On September 2, students, faculty, and medical residents were honored in the Hoehl Gallery with inductions into the Aequitas Health Honor Society, the Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) Honor Medical Society, and the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS).
Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education and Professor of Pediatrics Christa H. Zehle, M.D.’99, opened the ceremony, followed by remarks from Larner Dean and Professor of Medicine Richard L. Page, M.D., chief medical affairs officer of the University of Vermont. The keynote address was presented by Marie Sandoval, M.D., associate professor of medicine and AΩA faculty advisor (2018–25). Officiating for the honor societies inductions were Katherine Menson, D.O., assistant professor of pulmonology, for Aequitas; Sarah Kelso-O’Brien, M.D., associate professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine, for Alpha Omega Alpha; and Jonathan Flyer, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics, for Gold Humanism.
Aequitas Health Honor Society
Health Equity, Anti-Racism, Community Engagement
Ten Larner Class of 2027 students—Claire Baptiste, Cliff Bauman, Sarah Chiavacci, Francisco Cordero, Clara Goebel, Thomas Khodadad, Erin Manogaran, Eunice Suberu, Zaymee Syeda, and Leena Ziane—have been selected for induction into the Aequitas Health Honor Society, in recognition for “engaging in work rooted in improving health equity, anti-racism, and community engagement.”
The University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine chapter of Aequitas was formed in 2023 with the mission of identifying, recognizing, and developing future physician leaders to address the glaring health inequities that exist in our society today. Aequitas Fellows are committed to addressing health disparities in their communities and centering anti-racism in their efforts. Their peers have recognized them as individuals who have a deep understanding of social medicine and the structural causes of inequities, are very capable of learning with humility, and are excellent collaborators.
Selection: Aequitas Fellows are nominated by their peers through an anonymous survey. Nominated individuals are invited to submit an application; applications are then blinded and scored by Aequitas Health Selection Committee members.
Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
Distinction, Excellence, Achievement
Twenty-three members of the Larner Class of 2027 have been selected for induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, based on their “demonstrated excellence in leadership, research, professionalism, service to the school and community, and clinical acumen”: Neelia Abadi, Lexi Amaio, Ella Ansell, Lajla Badnjevic, Naomi Burhans, Ali Chivers, Jeffrey Heithmar, Caroline Johnston, Greta Joos, Raihan Kabir, Thomas Khodadad, Aiden Masters, Simran Multani, Nicki Nikkhoy, Jonathan Palmer, Kristin Reed, Ben Rubin, Isaac Sellinger, Zaymee Syeda, Kelly Tran, Evie Wakeman, Andrew Warfield, and Amir Zafaranian. Several faculty members were also inducted and were honored at the spring award ceremony.
AΩA is committed to national leadership in advancing intercultural excellence in the profession of medicine based on evidence that inclusion of talented individuals from different backgrounds benefits patient care, population health, education, research, and scientific discovery.
Selection: The primary criteria for fellowships, grants, and awards—based on AΩA’s core principles of professionalism, leadership, education, scholarship, and service—are distinction, excellence, and achievement.
Gold Humanism Honor Society
Outstanding Personal and Interpersonal Characteristics
Twenty-one students from the Larner Class of 2027 were selected to be inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society, recognized by their peers for their “demonstrated excellence in clinical care, leadership, compassion, and dedication to service”: Lexi Amaio, Lejla Badnjevic, Claire Baptiste, Cliff Bauman, Naomi Burhans, Ali Chivers, Francisco Cordero, Joselvin Galeas, Clara Goebel, Greta Joos, Raihan Kabir, Arya Kale, Ian Kent, Anne Lindholm, Ryan Marawala, Abby Mercier, Hamza Mirza, Simran Multani, Jonathan Palmer, Eunice Suberu, and Claudia Tarrant.
The Larner College of Medicine established a chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society in 2005. The purpose of the GHHS is to recognize those rising fourth-year students who have demonstrated outstanding personal / interpersonal characteristics in their interactions with fellow students, teachers, staff, and / or patients and their families.
Selection: GHHS Fellows are determined by students within the class using a peer evaluation survey and by members of Larner faculty and staff.
