ASCP recently honored 41 second-year medical students with the Academic Excellence and Achievement Award.

This award is given to second year medical students who best fulfill the ASCP award criteria—general academic excellence and promise. ASCP annually honors one student, who is nominated by their Department Chair, at each medical school in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. The purpose of this award is to encourage superior academic performance and to recommend a rewarding career in pathology to the highest caliber candidates.

One of the award recipients, Cristina Cole, is attending the University of Toledo College of Medicine on a full ride presidential scholarship. She finished first in her sophomore pathology course with a 96% score and, of course, an honor grade.

“She always conducts herself with elegance, dignity and professionalism,” said Robert E. Mrak, M.D., Ph.D, director of the Pathology Residency Training Program at the University of Toledo. “Her peers, students as well as our pathology residents, always look up to her because of her knowledge, work ethic and personal interactions.”

Another recipient from the University of Toledo, Michael Loochtan, receives honor grades and scored 231 on his United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 test.

“At all times, he distinguishes himself among his peers, by his thoroughness, knowledge and clear superior diagnostic skills and abilities for clinicopathologic conditions” said Mrak. “I have continued to work with him and observe with pride and pleasure his progress during his rotations on surgical and clinical pathology, as well as autopsy service and research. Mike's evaluations have been stellar and the 3rd year students consider him to be the best teacher.”

Recipients of this award receive a complimentary copy of the Handbook of Clinical Pathology published by the ASCP Press and a letter from the ASCP President for presentation at their institution’s award ceremonies.



Recipients of the award are listed below: