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COM-UHP holds first celebration of diversity and leadership in medicine
On Saturday, March 28, COM-UHP held its First Celebration of Diversity and Leadership in Medicine reception and
dinner at the Thunder Bay Grille in Rockford. The COM-UHP on each campus (Chicago, Peoria, Rockford, and
Urbana) holds their own celebration and participates in the Leadership Recognition Program. Thirty-five UICOMRockford students, staff, friends, and family were in attendance, including Princess Currence, MSW, director of COMUHP and Dr. Alex Stagnaro-Green, regional dean, UICOM-Rockford. This event recognizes and celebrates
excellence in leadership, scholarship and distinguished service of graduates, current students, staff, faculty and
alumni from the College of Medicine community. The keynote speaker for this year’s celebration was Dr. Gary
Fernando who is a UICOM-Rockford and COM-UHP alum (Class of 2007). Dr. Fernando is a pediatrician at Crusader
Community Health where he serves as the chair of pediatrics.
During the Celebration of Diversity and Leadership in Medicine, the 2015 COM-UHP graduates were recognized and
the COM-UHP Leadership Recognition Program is also observed. Through the COM-UHP Leadership Recognition
Program, students, faculty, staff and alumni are recognized for excellence in leadership and distinguished service to
the community. The recipients serve as a source of pride and inspiration to others by giving unselfishly of themselves
in order to enhance and make the University of Illinois College of Medicine a better place for all.
The 2015 award recipients are as follows:
COM-UHP Student Servant Leadership Award: Juan Cazares
College of Medicine Team Member Servant Leadership Award: Helen Gulley
The Emerging Leader Award: Franklyn Rocha Cabrero
Helen O. Dickens, MD, Alumni Award for Leadership and Service: Dr. Marilyn Griffin
Student Excellence Award for Leadership and Service: Maria Saavedra
The COM-UHP Director’s Award: Dr. Linda Chang
Jose Celso Barbosa, MD, Outstanding Scholar Award: Anghela Paredes
Outstanding Peer Mentor/Educator Award: Sarah Bunch and Benjamin Weger
Susan LaFlesche Picotte, MD, Health Equity Pioneer Award: Mina Tanaka
UHP Executive Director award recipients are:
Outstanding UHP Student Achievement Award: Vanina Chavarri and Amanda Patterson
UHP Student Leadership Award: Maria Saaverdra
COM-UHP 2015 Graduates:
Arthur Boyd, III
Juan Cazares
Vanina Chavarri
Bryan Mendes
Louisa Ng
Najeeem Ojulari
Zechary Rios
Maria Saavedra