Katherine He leads medical students honored at annual Graduation Awards Luncheon
Twenty senior students receive senior, scholastic and scholarship awards on the eve of their commencement; others also honored
Like many University of Michigan Medical School 2018 graduates-to-be, Katherine He (above) did not always harbor dreams of a career in medicine.
Katherine, who grew up in North Carolina, Alabama and California, majored in French literature and environmental sciences at the University of California, Berkeley. Upon graduation, she decided to exchange dreams of saving the planet with new goals of improving access to medical care.
“I realized I loved the deep connections that physicians share with patients,” says Katherine, one of 24 senior students honored May 10 at the annual Graduation Awards Luncheon, the opening act for the school’s Commencement ceremony on May 11 at Hill Auditorium.
Katherine was called to the podium four times at the luncheon, receiving the Andrew J. Zweifler Award for Excellence in Clinical Skills, Glasgow-Rubin Certificate of Commendation for Academic Achievement, Academic Recognition Award, and the Michigan Medicine Alumni Society Academic Achievement Award.
During her time at Michigan, Katherine took a leadership role with the Student-Run Free Clinic and also completed a master’s degree through the U-M School of Public Health. She is headed to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston for her general surgery residency. She intends to become a trauma and ICU physician.
“I feel confident not only performing health policy research but also addressing all of a patient’s needs,” says Katherine, adding that she hopes to reduce the financial impact of emergency surgical services in disadvantaged populations. “Michigan has exceptional opportunities for students in service, research, and professional skills and has truly been a perfect fit for me.”
In addition to Katherine, these faculty, staff and students were honored:
Senior Awards
Dean’s Award for Research Excellence
Jooho Chung
David Cron
Puneet “Ashu” Ailawadi Memorial Award
Regina Royan
Ralph M. Gibson Award
Lauren Seale
Dr. Jane Skillen Award
Lindsey Pelissier
Stevie-Jay Stapler
Patrick John Niland Award
Elizabeth Scruggs
Sujal Parikh Award
Jordan Harris
Paul DeWolf Award
Lisa Masini
Scholastic Awards
Glasgow-Rubin Citations for Academic Achievement
Laurie Beth Griffin
Megan Lane
Cindy Lee
Alyssa Mazurek
Alyssa Stevenson
Megha Trivedi
Academic Recognition Awards
Thomas Goslinga
Megan Lane
Daniel Marcusa
Tudor Puiu
Special Award Presentation
David Ashburn, M.D., Memorial Scholarship Award
Josh Kurtz, M2
Michigan Medicine Alumni Society Awards
Scholarship Service Awards
Timothy Hoffman, M3
Jennifer Sun, M3
Ayana Robinson, M2
Faculty Awards
The American Medical Women’s Association Gender Equity Award
Reshma Jagsi, M.D., D.Phil., professor of radiation oncology
Elizabeth Crosby Award
Madelyn Lew, M.D., assistant professor of pathology
Kaiser-Permanente Awards for Excellence in Teaching
Pre-Clinical: Scott R. Owens, M.D., associate professor of pathology
Clinical: Sarah E. Hartley, M.D., assistant professor of internal medicine
Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award (presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation)
Faculty: Andrew R. Barnosky, D.O., MPH, professor of emergency medicine and internal medicine
Student: Carolyn Claire Levin
Thomas G. Varbedian Award for Excellence in Service to Students
Denise Brennan, administrative specialist, Office of Medical Student Education