Honors, Prizes, & Awards for 2025

During commencement, we honor individuals for their dedication to the Case Western Reserve University Master of Science in Anesthesia program and profession. See the recipient list of the honors, prizes, and awards below.


The Helmut Cascorbi Valedictorian Awards to the graduating Master of Science in Anesthesia student with the highest grade point average at the conclusion of their program of study. Below are the recipients:

Sam Zander

Conner Radamacher

Nicholas Sirhan

Alex Cela

Delaney Liebbe


The Master of Science in Anesthesia Program Student Chief Honors to the graduating Master of Science in Anesthesia student, as chosen by local program leadership, in recognition of their dedication, service, and leadership among their peers:

Stephen Chu

Victoria Davenport

Delaney Liebbe

Megan Loney

Maireny Mundo

Kendall Peterson

Jaden Seipp

Catherine Syfert


The Professional and Advocacy Representative to the graduating Master of Science in Anesthesia student, as chosen by local program leadership, in recognition of their dedication, service, and advocacy efforts for the anesthesiologist assistant profession:

Jessica Chlebowski

Alex D’Arcy

Kelli Damman

Christian von Harten

Kayla Kerr

Kyle McClellan

Chloe Tarbox


The Biomedical Graduate Student Organization Representative Honors to the graduating Master of Science in Anesthesia student in Cleveland, as chosen by local program leadership, in recognition of their dedication, service, and interprofessional display as liaisons to the Committee of Student Representatives on the Dean’s Council and to the Biomedical Graduate Student Organization, which seeks to unite graduate students in various biomedical program at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, enriching the student experience and promoting career and professional development:

Meghan Franczek

Frankie Pizzo


10 Year Faculty Service Awards to the faculty member who has dedicated 10 years toward the enrichment of Master of Science in Anesthesia student learning and professional achievement:

Craig Brodsky, JD

Chris DeJelo, CAA

Scott Harvey, CAA

Stephen Hunt, CAA

Shannon Kelly, CAA

Noopur Mehta, CAA

Amanda Mohney, CAA

Colleen O’Malia, CAA

Tiffany Sanchez, CAA

Marina Sincerney, CAA

Brian Sunderville, CAA

Tosan Ugbeye, CAA

Bradley WIlliams, CAA

Cheryl Wolkoff, CAA


5 Year Faculty Service Awards to the faculty member who has dedicated 5 years toward the enrichment of Master of Science in Anesthesia student learning and professional achievement:

James Baker, CAA

Zachary Barsman, CAA

Nicole Cabell Moore, CAA

Elizabeth Kate Carvill, CAA

Steven Cox, CAA

Sherry Cucci, CAA

Christine Culver, CAA

Michael Elias, CAA

Ben Ferguson, CAA

Shelby Fullen, CAA

Anya Gartner, CAA

Justine Westover Gaug, CAA

Mason Gibson, CAA

Timothy Goodridge, CAA

Fay Horng, MD

Ermin Husic, CAA

Julie Johnson, CAA

Zachary Jones, CAA

Jasleen Kaur, CAA

Tom Kennelly, CAA

Kevin Kunzleman, CAA

Emily Lanter, CAA

Giselle Lara, CAA

Ashley Lonjak, CAA

Nick Palella, CAA

Nirali Patel, CAA

Sabrina Peterson, CAA

Scott Plunkett, CAA

Lindsay Price, CAA

Jonathan Rifici, CAA

Joseph Shafer, CAA

Bianca Shah, CAA

Pavlo Shkrava, CAA

Alex Solt, CAA

Amy Song, CAA

Michael Steiner, CAA

Carol Stith, CAA

Robert Thall, CAA

Brian Wheatley, CAA

Laura Wyatt, CAA


The Outstanding Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant Awards to the clinical preceptor, voted by Master of Science in Anesthesia students, whose dedication to teaching was voted most influential and best exemplifies the principles aspired to in the Anesthesiologist Assistant Oath: 

Chloe Carpenter, CAA

Marcel Gaf, CAA

Helena Guo, CAA

Alaina Jacks, CAA

Kevin Kunzleman, CAA

Alice Lin, CAA

Samuel Lind, CAA

Brooke McDonald, CAA

Hannah Sneyd, CAA


The Outstanding Resident Awards to the resident anesthesiologist, voted by Master of Science in Anesthesia students, whose dedication to clinical teaching has gone above and beyond and has positively influenced MSA student learning of anesthesia now and into the future:

Scott Given, MD

Christopher Nguyen, MD


The Outstanding Attending Awards to the attending anesthesiologist, voted by Master of Science in Anesthesia students, whose dedication to clinical teaching has gone above and beyond and has positively influenced MSA student learning of anesthesia now and into the future:

Seth Akst, MD

Jessica Beer, MD

Grace Bryant, MD

Luke Carroll, MD

Ashlee Gourdine, MD

Ursula Munasifi, MD

Caroll Vazquez-Colon, MD

Russell Wall, MD

Jay York, MD


Master of Science in Anesthesia Legacy Award:

Cathy Syfert


Master of Science in Anesthesia Program Director’s Award:

Dr. Brian Werner

Karin Hagberg, MD


Professionalism Award to the graduating Master of Science in Anesthesia student at each program location who demonstrated unwavering integrity, accountability, and reliability, earning the respect of faculty, staff, and peers:

Ryan Bracken

Min Min Shwe

Maddie Filkorn


Humanism in Healthcare Award to the graduating Master of Science in Anesthesia student at each program location who demonstrated empathy and compassion, delivered patient centered communication, had an excellent bedside manner and served as an advocate for their patients

Sofie Tiguert

Paige Cassibo


Leadership Award to the graduating Master of Science in Anesthesia student at each program location who demonstrated leadership in formal and/or informal roles, initiated projects and positively influenced classmates and program initiatives:

Megan Loney

Victoria Davenport


Excellence in Peer Education Award to the graduating Master of Science in Anesthesia student at each program location who demonstrated excellence in tutoring, mentoring, or leading academic review sessions, received positive peer evaluations, and substantively contributed to peer learning:

Frankie Pizzo

Andrew Lui