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Programs and providers of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Weill Cornell Medicine are often the focus of news stories and features appearing in major national media. We invite you to review some stories that typify the breakthrough accomplishments of our remarkable team and highlight the impact our care has had on patient’s lives.

Medical and PA Students Honored During Convocation

A group of students and education administration pose for a photo

Medical and physician assistant students from the Class of 2026 were honored during convocation May 13 for their dedication to scholarship, excellence in research, devotion to teaching or service and exceptional professional qualities. The ceremonies also recognized exceptional faculty.

Dr. Robert Harrington, the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine and provost for medical affairs of Cornell University, and Dr. Joseph Safdieh, the Richard P. Cohen, M.D. Senior Associate Dean for Education, hosted M.D. Program Convocation. Dr. Kelly Porta, associate dean of physician assistant studies, Dr. Safdieh and Dr. Harrington hosted the Master of Science in Health Sciences for Physician Assistants Convocation.

M.D. Program Convocation

2026 Student Awards

The Alan Van Poznak Award for Excellence in Anesthesiology

Yilun Ma

The Society for Academic Emergency Medicine’s Excellence in Emergency Medicine Award

Daniel McInerney

The Henry Adelman Memorial Award for Excellence in Geriatric Medicine

Abhay Tiwari

The Anthony Seth Werner, M.D., Memorial Prize

Adam Neal Tucker

The Jay Lawrence Award for Clinical Proficiency in Infectious Diseases

Ariel Gonzalez

Alfred Moritz Michaelis Prize in General Medicine

Caitlin Cristina Unkenholz

Convocation Recognizes Graduate Students’ Achievements

Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences celebrated students in the Class of 2026 for their academic achievements during its May 13 convocation ceremony.

The ceremony, hosted by Dr. Barbara Hempstead, dean of Weill Cornell Graduate School, honored students who are graduating with their master’s and doctorate degrees, as well as those who earned special awards and prizes for their accomplishments in research, scholarship and service. The ceremony also recognized exemplary graduate school faculty.

2026 Award Winners

Distinguished Student Commencement Speaker Award

Kenneth Wayne Johnson
Pharmacology Program
(Mentor: Conor Liston, M.D., Ph.D.)

Julian R. Rachele Prize

Daniel Barnett, “Mitochondrial complex III-derived ROS amplify immunometabolic changes in astrocytes and promote dementia pathology.” Nature Metabolism. (Mentor: Anna Orr, Ph.D., Adam Orr, Ph.D.)

UkJin Lee, “Postmitotic transcription and 3D regulation show locus-specific and differentiation-specific responses to cohesion depletion.” Nature Genetics. (Mentor: Effie Apostolou, Ph.D.)

David P. Hajjar Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring Award

Minkui Luo, Ph.D.
Member, Sloan Kettering Institute
Chemical Biology Program

Program Specific Teaching and Mentoring Awards

Medical College Class of 2026 Celebrated at Commencement

Students in graduation regalia reciting an oath

Video of Congratulations, Class of 2026! #graduation #weillcornellmedicine #medschool #classof2026

When Dr. Sarah Wozniak was applying to medical schools after completing her undergraduate degree at Rice University, she discovered the Weill Cornell Center for Human Rights, Weill Cornell Medicine’s student-run asylum clinic and the first of its kind at an American medical school.

“I was always very interested in immigration advocacy,” said Dr. Wozniak, whose mother is from Indonesia. “Hearing her story about her pathway to this country, as well as our family’s, just made me really want to learn skills to support people who are going through immigration journeys.”

The WCCHR provides objective forensic evaluations to survivors of persecution or torture who seek asylum in the United States. Inspired by its mission, Dr. Wozniak joined the center as a volunteer in 2022 during her first year at Weill Cornell Medical College and remained active throughout her education, serving as one of the executive directors in her final year.

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