Graduation ceremony celebrates 2026 internal medicine residency graduates
The Department of Medicine celebrated its 2026 internal medicine residency graduation with a ceremony at the University of Wisconsin Memorial Union on June 5, 2026.
"This was an incredibly exciting night to celebrate a wonderful group of physicians and people," says residency program director Andy Coyle, MD, associate professor, General Internal Medicine. "They've really excelled as clinicians, researchers, scholars, educators and advocates. We're so excited to see what this group will accomplish as they head into the next phase of their careers!"
Resident awards
Residents receiving 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. Those graduating with the TEACH Disinction also completed an education capstone project. This year’s TEACH certificate graduates are Marina Adrianzen Fonseca, MD; Bikrum Chahal, MD; Anneleise Frie, MD; Harshitha Mogallapalli, MD; Nathan Padilla, MD; and Clayton Skogman, MD.
The following PG-3s also received the Distinction in TEACH designation: Michael Hermsen, MD, MS; Emily Nestor, MD, MPH; Akin Iyeku, MD, MS; and Gabriel Moreno, MD.
Graduates receiving the Health Equity Certificate 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. Residents graduating with the Distinction in Health Equity also completed a health-equity related capstone project. This year’s graduates are Grace Eisenbiegler, MD, and Zaynab Almothafer, MD, MS (Certificate); Evan Keiser, MD, and Gabriel Moreno, MD (Distinction).
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 award is shared by William Bull, MD, and Daniel Pastan, MD, both PG-3s.
The Sobby Mathew Award is awarded to an intern 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. She was widely admired by her peers and faculty for being so comforting to her patients and their advocate. 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 Bruin Armwald, DO, MS, PG-1.
The Resident Wellness Promotion Award is awarded 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 Brennen Cooper, 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 recipient is Zaynab Almothafer, MD, MBS, 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 Kat Tippins, MD, PG-2, and Emily Schmitz, 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 Marissa LoCastro, MD, PG-2, and Daniel Pastan, 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 Jourdan Mason, 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 Bryan Swanson, MD, PG-1; Grace Armstrong, MD, PG-2; and Michael Hermsen, MD, MS, PG-3.
The Resident Scholarship Award goes to a resident who 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 Yash Hegde, 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 Sean Mortenson, MD, 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 Veli Topkara, MD, MSc, associate professor, Cardiovascular 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 Joshua Shapiro, MD, clinical associate professor, Hospital 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 Sean O’Neill, MD, clinical 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 Jeremy Smith, MD, professor, General Internal 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. This year’s awards go to Laura Phillips, MD, clinical assistant adjunct professor, and Erin Fouch, MD, clinical professor, General Internal Medicine.
The VA Faculty Teaching Award goes to a faculty member in recognition of consistent outstanding contributions to the Department of Medicine housestaff education in teaching. This year’s recipient is Madelyn Weiker, MD, clinical assistant adjunct professor, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital.
The Special Recognition Award goes to an individual who has consistently offered education from their area of expertise to the department’s internal medicine residents. This year’s awards go to Vonnie Schoenleber, graduate medical education program manager, UW Internal Medicine Residency, and Rachel Ives, PharmD, clinical pharmacist – internal medicine, UW Health Pharmacy.
Congratulations to all the graduating residents (pictured in banner photo) and award recipients!
