UConn Health

March 8, 2023 | Christopher DeFrancesco '95 (CLAS) - UConn Health

Students Awarded at Scholar Symposium

10 dental students and 10 medical students recognized for their research aptitude as part of UConn Health’s 2023 Medical/Dental Research Day and Clinician Scholar Symposium

Group portraits of students and mentors

UConn medical (left) and dental students celebrate with mentors and each other after UConn Health’s 2023 Medical/Dental Research Day and Clinician Scholar Symposium. (Photos by Ursula Knapik and Lisa Ramsdell)

Ten dental students and 10 medical students were recognized for their research aptitude as part of UConn Health’s 2023 Medical/Dental Research Day and Clinician Scholar Symposium.

This year’s keynote speaker, Felicia Tucker-Lively, vice president for professional development at the Academy for Advancing Leadership, joined by web conference from Atlanta to explain purposeful learning and transformative priorities, two instructional strategy concepts that apply to education in the health professions.

“As you prepare to discuss your research efforts even further, make your presentation so compelling by explaining the ‘why’ your topic is vital, inspiring your listeners to see their places in the advancement of science,” Lively-Tucker advised the students. “And may your purposeful learning and transformative priorities help you articulate hope to those listeners, or to those individuals exploring your research, to join in your excitement in that respective topic. Ultimately, with purposeful learning and then with transformative priorities, you’re able to just envision more. You are able to compel others to see your vision as well.”

Dental Student Awards

Dean’s Award, in recognition of an outstanding presentation demonstrating clinical application and technique relating to dentistry:

  • Eddyson Altidor (mentor: Caroline Dealy)
  • Julia Clapis (mentor: Dr. Frank Nichols)

Associate Dean’s Award, in recognition of an outstanding presentation in basic, clinical or behavioral science:

  • Gosia Fryc (mentor: Dr. Alan G. Lurie)

Dentsply-Sirona Student Clinician Award, in recognition of an outstanding presentation:

  • Dedrian Barrett (mentor: Dr. Aditya Tadinada)

Connecticut Holistic Health Association Award, in recognition of excellence in research in integrative/complementary and alternative medicine:

  • Samira Abdelrehim (mentor: Eric Bernstein)
  • Olivia Dort (mentor: Dr. Mary P. Guerrera)

Gustave Perl Award, in recognition of outstanding original research:

  • Thomas Nelson (mentor: Dr. Aditya Tadinada)

Dental Student Research Society Award, in recognition of excellence in a science presentation:

  • Pablo Prieto (mentor: Liisa Kuhn)

Omicron Kappa Upsilon – Phi Chi Chapter Awards, in recognition of outstanding research:

  • Clinical: Christine Schiller (mentor: Dr. Aditya Tadinada)
  • Basic Science: Samantha DePalma (mentor: Jean-Denis Beaudoin)

Medical Student Awards

Dean’s Award, in recognition of two outstanding medical student researchers and their faculty mentors:

  • Colin Cleary (mentor: Danile Mulkey)
  • Michael Li (mentor: Royce Mohan)

Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Gross Award for Excellence in Research Achievement, in recognition of student researchers who presented excellent studies, one oral presentation and one poster presentation:

  • Vedika Karandikar (clinical)
  • Christopher Edwards (basic science)

Lawrence G. Raisz Award for Excellence in Musculoskeletal Research, in recognition of the student researcher who presented outstanding work in the field musculoskeletal research:

  • Felicia Woron

Connecticut Academy of Family Practice Award, in recognition of excellence in primary care research:

  • David Cannata
  • Pascale Carrel
  • Callista Love
  • Jonah Haber

Connecticut Holistic Health Association Award, in recognition of excellence in research in integrative/complementary and alternative medicine.

  • Aditi Anam