Student Awards

Recognizing Student Achievement

Student awards at the Zucker School of Medicine celebrate excellence in academics, clinical care, leadership, service, research, and humanism.

Alpha Omega Alpha

The Nu Chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) was established in 2015. Since that time, we have elected 235 students, faculty, and residents/fellows. AOA also supports 12 fellowships, grants, and awards for medical students, residents/fellows, and faculty members.

Gold Humanism Honor Society

The Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) recognizes medical students who exemplify compassionate, patient-centered care and demonstrate leadership, mentorship, and humanistic values in medicine. Students are nominated by their peers, with the top 20–25% of nominees evaluated for academic standing and reviewed by a Selection Committee comprising Zucker School of Medicine leadership, faculty, and administrative staff. Based on nomination results, academic performance, CVs, and evaluations, up to 15% of the class is selected for membership. Selected students are notified by the Office of Student Affairs, which also serves as the contact for additional information.

Graduation with Distinction in Community Engagement

The purpose of the honorific award of Graduation with Distinction in Community Engagement is to recognize students at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine who have made significant impact in the community and progress toward a career as a social justice advocate. Distinction means that the work was community-informed and carried out in collaboration with and through the community itself. Impact is defined as the likelihood for the project to have a measurable, sustained, powerful influence on promoting the health and well-being of the community

Graduation with Distinction in Research

Students who have completed a significant piece of scholarly work are eligible for graduation with Distinction in Research. A subcommittee of the Student Advancement Committee determines whether a particular student will graduate with this honor. The annual Scholarship Day’s program includes recognition of those graduating with Distinction in Research.

Celebrating Student Accomplishments

Each year, representatives from Northwell Health and the Zucker School of Medicine nominate students who are eligible for internal awards. Nominees are brought to the Dean of the Zucker School of Medicine, who selects students to receive these honors. Graduation and Departmental Awards are presented at a small ceremony before Commencement Day.

Anesthesia Departmental Award

This honor is awarded to a fourth-year student who excels during anesthesia rotations in the Second 100 Weeks. A recommendation is made by the Chair of Anesthesia.

Cardiology Departmental Award

This honor is awarded to a fourth-year student who excels during cardiology rotations in the Second 100 Weeks. A recommendation is made by the Chair of Cardiology.

Emergency Medicine Departmental Award

This honor is awarded to a fourth-year student who excels during emergency medicine rotations in the Second 100 Weeks. A recommendation is made by the Chair of Emergency Medicine.

Family Medicine Departmental Award

This honor is awarded to a fourth-year student who excels during family medicine rotations in the Second 100 Weeks. A recommendation is made by the Chair of Family Medicine.

Medicine Departmental Award

This honor is awarded to a fourth-year student who excels during medicine rotations in the Second 100 Weeks. A recommendation is made by the Chair of Internal Medicine.

Neurology Departmental Award

This honor is awarded to a fourth-year student who excels during neurology rotations in the Second 100 Weeks. A recommendation is made by the Chair of Neurology.

Pediatrics Departmental Award

This honor is awarded to a fourth-year student who excels during pediatrics rotations in the Second 100 Weeks. A recommendation is made by the Chair of Pediatrics.

Radiology Departmental Award

This honor is awarded to a fourth-year student who excels during radiology rotations in the Second 100 Weeks. A recommendation is made by the Chair of Radiology.

Science Education Departmental Award

This honor is awarded to a fourth-year student who demonstrates a commitment to medical education by identifying an educational need that serves the greater community of learners and who follows through with professionalism, creativity, and a desire to innovate. A recommendation is made by the Chair of Science Education.

Surgery Departmental Award

This honor is awarded to a fourth-year student who excels during surgery rotations in the Second 100 Weeks. A recommendation is made by the Chair of Surgery.

Urology Departmental Award

This honor is awarded to a fourth-year student who excels during urology rotations in the Second 100 Weeks. A recommendation is made by the Chair of Urology.

Dean’s Leadership Award

This honor is awarded to a fourth-year student who demonstrates academic excellence and exemplifies what it is to be a future physician leader. This award is chosen by the Dean of the Zucker School of Medicine.

Dean’s Recognition Award

This honor is awarded annually to a graduating medical student who displayed outstanding overall performance throughout undergraduate medical education.

Faculty Council Award

This honor is awarded to a fourth-year student who has played an active part as a Student Council member for the majority of their time at medical school. A recommendation is made by the president of the Faculty Council for this award.

Branson Sparks Award

This honor is awarded annually in memory of Branson Sparks, a member of the inaugural class, who passed away prior to his own graduation yet left an indelible impression on the Zucker SOM. Presented to a graduating medical student who possesses his intangible qualities of common sense, thoughtfulness, compassion, personal warmth, gentleness, and community.

Diversity Award

This honor is awarded to a graduating medical student who has worked diligently to increase diversity and inclusion in medicine within the ZSOM community and has acted to create and support an environment where diversity and inclusion are valued.

The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Awards

This honor is awarded by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation. The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award recognizes graduating medical students who are exemplars of humanism in the care of patients.

Promotion of Social Justice Award

This honor is awarded to a graduating medical student who exemplifies physicianship as a socially responsible human service profession and has demonstrated engagement in and commitment to deconstructing and mitigating bias.

Women in Medicine and Science Leadership Award

This honor is awarded to a graduating medical student who has contributed to the advancement of women leaders in medicine and science and gender equity in academic medicine and has a proven record of advocating for the advancement of women leaders and enhancing the professional environment for women in medicine and science.

During time in medical school, the Office of Student Affairs encourages students to take advantage of external opportunities that relate to long-term goals and interests. In the interest of celebrating student accomplishments, below are a few of the external awards received by students.

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