Class of 2026 Awards Dinner celebrates med students, faculty and staff

May 6, 2026

Student Dr. Elizabeth Enright stood in front of a group gathered in the student union May 4 for the Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine (CUSOM) Class of 2026 Awards Dinner.

She thanked faculty and staff members. Parents and preceptors.

Enright, Student Government Association president for the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Class of 2026, talked about the challenges she and her fellow students faced and overcame over the past four years.

The long nights and difficult exams. The patients they treated in clinics and on mission trips. The moments of self doubt. Times when the proverbial finish line seemed so far away.

"But now it's here," she said.

"We've learned how to show up for patients in some of their most vulnerable moments and, maybe most importantly, we've learned how to show up for each other."

The annual awards ceremony is held to honor graduating students, as well as preceptors and CUSOM faculty and staff members. A special recognition was awarded to the graduates of Sigma Sigma Phi, an honorary osteopathic service fraternity.

The DO Class of 2026 will officially become doctors of osteopathic medicine in a ceremony at 10 a.m. May 7 in the Convocation Center on campus. They then begin their residencies.

Medical school Dean Dr. David Tolentino opened the awards ceremony and introduced student Dr. Christina Hardin, Christian Medical and Dental Association president for the Class of 2026, who offered the invocation and blessing. Dr. Marta Bringhurst, assistant professor of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, led faculty members in announcing and distributing the awards.

"I'm so proud of our students and how much you have grown over these past four years," Tolentino said. "I truly appreciate your hard work and dedication to your studies as well as your hearts for service, both here and abroad."

Enright said the awards event is a reminder that no accomplishment occurs in isolation.

"Every person here has contributed something meaningful to the culture, strength and spirit of the Class of 2026. To everyone who has helped us reach this point … thank you. We're here because of you.

"When we began this journey just four short years ago, we arrived with different backgrounds, different stories and different perspectives, but a shared hope of one day becoming physicians, and that dream is almost achieved."

Student Dr. Bradley Adcock, class vice president for the DO Class of 2026, talked about the four-year journey through medical school. About how many friends who aren't in medicine have already graduated, gotten married and started their careers.

"But you know what?" Adcock asked. "It's all worth it, because now it's our turn."

Distinguished Pre-Clinical Scholar Award

Presented to a graduating student for superior performance in the first two years of medical school.

• Evan Eggiman

Distinguished Clinical Scholar Award

Students receiving this award earned high recognition on their rotation evaluation in this discipline, have been evaluated by the rotation site as one of the top students, provided consistent and compassionate care to patients, were respectful and empowering to office and hospital staff, organized and participated in additional student activities and exemplified the osteopathic philosophy.

• Emergency Medicine: Brody Hydro
• Family Medicine: Bryce Sprinkle
• Geriatrics: Austin Kinne
• Internal Medicine: Matthew Gwinn
• Obstetrics and Gynecology: Isabela Eisenberg
• Pediatrics: Chase Poulsen II
• Psychiatry: Aubrey Stevens
• Surgery: Taylor Edan Cunningham

Distinguished Student of the Region Award

Students receiving this award have been evaluated by the rotation site as one of the top students, provided consistent and compassionate care to patients, were respectful and empowering to office and hospital staff, organized and participated in additional student activities and exemplified the osteopathic philosophy.

• Lumberton: Jennifer D. Vasquez
• Fayetteville: Abigail Garman
• Raleigh: Matthew Gwinn
• Harnett: Cheryl Anne Assante
• Salisbury: Alexandra "Sasha" Flint
• Goldsboro: Cole Mueller
• Morehead City: Turner James Donlin
• Smithfield: Robert Judson Brown
• Conway: Evan Eggiman
• Sanford: Cameron Nogle
• Morganton: Sarah Elizabeth Welch

Global Health Award

Presented to a student who demonstrated knowledge of the principles of global health, who was involved in improving the lives of others through public health and international service and an individual who is dedicated to advancing the field of global health education forward.

• Mary Richfield

Dr. Jerry M. Wallace Award

Presented to a student who demonstrated knowledge of the principles of rural and underserved health, who was involved in improving the lives of others through public health and domestic service and is dedicated to improving local community health and education.

• Caroline Montgomery

Student Research Award

Presented to a student who demonstrated an exceptional commitment to research during their medical training and evidence of scholarly contribution through presentation or publication.

• Emily Carletto
• Ariela Christian

William F. Morris, DO Award

Presented to a graduating student who has demonstrated outstanding capacity to promote and integrate Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) in both the classroom and clinical setting and who showed great promise of future success.

• Ariela Christian

Dean's Award

Presented to a graduating student who displayed exceptional character in personal and professional conduct, maintained superior performance in the classroom and clinical setting, embodied the mission of the school, was a servant leader to their classmates, and showed exceptional promise for future contributions to the profession of osteopathic medicine.

• Mark Bushhouse

Preceptor and Faculty and Staff Awards

Preceptor of the Year

• Lumberton: Dr. Constance Mulroy
• Fayetteville: Dr. Shaun Hines
• Raleigh: Dr. Jihad Arteh
• Harnett: Dr. Albino Chiodo
• Salisbury: Dr. Nazzario Rivera Chaparro
• Goldsboro: Dr. Dimitrios Lintzeris
• Morehead City: Dr. Christian Marcum
• Smithfield: Dr. Devang Guarathi
• Sanford: Dr. Arinze Ikeme
• Morganton: Dr. Geraldine Goertzen

Biomedical Faculty Award

• Dr. Amy Hinkelman, director of CUSOM Academic Center for Excellence and associate professor of Microbiology and Immunology

Clinical Faculty Award

• Dr. Lori Langdon, chair and assistant professor of Pediatrics

Outstanding Staff Award

• Debi Pipes, director of Student Affairs

Fun facts about the DO Class of 2026

Twenty students met their significant other while attending medical school, and 12 met their significant other at CUSOM. Eighteen students were engaged during medical school, and 16 got married. Nine had at least one, but some multiple, babies during medical school.

CUSOM Class of 2026 Awards Dinner

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Academics & OutcomesMedicine