Graduating Tucson Campus Internal Medicine Residents Celebrate with Banquet, Awards

Graduating University of Arizona internal medicine residents

The University of Arizona Department of Medicine hosted its 2016 Graduation Dinner for the UA Internal Medicine Residency Program – Tucson Campus residents June 3 at the Skyline Country Club, with nearly 40 graduating residents and their families attending.

Dr. Ram Baalachandran2015-16 Resident of the Year Dr. Ram Baalachandran withTucson Campus Internal Medicine program director Laura Meinke, MD

During the event, an entertaining video compiled by the residents was presented. Steven Goldman, MD, and nurse Mary K. Pierce also offered the closing remarks in the form of a final Goldman Rounds with some sage advice  including: “Be nice to nurses. It is easier to get a new intern than a new nurse.”

Click here [PDF] to view a collage of photos from the dinner.

Among annual awards for the 2015-16 academic year presented Friday evening were:

  • Outstanding Intern of the Year
    Anthony Witten, DO
  • 2015-16 ACP Vignette Award
    Pryce Gaynor, MD
  • Program Director’s Outstanding Humanism and Professionalism Award
    Ramasubramanian Baalachandran, MBBS
  • Distinguished Research Award
  • Roberto Bernardo, MBBS
  • Distinguished Research Award
    Jawad Bilal, MBBS
  • Outstanding Resident of the Year
    Ramasubramanian Baalachandran, MBBS
  • Outstanding Fellow of the Year
    Kareem Ahmad, MD, Pulmonary & Critical Care
  • Outstanding Fellow of the Year
    Tammer El Aini, MD, Pulmonary & Critical Care
  • Outstanding Attending of the Year
    Joao P. Ferreira, MD
  • Certificate of Appreciation 2015 – 2016
    Lori Najar-Young, Health Unit Coordinator (4W – Tucson Campus)

Outgoing and incoming chief residents at Banner - UMC Tucson hospitalOutgoing chief residents Shuba Kollampare, MBBS; Laila Abu Zaid, MD; Nick Dembitsky, MD, and Courtney Walker, MD, flank incoming chiefs Lindsey Trutter, MD, and Rorak Hooten, MD (center). 

Medicine Clerkship Honors plaques were also presented to Justin Lee, MD, and Bradley Minter, MD. And a number of “Most Likely” and “Best” awards were presented by incoming chief residents Rorak Hooten, MD, and Lindsey Trutter, MD, to their fellow residents. Other incoming chief residents for the 2016-17 academic year include Laith Ghazala, MD and Jennifer Segar, MD.

IN OTHER NEWS: 
For where graduating residents are headed next, see the following:
“Graduating Tucson Campus Internal Medicine Residents Set Sights on Future” 

To see incoming interns (first-year residents) to the program, see the following:
“Class of 2016-17 Interns to Arrive Later in June” 

Both news items above are posted to the Department of Medicine News webpage.

ALSO SEE:
"South Campus Internal Medicine Residents, Graduates Honored at Annual Dinner" | Posted June 11, 2016

Release Date: 
06/07/2016 - 4:45pm