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Distinction in Community Health

Each year, several medical students, who also excel in community health scholarship, graduate with the Distinction in Community Health. This is an option for students who make significant longitudinal contributions to community service, excel in the Community Health Improvement Courses and engage in learning about current issues and topics in community health throughout medical school. This is an opportunity for M.D. candidates to complete substantial and sustainable community health improvement with community partners, and experience health outside of health care first-hand.

Exemplar Medical school graduates may also be awarded the Costanza Community Impact Award, the Fiscella Excellence in Community Health Award or the Creative Initiative in Community Health Award, available only to Distinction Candidates with exceptional projects. 

Costanza Community Impact Award: This award is given to the Distinction candidate(s) whose work exemplifies outstanding community engagement with the greatest potential for sustainable impact on the health of the community.

Fiscella Excellence in Community Health Award: This award is given to the Distinction candidate(s) whose work demonstrates significant scholarship in community engagement through academic rigor, robust evaluation and substantial dissemination.

The following Class of 2025 medical students were awarded an M.D. with Distinction in Community Health, being recognized for their significant longitudinal contributions to community service:

Lauren EisnerLauren Eisner, Constanza Community Impact Award Recipient

Project Title: Empowering Rochester’s Outreach Teams: Improving Wound Care for Our Unhoused Communities 

Residency Match: ISMMS Mount Sinai Hospital-NY (Emergency Medicine)

Diamond GuyDiamond Guy, Fiscella Excellence in Community Health Award Recipient

Project Title: ROCDermEd and Bringing Dermatology to Jordan Health

Residency Match: U Rochester/Strong Memorial-NY (Medicine-Preliminary & Dermatology)

Catherine LiuCatherine Liu

Project Title: Veggie Phobia: Mindset Shifts at a Local Food Pantry

Residency Match: Rush University Med Ctr-IL (Internal Medicine)

Arman NiknafsArman Niknafs, Constanza Community Impact Award Recipient

Project Title: Weathering Adversity: Heat- and Cold-Weather-Related Illness Response Training for Outreach Teams Serving Rochesterians Experiencing Homelessness


Residency Match: UCLA Med Ctr-CA (Internal Medicine)

Matthew TaeMatthew Tae

Project Title: Get Ready to GROW: Identifying and Evaluating Demographics, Health Needs, and Impact of Community-Based Developmental Screenings for a Pediatric Population

Residency Match: Stanford Health Care-CA (Pediatrics)


The following Class of 2024 medical students were awarded an M.D. with Distinction in Community Health, being recognized for their significant longitudinal contributions to community service:

Acacia headshotAcacia Bowden

Project Title: Need for Improved Access to Dermatological Care in Underserved Populations

*Residency Match: Yale-New Haven Hospital, Connecticut - Pediatrics

Devon ClarkDevon Clark

Project Title: "I just didn’t feel like going:" Evaluating Patient and Patient Navigator Perspectives to Identify Common Barriers to Breast Cancer Screening

*Residency Match: Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, Pennsylvania - Transitional Year

U Michigan Hospital - Ann Arbor - Radiology-Diagnostic

Carly EidusonCarly Eiduson

Project Title: The Fourth Trimester Model: Improving Equity in Breastfeeding Duration and Exclusivity through Community Partnership

*Residency Match: Childrens Hospital Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Pediatrics

Hannah Jackel-DewhurstHannah Jackel-Dewhurst

Project Title: The Fourth Trimester Model: Disparities in Fourth Trimester Visit Attendance

 

Yoav KadanYoav Kadan

Project Title: Increasing Access to GI Care and Cancer Screening at the UR Well Student-Run Clinic

*Residency Match: U Miami/Jackson Health System, Florida – Anesthesiology

Malavika SatheeshMalavika Satheesh

Project Title: Hypertension and Telemedicine Initiative

*Residency Match: Northwestern McGaw/NMH/VA-Illinois - Internal Medicine 

Former Constanza and Fiscella Awardees 

Costanza Community Impact Award Recipient

This award is given to the Distinction candidate(s) whose work exemplifies outstanding community engagement with the greatest potential for sustainable impact on the health of the community.

Devon ClarkDevon Clark

Project Title: "I Just Didn't Feel Like Going:" Evaluating Patient and Patient Navigator Perspectives to Identify Common Barriers to Breast Cancer Screening 

Fiscella Excellence in Community Health Award Recipients

This award is given to the Distinction candidate(s) whose work demonstrates significant scholarship in community engagement through academic rigor, robust evaluation and substantial dissemination.

Carly EidusonCarly Eiduson

Project Title: The Fourth Trimester Model: Improving Equity in Breastfeeding Duration and Exclusivity through Community Partnership

Hannah Jackel-DewhurstHannah Jackel-Dewhurst

Project Title: The Fourth Trimester Model: Disparities in Fourth Trimester Visit Attendance

Costanza Community Impact Award Recipient

This award is given to the Distinction candidate whose work exemplifies outstanding community engagement with the greatest potential for sustainable impact on the health of the community.

Person in suit smiling at cameraShane Fuentes

Project Title: Crossovers & Conversations

 

 

 

 

person wearing glasses and black blazer smiling looking at cameraNilsa Ricci

Project Title: Understanding and Improving Trauma Debriefing Sessions for URMC Spanish Interpreters

 

 

Fiscella Excellence in Community Health Award Recipients

This award is given to the Distinction candidate(s) whose work demonstrates significant scholarship in community engagement through academic rigor, robust evaluation and substantial dissemination.

person with long hair wearing a black blazer smiling at cameraValentina Sedlacek

Project Title: ROCovery Fitness

 

 

Creative Initiative in Community Health Award Recipients

This award is given to Distinction candidate(s) whose work generates a new partnership initiated by the Candidate(s) that developed into a meaningful, creative and impactful project where the candidate(s) integrated the new partner for sustainability beyond the project and students' involvement. This award will only be given in years where there are candidates that excel in this category.

person wearing black blazer and blue shirt smiling at cameraMariah Erlick

Project Title: Improving Medicolegal Advocacy for Asylum Seekers

 

 

 

 

person wearing navy blazer and white shirt smiling at cameraKatie Klapheke

Project Title: Improving Volunteer Visibility for Rochester Human Rights Initiative

 

 

 

 

Costanza Community Impact Award Recipient

This award is given to the Distinction candidate whose work exemplifies outstanding community engagement with the greatest potential for sustainable impact on the health of the community.

Veronica YuVeronica Yu

Project Title: Addressing the Use of Law Enforcement Restraints on Pregnant, Incarcerated Individuals

 

Fiscella Excellence in Community Health Award Recipients

This award is given to the Distinction candidate(s) whose work demonstrates significant scholarship in community engagement through academic rigor, robust evaluation and substantial dissemination.

Amundam ManchoAmundam Mancho

Project Title: The 4th Trimester Model: A New Approach to Improving Perinatal Care

 

 

Sara PetersonSara Peterson

Project Title: 4th Trimester Project: A New Approach to Perinatal Care Emphasis on North Ponds Site & Contraception Data
 

Creative Initiative in Community Health Award Recipients

This award is given to Distinction candidate(s) whose work generates a new partnership initiated by the Candidate(s) that developed into a meaningful, creative and impactful project where the candidate(s) integrated the new partner for sustainability beyond the project and students' involvement. This award will only be given in years where there are candidates that excel in this category.

Headshot_MeyerJessica Meyer

Project Title: Somos un Equipo: A Partnership to Increase URMC Provider Awareness of Farmworkers and Improve Local Farmworkers' Healthcare Access

 

Headshot_SaxenaShireen Saxena

Project Title: Increasing Awareness of the Immigrant Farmworker Community: Health Barriers and Solutions

 

 

Class of 2021 Costanza Community Impact Award Recipient

This award is given to the Distinction candidate whose work exemplifies outstanding community engagement with the greatest potential for sustainable impact on the health of the community.

Buswell_HeadshotMary Buswell

Project Title: Contraceptive Needs Assessment of Clients at Trillium Syringe Service Program

 

Class of 2021 Creative Initiative in Community Health Award Recipient

This award is given to the Distinction candidate(s) whose work demonstrates significant scholarship in community engagement through academic rigor, robust evaluation and substantial dissemination.

silva_headshotHannah Silva

Project Title: A Comprehensive Health Education Program for Individuals with Down Syndrome