{"id":2618,"date":"2017-12-13T11:05:37","date_gmt":"2017-12-13T16:05:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/?page_id=2618"},"modified":"2025-07-30T15:55:20","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T19:55:20","slug":"graduation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/obstetrics-and-gynecology-residency-program\/graduation\/","title":{"rendered":"Graduation"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Class

Names listed from left to right: Dr. Laura Cheng; Dr. Leigh Kowalski; Dr. Alayna Feng; Dr. Roxana Mir; Dr. Nili Amir; Dr. Candice Quarella: Dr. Kimberly Forlenza; Dr. Kachenta Descartes; Dr. Carter Johnson; Dr. Anna Manetta<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Congratulations to the Class of 2025!<\/h3>\n

Graduating Residents: Life After Residency<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Nili Amir, M.D.<\/td>\nPediatric and Adolescent Gynecology \u2013 University of Michigan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Laura Cheng, M.D.<\/td>\nUrogynecology and Pelvic Surgery \u2013 Georgetown\/MedStar Washington Hospital Center<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kachenta Descartes, M.D.<\/td>\nPhysicians for Women \u2013 Danbury, CT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alayna Feng, M.D.<\/td>\nPiedmont Women\u2019s Healthcare \u2013 Atlanta, GA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kimberly Forlenza. M.D.<\/td>\nFellowship: MIGS \u2013 University of Connecticut School of Medicine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Carter Johnson, M.D.<\/td>\nGreater Hartford Women\u2019s Health Association \u2013 West Hartford, CT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Leigh Kowalski, M.D.<\/td>\nGynecology and Obstetrics \u2013 Hartford Hospital<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Anna Manetta, M.D.<\/td>\nStarling \u2013 Hartford Hospital<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Roxana Mir, M.D.<\/td>\nStarling \u2013 Hospital of Central Connecticut<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Candice Quarella, M.D.<\/td>\nCambridge Health Alliance \u2013 Cambridge, MA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Faculty Awards<\/h3>\n

CREOG National Faculty Award for Excellence in Resident Education: Dr. Elisabeth Sappenfield
\nChief Class Faculty Teaching Award: Dr. Amy Johnson
\n3rd Year Class Faculty Teaching Award: Dr. Kristin Head
\n2nd Year Class Faculty Teaching Award: Dr. Dillon Paulo
\n1st Year Class Faculty Teaching Award: Dr. Jennifer Jorgensen
\nNew Faculty Teaching Award: Dr. Dillon Paulo
\nAPGO Faculty Teaching Award: Dr. Donald Kirton<\/p>\n

Resident Awards<\/h3>\n

The Rebecca K. Lefcourt, M.D. Award for Academic Excellence:<\/strong> Dr. Laura Peyton Ellis<\/p>\n

Smarty Pants (CREOG Highest Scores):<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Karley Whelan Fitch<\/li>\n
  • Tonya Tucker<\/li>\n
  • Leigh Kowalski<\/li>\n
  • Candice Quarella<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Second Year Resident Teaching Award:<\/strong> Dr. Lauren Robertson<\/p>\n

    Second Year Grand Rounds Presentation:<\/strong> Dr. Tonya Tucker<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Title: \u201cThe Data Behind Labor Induction Agents\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Research Awards<\/h3>\n
        \n
      • The Dr. Spero Neckles Award:<\/strong> Outstanding Gyn Research Project - <\/strong>Dr. Rose Emlein\n
          \n
        • Title: \u201cImpact of the 21st<\/sup> Century Cures Act on Physician Practice in Gynecology Oncology\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
        • The Dr. James Egan Award for Outstanding OB Research Project: - <\/strong>Dr. Helen Zhao\n
            \n
          • Title: \u201cPredictive Factors of Optimal Antenatal Corticosteroid Administration at Hartford Hospital\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Dorfman Award for Excellence in Patient Care: <\/strong>Dr. Kachenta Descartes
            \nAlumni Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching:<\/strong> Dr. Leigh Kowalski
            \nThe Dr. Ferdinand Sauer Award: Dedication to Teaching Medical Students:<\/strong> Dr. Karley Whelan Fitch
            \nThe Dr. Donato A. Palermino Award: Dedication to Teaching:<\/strong> Dr. Anna Manetta
            \nDenise Royer Award:<\/strong> Anne Belke, APRN (HHC)
            \nExcellence in Resident Education by a Fellow:<\/strong> Dr. Estefania Rivera Mudafort
            \nSLS Outstanding Laparoendoscopic Resident Surgeon:<\/strong> Dr. Kimberly Forlenza
            \nAAGL Annual Award for Excellence in Endoscopic Gynecology:<\/strong> Dr. Laura Peyton Ellis
            \nSMFM: Resident Award for Excellence in Obstetrics:<\/strong> Dr. Helen Zhao
            \nAUGS Award for Excellence in FPMRS:<\/strong> Dr. Monica Saleeb
            \nSASGOG Rising Star Award:<\/strong> Dr. Laura Peyton Ellis<\/p>\n

            SREI Award for Excellence in REI:<\/strong><\/p>\n

              \n
            • Tiger Bawa<\/li>\n
            • Melody So<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              SGO Award for Outstanding Resident in Gynecologic Oncology:<\/strong> Dr. Rose Emlein
              \nRyan Award in Family Planning:<\/strong> Dr. Laura Peyton Ellis
              \nASCCP Award:<\/strong> Dr. Amanda Katz<\/p>\n

              The Dr. Gretchen Allen Award: Dedication to Outstanding Care in the Women\u2019s Clinics: <\/strong><\/p>\n

                \n
              • Tonya Tucker,<\/li>\n
              • Lindsey Hurley,<\/li>\n
              • Sruthi Muluk<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                Admin Chief Award:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  \n
                • Nili Amir,<\/li>\n
                • Candice Quarella<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  Congratulations to all!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                  Congratulations to the Class of 2025! Graduating Residents: Life After Residency Nili Amir, M.D. Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology \u2013 University of Michigan Laura Cheng, M.D. Urogynecology and Pelvic Surgery \u2013 Georgetown\/MedStar Washington Hospital Center Kachenta Descartes, M.D. Physicians for Women \u2013 Danbury, CT Alayna Feng, M.D. Piedmont Women\u2019s Healthcare \u2013 Atlanta, GA Kimberly Forlenza. M.D. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":119,"featured_media":0,"parent":2491,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-01 11:22:14","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2618"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/119"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2618"}],"version-history":[{"count":51,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2618\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35261,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2618\/revisions\/35261"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2491"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2618"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}