-3s also received the Distinction in TEACH designation: Mariana Garcia Arango, MD; Ahmed El Shaer, MBBS; Allison Giuffre, MD; Oscar Ramirez Ramirez, MD; Dalia Sriwi, MBBS; Ryan Townshend, MD; and Divya Vundamati, MD.
Graduates receiving the Health Equity Pathway Distinction have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the pathway’s pillars: advocacy, equity, scholarship, community and humility. In addition to participating in workshops, completing curriculum, developing advocacy projects and engaging with community programs these residents each also completed a service project. This year’s graduates are Justine Hung, MD; Giovanna Zampierollo-Jaramillo, MD, MS; and Francesca (Frankie) Garofalo, MD.
The following awards were based on votes by residents and/or faculty.
The Laurence G. Crocker, MD, Award for Outstanding Generalist is named for Dr. Larry Crocker, who was a member of the Division of General Internal Medicine. Prior to his retirement in 2007 at the age of 75, he was an outstanding role model for numerous UW faculty members. Dr. Crocker was a skilled and compassionate physician, dedicated to providing the best care for his patients. The recipient of this award is recognized as someone who is a role model for outstanding patient care in the primary care setting. This year’s recipient is Emily Kahlandt, MD, PG-3.
The Sobby Mathew Award is awarded to a first-year resident who is hard-working, open-minded, supportive, and selfless, and who demonstrates compassion and a caring attitude for their patients and colleagues. Sobby Mathew was taken from us prematurely in a car accident at the end of her PG-1 year. She had been a strong role model in her congregation and local Indian community. Her peers and faculty widely admired her for being a comfort to and advocate for her patients. Her service and volunteerism were conducted with selflessness and a genuine, eternal optimism toward the power of humanity to do good. This year’s recipient is Marissa LoCastro, MD, PG-1.
The Resident Wellness Promotion Award goes to a resident who has shown consistent care and love for their fellow residents, extending joy and compassion through their actions, improving well-being, and fostering connection and warmth in our program and community. This year’s recipient is Victor Chen, MD, PG-2.
The Resident Advocacy and Service Award goes to a resident who has made significant contributions to the institution and community by advocating for structural change to promote health equity and improve patient outcomes. This year’s recipients are Frankie Garofolo, MD, and Tonela Qyli, MD, both PG-3.
The Resident Excellence in Teaching Award goes to a resident who demonstrated excellence in teaching the principles and practice of internal medicine to their colleagues, first-year residents and medical students. This year’s recipients are Grace Eisenbiegler, MD, PG-2, and Brad Uyemura, MD, PG-3.
The Resident Humanism in Medicine Award goes to a resident who exemplifies true patient-centered care, serving as advocates for their patients and consistently demonstrating care for and about their patients as individuals. This year’s recipients are Daniel Pastan, MD, PG-2, and Janki Mistry, MD, PG-3.
The Resident Continuity Clinic Excellence Award goes to a resident who has demonstrated excellence and commitment in their role as a primary care doctor and is someone their peers would want to care for them or their loved ones. This year’s recipient is William Bull, MD, PG-2.
The Resident Clinical Excellence Award goes to a resident who demonstrates excellence in the clinical care of their patients and exemplary commitment to learning, and who serve as role models for professionalism and reliability. This year’s recipients are Katharine Tippins, MD, PG-1; Evan Keiser, MD, PG-2; and PG-3s Nicholas (Nick) Gallo, MD, and Sean Mortenson, MD.
The Resident Scholarship Award goes to a resident who has achieved significant success and productivity in scholarship (research, education, and/or quality improvement) while providing outstanding clinical care to their patients. This year’s recipient is Jeremy Williams, MD, PG-3.
Faculty awards
The Fellow Excellence in Teaching Award goes to a current Department of Medicine fellow who has shown excellence in the education of internal medicine residents. This year’s award goes to John Davis, MD, MS, MA, Pulmonary and Critical Care fellow, Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.
The Research Mentorship Award goes to a Department of Medicine faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding professionalism and excellence in mentoring resident researchers during their training. This year’s recipient is Jacqueline Kruser, MD, MS, assistant professor, Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.
The Patient-Centered Award goes to a faculty member who embodies the best examples of empathy, humanism in patient-centered communication and shared decision-making. This year’s award goes to Thomas Shiffler, MD, clinical professor, General Internal Medicine.
The Professionalism Award goes to a faculty member who best demonstrated one or more of the following characteristics: altruism; accountability to patients, the public and his/her profession; commitment to excellence; a sense of duty, honor and integrity; humanism, empathy and a respect for others. This year’s award goes to Tyler Will, MD, clinical assistant professor, Hospital Medicine.
The Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award goes to a faculty member who offered the best opportunity to learn or is considered the best overall teacher in the Department of Medicine. This year’s recipient is John McCartney, MD, clinical professor, Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.
The Physician’s Physician Award goes to the faculty member deeply trusted by their Department of Medicine peers for their medical knowledge, diagnostic and treatment skills, and dedication to patient care. They are someone their peers would want to care for them or their loved ones. This year’s award goes to Maryam Zamanian, MD, MSc, clinical assistant professor, Hospital Medicine.
The VA Faculty Teaching Award goes to a faculty member recognized for their consistent, outstanding contributions to Department of Medicine trainees on inpatient or outpatient rotations. This year’s recipient is Thomas St. Peter, MD, clinical assistant adjunct professor, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital.
The Special Recognition Award goes to any individual who has consistently offered education from their area of expertise to the department’s internal medicine residents. This year’s award goes to Corey Smith, NP, nurse practitioner-critical care, Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.
Congratulations to all the graduating residents and award recipients!