Honors and Awards

Student Honors and Awards Presented at Graduation

At the time of the annual commencement ceremony, several major honors and awards are presented to graduating students.

Graduation with Honors for Academic Excellence

The top 10% of the class will receive the designation, Graduation with Honors for Academic Excellence.  All letter grades received in the third year clerkships and in the required senior year clerkships (through March 31 of the year of graduation) will be considered in determining class ranking.  The Office of Medical Education will prepare the class ranking. The Executive Committee of the College of Medicine must approve the final list of honorees.

Graduation with Honors for Research

Nominations for this honor should be made by student’s research mentor. In support of their nomination, students must submit a summary of their research and a properly formatted scientific manuscript that has either been accepted for publication or presently at a scientific meeting.  Nominations are submitted to the Director of the Medical Student Research Program.  The Director, and a committee appointed by the Director, considers all submissions and makes recommendations for which students should receive the designation, Graduation with Honors for Research.  These recommendations then must be approved by the Executive Committee of the College of Medicine.

Graduation with Honors for Special Achievement

Nominations for this honor are submitted by individual faculty members to the Selection Committee, which is composed of the Senior Associate Dean for Educational Affairs, Associate Dean for Medical Education, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Director of the Fourth Year Curriculum, Associate Dean for Diversity and Gender Equity, Assistant Dean for Admissions,  and the College of Medicine Counselor.  This honor is meant to recognize a graduating senior who has made a unique contribution to student life, e.g., by creating a new student organization or providing a distinctive service to the College of Medicine, University, or community.  The recommendations of the Selection Committee must be approved by the Executive Committee of the College of Medicine.

The John Gorrie Award

This award recognizes the senior student who shows the “best all-around promise for becoming a physician of the highest type,” in short, the “most outstanding student in the class.”  The Selection Committee for this award is composed of the Senior Associate Dean for Educational Affairs, the Associate Dean for Medical Education, the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, the Associate Dean for Diversity and Gender Equity, the Assistant Dean for Admissions, and the Director of the Fourth Year Curriculum.  The recommendation of the Selection Committee must be approved by the Executive Committee of the College of Medicine.

The C. Craig Tisher, M.D., Faculty Award for Research

The recipient of this award is selected by the Director of the MSRP, and the Director’s appointed committee, from among those students who have been chosen for the distinction of Graduation with Honors for Research.  The recipient is the individual who has made the most significant and sustained contribution to advancement of knowledge in his/her field of specialization.  The Executive Committee of the College of Medicine must approve the final selection.

The Senior Student Excellence in Medical Education Award

This award recognizes the senior student who has excelled in one of four areas: excellence in teaching, excellence in educational scholarship, contributions to academic excellence, and self-improvement/educational leadership and service.  Nominations are solicited from all students, all clinical faculty members, all basic science course directors, the College of Medicine Counselor, and the Director of Educational Testing.  The Selection Committee is composed of the Senior Associate Dean for Educational Affairs, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, and the President of the Society of Teaching Scholars.  The recommendation of the Selection Committee must be approved by the Executive Committee of the College of Medicine.