UPIKE Newsroom

The University of Pikeville – Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine (KYCOM) held its awards dinner honoring the Class of 2023 in the Appalachian Wireless Arena on May 5.  

Cindy Lin, D.O., of Canton, Ohio, received the Dean’s Award. The award is presented to the graduating student whose leadership, humanity and loyalty to the profession exemplify the ideals, mission and goals of KYCOM. 

Lin also received the Excellence in Emergency Medicine Award. The award is sponsored by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine and is presented for excellence in emergency medicine. 

Brian Clayton Nickles, D.O., of Neon, Ky., received the President’s Award. The award is presented to the student who has demonstrated clinical excellence, earning the highest average score on clinical rotations. 

Nickels also received the Board of Trustees’ Award. The award is presented to the graduating student earning the highest grade point average during the first two years of medical school.  

In addition, Nickels received the Clinical Excellence Award. The award is presented for outstanding clinical achievement to students who demonstrated exceptional academic dedication by earning all A’s during the 2021-2023 clinical rotation years. 

Sara Jean Kaczmarek, D.O., of Green Bay, Wis., received the John A. Strosnider, D.O., Memorial Scholarship Award. The award is presented to the graduating student who exemplifies Dr. Strosnider’s commitment to family medicine and his love and dedication to osteopathic medicine and the osteopathic profession. 

Kaczmarek also received the Student D.O. of the Year Award. The award is presented by the Council of Student Government Presidents, and each school presents this award to the student who best exemplifies the ideal qualities of an osteopathic medical student. The award is generally based on service to the school, the community and/or osteopathic medicine. 

In addition, Kaczmarek received the Ram’s Head Award. The award is presented for the Fellowship Program in recognition of outstanding achievements in Osteopathic Principles and Practices. 

Alexis Lakeisha Ousley, D.O., of Russell, Ky., received the Stephen M. Payson, M.S., Memorial Scholarship Award. The award is presented to a graduating student from the Appalachian region who exemplifies Mr. Payson’s commitment to the mission of KYCOM and the promotion of the osteopathic profession. 

Angela L. Binkowski, D.O., of Bath, Ny., received the Boyd R. Buser, D.O., Excellence Award. The award is presented to a graduating student for overall excellence in academics and service. 

Binkowski also received the Clinical Excellence Award. The award is presented for outstanding clinical achievement to students who demonstrated exceptional academic dedication by earning all A’s during the 2021-2023 clinical rotation years. 

Zakirah Kamil received the Donna Jones Moritsugu Award. The award is presented to the spouse of a graduating student who best exemplifies the role of a professional’s partner, in being a person in their own right, while being supportive of mate, family and profession. 

Steven Michael Hall, D.O., of Vine Grove, Ky., received the James E. Campbell, D.O., Award. The award is presented by the James E. Campbell Education Fund to a deserving Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine graduate from the Appalachian region of Kentucky. 

Hall also received the Ram’s Head Award. The award is presented for the Fellowship Program in recognition of outstanding achievements in Osteopathic Principles and Practices. 

Taryn Jade Schrems, D.O., of East Lansing, Mich., received the Mr. Dharam Pal Kashyap Award. The award was instituted in 2001 by Seema Sachdeva, M.D., in memory of her father for excellence in pediatrics and commitment to lifelong caring for children. 

Maggie Susan Sherrard, D.O., of Elizabethtown, Ky., received the Ms. Swadesh Kashyap Memorial Award. The award was instituted in 2020 by Seema Sachdeva, M.D., in memory of her mother. Awarded to the student with the highest score in the didactic pediatrics course. 

Morgan Taylor Turnow, D.O., of Curtice, Ohio, received the Mrs. Swaran Kanta Sachdeva Memorial Award for Excellence of Women in Specialty Medicine. Instituted in 2022 by Rakesh Sachdeva, M.D., in memory of his mother, the award is granted to a graduating female medical student who has demonstrated excellence in pursuing a residency in specialty medicine. 

Batoul Sadek, D.O., of Dearborn Heights, Mich., received the KYCOM Alumni Association Award. The award is presented to the graduating student who has shown strong involvement both at KYCOM and in the community and has committed to remaining involved with KYCOM through the alumni association. 

Taylor Kenton Reardon, D.O., of Findlay, Ohio, received the Excellence in Research Award. The award is selected by KYCOM’s research faculty and awarded to a KYCOM graduate for excellence in research. 

Sidney M. Elston, D.O., of Dickson, Tenn., Caleb Aron Rashidian, D.O., of Potomac, Md., and Eleanor Shaw Wilson, D.O., of Cincinnati, Ohio, received The Merck Manual Award for Academic Excellence. The award is sponsored by Merck & Company, Inc., to recognize scholastic achievement in medical education. 

Jefferson Harris Adams, D.O., of Hampden, Maine, and Joseph Stewart Roesch, D.O., of Reston, Va., received the Ram’s Head Award. The award is presented for the Fellowship Program in recognition of outstanding achievements in Osteopathic Principles and Practices. 

James Andrew Crum, D.O., of Lexington, Ky., and William Connor Rettig, D.O., of Centerville, Ohio, received the Clinical Excellence Award. The award is presented for outstanding clinical achievement to students who demonstrated exceptional academic dedication by earning all A’s during the 2021-2023 clinical rotation years. 

Gary Nicholas Francis, D.O., received the Clinical Medical Educator of the Year Award. The award is presented to the clinical preceptor who has served with distinction in and dedication to medical education for the students of KYCOM. 

For more information about KYCOM, visit upike.edu/kycom.