Golden Apple Awards 2026: Celebrating the GUSOM Community
(April 11, 2026) — Medical students honored Georgetown University faculty, MedStar Health associates, School of Medicine staff and their peers at the 48th Annual Golden Apple awards ceremony held Friday, April 10, at La Vie in Washington, D.C.
Congratulations to the 2026 Golden Apple Honorees
The Golden Apple Awards are presented annually by each class to a member of the faculty whose outstanding professional and personal qualities have enhanced the medical education of the members of the class.
Golden Apple Awards
Megha Shah Fitzpatrick, MD – Class of 2026
Cameron Mohammadi, MD – Class of 2027
Lauren Bagian, PhD – Class of 2028
Joseph Timpone, MD – Class of 2029
Cura Personalis Award
The Cura Personalis Award recognizes exemplary individuals who embody the spirit of professionalism and cura personalis both in and out of the classroom.
Kingsley Owusu Otoo, Class of 2029
Harrison Smith-Jaoudi and Julia Hakeem, Class of 2028
Ritika Chanda, Class of 2027
Aditi Mahajan, Class of 2026
Presidential Excellence Award
The Presidential Excellence Award is presented by the class presidents and School of Medicine Executive Council to a faculty or staff member who goes above and beyond their role to address the needs of the student body
Dustyn Wright
The Stephen Ray Mitchell Award for Outstanding Clinical Mentorship
The Stephen Ray Mitchell Award is presented to a fourth-year student who exemplifies the principles of mentorship, intellectual curiosity, and compassion that Dr. Mitchell embodied throughout his time as both a clinician and Dean for Medical Education.
Isaac Oti, M’26
John C. Rose Award
The John C. Rose Award is presented annually to a member of the faculty or administration who has demonstrated outstanding service to the school and has contributed to the improvement of medical education and student life.
Officer Roy Easterling
Geza M. Illes Award
The Geza M. Illes Award honors an outstanding first year teacher who serves as an inspirational role model in the field of gross anatomy.
Caitlin Coker, PhD
Doctoring Award
The Doctoring Award recognizes a faculty member, module director, or leader in a Clinical Skills Course whose outstanding teaching, professional, and personal qualities have enhanced the medical education of the members of Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Virginia Malatack, MD
Excellence in Teaching at HOYA Clinic Award
The Excellence in Teaching at HOYA Clinic Award recognizes excellence in teaching clinical skills and caring for underserved populations at HOYA Clinics.
Eileen Moore, MD,
Lambda Award
The Lambda Award recognizes a GUSOM faculty member’s enduring commitment to the LGBTQ community at Georgetown University.
Michael Plankey, PhD
Jeanne V. Walther Award
The Jeanne V. Walther Award recognizes an administrator who has displayed outstanding service, chosen by the student leaders on behalf of the entire student body.
Bridgette Newton
Physiology Teacher of the Year Award
The Special Masters Program in Physiology students present the Physiology Teacher of the Year Award to a faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional qualities as an educator.
Caitlin Coker, PhD
Faculty Affiliate Award
The Faculty Affiliate Award is given to a physician, outside of Georgetown, who has made a significant contribution to the clinical medical education and mentorship at Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Miguel Fernandez, MD
The Student Advocacy Award
Inaugural presentation to the faculty or staff member who champions the overall professional, academic and personal wellbeing of each student at the School of Medicine
Justin Bustamante
David Leon Taylor Award
Students in the Georgetown Experimental Medical Studies (GEMS) program select a faculty or staff member who has demonstrated outstanding service and leadership for the GEMS community.
Lewis (Josh) Watson, PhD
Golden Orchard
Membership in the Golden Orchard is an honor shared by those individuals whose sustained dedication to teaching has earned them three or more Golden Apple Awards.
Golden Orchard members:
Michael Adams, MD, Medicine
Nancy Barr, MD, Family Medicine
William T. Beaver, MD, Pharmacology
Susan Cheng, Ed.L.D., MPP, Family Medicine
Daniel H. Connor, MD, Pathology
Caitlin Coker, PhD, Anatomy
John S. Dillon, MD, Surgery
Kenneth Dretchen, PhD, Pharmacology
Rebecca Evangelista, MD, Surgery
Stephen R. T. Evans, MD, Surgery
Erin A. Farrish, MD, Medicine
Miguel Fernandez, MD, OB-GYN
Ms. Amanda Finnell, Office of Student Affairs
Mary Furlong, MD, Pathology
Richard Gillis, PhD, Pharmacology
Aviad Haramati, PhD, Physiology
Yvonne Hernandez, PhD, Pharmacology
Ms. Annaliese Heussler, Office of Student Affairs
Nancy Hu, Neurology
Lee Jones, MD, Psychiatry
Shiloh Jones, PhD, Biochemistry
Donald Kerwin, MD, Pathology
Donald M. Knowlan, MD, Medicine
Princy N. Kumar, MD, Infectious Diseases
Sarah Kureshi, MD, Family Medicine
Clifton A. Leftridge, Jr. MD, Radiology
Stephen Ray Mitchell, MD, MBA, Medicine
Susan Mulroney, PhD, Physiology & Biophysics
JV Nable, MD, Emergency Medicine
Wesley P. Norman, PhD, Anatomy
Arthur Raines, PhD, Pharmacology
Charles Read, MD, Pulmonary
Wolfgang P. Rennert, MD, Pediatrics
Joseph Timpone, MD, Infectious Disease
Carlo Tornatore, MD, Neurology
Aykut Uren, MD, Hematology & Oncology
Branislav Vidic, SD, Anatomy
Russell Wall, MD, Anesthesiology
Sean Whelton, MD, Medicine