May 3
2:00 pm
Parade Field
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WVSOM’s Commencement Ceremony will mark the transition of students in the Class of 2024 from medical students to resident physicians. The event will be livestreamed for those unable to visit campus. Join us as we celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2024.
Graduation Resources.
Recording
WVSOM Administrative Officers
- James W. Nemitz, Ph.D. — President
- Linda Boyd, D.O. — Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean/Chief Academic Officer
- Drema M. Hill, Ph.D. — Vice President for Community Engagement/Chief Operations Officer
- Leslie W. Bicksler, MSW — Vice President of Human Resources/Chief Human Resources Officer
- David Meadows, MBA — Vice President for Finance and Facilities/Chief Financial Officer
- Jeffrey M. Shawver, J.D. — Vice President for Legal, Governmental and External Affairs/Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel
- A. Machelle Linsenmeyer, Ed.D. — Assistant Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Academic Resources
- Kristie Bridges, Ph.D. — Associate Dean for Preclinical Education
- Timothy Garrow, Ph.D. — Associate Dean for Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences
- Dovenia Ponnoth, Ph.D. — Associate Dean for Research and Sponsored Programs
- Dawn Roberts, Ed.D. — Associate Dean for Multicultural and Student Affairs
- Arthur Rubin, D.O., FACOP, MHA — Associate Dean for Predoctoral Clinical Education
WVSOM Board of Governors
Founders
- Carlton G. Apgar, D.O.
- O.J. Bailes, D.O.
- Donald C. Newell Sr., D.O.
- Frank Wallington, D.O.
Program
- The Processional
- The National Anthem — Devin Towne — Class of 2024
Audience will please rise if able. - Call to Order — Rebecca Scopa Kelso, Ph.D. — Faculty Marshal
- Welcome and Introduction of Guests — James W. Nemitz, Ph.D. — President
- Greetings from the WVSOM Board of Governors — Frederick B. Morgan, D.O. — Vice Chair — Class of 1991
- Greetings from the WVSOM Alumni Association — Ryan Newell, D.O. — Vice President — Class of 1999
- Greetings from the West Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association — Michael Antolini, D.O. — President Class of 2012
- Welcome and Introduction of Keynote Speaker — Linda Boyd, D.O. — VicePresident, Academic Affairs and Dean/Chief Academic Officer
- The Commencement Address — Ira P. Monka, D.O. — President, American Osteopathic Association (View Bio)
- The Class Address — Olivia Rombold — President, Class of 2024
- Presentation of Candidates for the Degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine — Linda Boyd, D.O.
Presentation of Diplomas
- Christopher Wood, D.O. — Vice Chair/Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences — Class of 2008
- James Wadding, D.O. — Regional Assistant Dean, Statewide Campus Eastern Region
Assisted By:
- A. Machelle Linsenmeyer, Ed.D. — Assistant Vice President, Institutional Effectiveness and Academic Resources
- Arthur Rubin, D.O., FACOP, MHA — Associate Dean, Predoctoral Clinical Education — Class of 1979
- Dawn Roberts, Ed.D. — Associate Dean, Multicultural and Student Affairs
- Jennifer Seams, B.S. — Registrar
- The Osteopathic Oath — Chelsea L. Feger, D.O. — Assistant P rofessor, Clinical Sciences, Class of 2017
- Closing Remarks — Linda Boyd, D.O.
- The Recessional
Greetings
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Dewayne Duncan
President, WVSOM Foundation Board of Directors
I want to extend a warm West Virginia welcome to our 2024 graduates, their families and friends. To the graduates, a special thank-you for allowing WVSOM to become a monumental part of your lifelong journey as a physician. It has been a pleasure to have each of you on campus and in the state during the past four years of your medical education.
I hope you will always remember your experiences and the friendships created while at the school. Each of you will forever be a part of the WVSOM family. I know that the staff and faculty look forward to welcoming you back to campus in the future.
As president of the board of the WVSOM Foundation, I encourage you to stay active and involved with your alma mater. Your assistance and expertise are needed to ensure future osteopathic physicians have the same great start to their careers that you have experienced.
Good luck and congratulations, graduates. I wish you all the success imaginable.
Class of 2024 Residency Placement Rate 100%
This event is streamed live. Indoor viewing is available in the Conference Center in the WVSOM Student Center.
Receptions will take place in the Conference Center in the WVSOM Student Center and the Roland P. Sharp Alumni Conference Center after the ceremony.
Candidates for the Degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Jessica Michelle Aboloff
Marlton, NJ
Emergency Medicine
Saniya Zeba Ahmed
Frisco, TX
Neurology
Alabbas Alaamili
West Bloomfield, MI
Internal Medicine
Nathan Lawrence Aldrich
Franklinville, NJ
Internal Medicine
Ahmed Hani Al Mubaid
Tinley Park, IL
Internal Medicine
Bryce Jennings Anderson
Cincinnati, OH
Orthopedic Surgery
Jacquelyn Josie Anderson
Cambridge, MN
Family Medicine
Justin Argoncillo
hom*osassa, FL
Internal Medicine
Harriscla Ayamba Arraheffege
Manassas, VA
Family Medicine
Radhika Caitlin Bajaj
Gettysburg, PA
Pediatrics
Aya Balan
Troy, MI
Internal Medicine
Gregory Vijay Biggiani
Medford, NJ
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Kaleb Matthew Bohrnstedt
Lynchburg, VA
Dermatology
Jacob Lee Boice
Morgantown, WV
Internal Medicine
Spencer Lee Brewer
Seattle, WA
Family Medicine
Jessica Lynn Brumbaugh
Hollidaysburg, PA
Emergency Medicine
Gabriella Laura Bruzzese
Massapequa Park, NY
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Raquel Angelique Campbell
Mechanicsburg, PA
Family Medicine
Delanee Michelle Chaja
Solvang, CA
Family Medicine
Ashika Chaluvadi
Silver Spring, MD
Family Medicine
Kimlong Chan
Plano, TX
Internal Medicine
James Scott Thain Christensen
Derby, KS
Family Medicine
Seth Joseph Conley
Summersville, WV
Internal Medicine
Jesse Robert Connors
South Bend, IN
Family Medicine
Nicholas Bryan Courtney
Powell, OH
Internal Medicine
Elizabeth Ruth Miller Coyle
Harpers Ferry, WV
Family Medicine
Ami Lee Crist
Towson, MD
Pediatrics
Sarah Brooke Daniel
Glen Daniel, WV
Family Medicine
Madison Paige Davis
Ashland, KY
Family Medicine
Jenna Elizabeth Dawson
Barboursville, WV
Internal Medicine
Ryan David Debiec
Warren, OH
General Surgery
Jona Del Rio
Melbourne, FL
Pediatrics
Matthew Stephen Dyer
Akron, OH
Internal Medicine
Cheyenne Elissa Earle
Petersburg, WV
Family Medicine
James Richard Easler
North Fairfield, OH
Family Medicine
Austin Steven Erickson
Concord, NH
Emergency Medicine
Eleana Cristina Estrella
Kissimmee, FL
Internal Medicine
Brittany Marie Fahringer
Indianapolis, IN
Emergency Medicine
Lauren Taylor-Rose Forchette
Staten Island, NY
Internal Medicine
Erin Ashley Fox
Jacksonville, FL
Pediatrics
Brittany Nicol Franco
Charleston, WV
Emergency Medicine
Michael Gregory Fritsky
Allentown, NJ
General Surgery
Carly Ann Garvin
Lancaster, PA
Ophthalmology
Ashley Taylor Gault
Lumberton, NJ
Internal Medicine
Mackenzie Claire Gayer
Vassalboro, ME
Psychiatry
Parham Ghafourifar
Huntington, WV
Internal Medicine
Olivia Marie Giambra
Pittston, PA
Emergency Medicine
Stephanie Lynn Giorno
Landenberg, PA
General Surgery
Katherine Xenna Goh
Canandaigua, NY
Family Medicine
Michael Edward Goldberg
Rochester, NY
Psychiatry
Alanna Jazmine Gordon
Freeport, NY
Anesthesiology
Andrew Scott Green
Fort Wayne, IN
Internal Medicine
Mark Abraham Haft
Baltimore, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
Rafael S. Hamawi
Waterbury, CT
Flight Medicine
Emily Wilson Harris
Merritt Island, FL
Emergency Medicine
Jimmy Lee Henrichs
Edgewood, MD
Diagnostic Radiology
Abundance Joy Squires Hunt
Lewisburg, WV
Pediatrics
Madeline Kate Illar
Lusby, MD
Internal Medicine
Morgan Ashley Ingram
Jacksonville, FL
Internal Medicine
Candis M. Jarbo
Sterling Heights, MI
Family Medicine
Christian Timothy Kaftanic
Parkersburg, WV
Internal Medicine
Jenny Suzanne Kaiser
Pierce City, MO
Urology
Patrick John Kane
Morgantown, WV
Emergency Medicine
Gregory Eric Kao
Irvine, CA
Internal Medicine
Kylee Alexandra Karczewski
South Bend, IN
Emergency Medicine
Brian Tyler Kern
Eagle Rock, VA
Anesthesiology
Cara Caitlyn Kessler
Hurricane, WV
Family Medicine
Ayub Khan
Herndon, VA
Psychiatry
Zubaira Mahraz Khan
Charleston, WV
Pediatrics
Yea Lee Kim
Johns Creek, GA
Internal Medicine
Jessica Marie King
Bethpage, NY
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Trevor Cole Kohari
Forest Hills, KY
Emergency Medicine
Payton Jon Kooiker
Grand Rapids, MI
General Surgery
Kaylee Elise Kriner
Mercersburg, PA
Family Medicine
Andrew Jordan Kristufek
Maumee, OH
General Surgery
Sunna Siraj Kureishy
Wheeling, WV
Pediatrics
Victor Lalwani
Dumfries, VA
Family Medicine
Kelven James Lee
Herndon, VA
Emergency Medicine
Erin Michaela Lewis
Westfield, MA
Family Medicine
Trevor Thomas Lovell
Mechanicsburg, PA
Internal Medicine
Jake Tyler Mann
Dix Hills, NY
Internal Medicine
Braeden Allen Mantonya
Dublin, OH
Psychiatry
James Austin Martin Jr.
Chattanooga, TN
Emergency Medicine
Stevan Mazibrada
Appleton, WI
Internal Medicine
Alexis Ugochi Mbakwe
Swedesboro, NJ
Pediatrics
Christopher Troy McGee
Swansea, SC
Internal Medicine
Connor Layne McKay
Dade City, FL
Emergency Medicine
Marlee Claire McPherson
Huntington, WV
Emergency Medicine
Brooke Nicole Mendelson
Factoryville, PA
Psychiatry
Julian Paull Metro
Pleasant Hills, PA
Emergency Medicine
Katherine Sarah Mnuskin
Pittsburgh, PA
Internal Medicine
Mohees Safder Mohammad
Kerman, CA
Internal Medicine
Jappmann Kaur Monga
Pittsburgh, PA
Pediatrics
Allison RaeAnn Moore
Fairmont, WV
Family Medicine
Julia Over Moore
Carlisle, PA
Emergency Medicine
Tanner Blake Moore
Sissonville, WV
General Surgery
Skarleth Moran
Union City, NJ
Emergency Medicine
Jaden Tate Morrison
Colby, KS
Family Medicine
Andrea Mae Mosson
Spring Grove, PA
Psychiatry
Ashton Haylee Mullens
Craigsville, WV
Internal Medicine
Clarissa Autumn Mutch
Vicksburg, MI
Neurology
Abeera Naeem
Iselin, NJ
Pediatrics
Aimin Naeem
Syracuse, NY
Pediatrics
Hunter David Neely
Parkersburg, WV
Emergency Medicine
Rithvik Nellutla
Portage, MI
Internal Medicine
Nicole Jean Newman
Trussville, AL
Pediatrics
Harvey Hoai Nguyen
San Diego, CA
General Surgery
Minh Quoc Nguyen
Homestead, FL
Internal Medicine
Hamad Niazi
Naperville, IL
Internal Medicine
Sarah Noman
Cambridge, MD
Internal Medicine
Cody Robert Kenneth Nypan
Clarksburg, WV
Internal Medicine
Elaine Ognjanovski
Washington, MI
Internal Medicine
Blake Evan Pack
Fayetteville, WV
Family Medicine
Marc Anthony Lim Pajarillo
San Diego, CA
Anesthesiology
Camille Therese Panas
Barboursville, WV
General Surgery
Priyanka Pandey
Dublin, OH
Anesthesiology
Mansi Chinmay Pandya
Indianapolis, IN
Family Medicine
Matthew Corey Parsley
Williamson, WV
Pediatrics
Ashnee Patel
Hillsborough, NJ
Family Medicine
Mitul A. Patel
Passaic, NJ
Internal Medicine
Savanna Ashley Patterson
Huntersville, NC
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Lindsay Gail Pattison
Rochester, NY
Family Medicine
Rhani Marija Pflaum
Laurel, MD
Neurology
John Michael Pirtle
Mount Jackson, VA
Orthopedic Surgery
Samuel William Plaska
Zeeland, MI
General Surgery
Trevor Colton Pritchett
Beaver, WV
Internal Medicine
Daria Pronina
Vestal, NY
Internal Medicine
Vennela Pulikanti
McLean, VA
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Alexander Cemil Purut
Hickory, NC
Radiation Oncology
Patrick Quigley
Wantagh, NY
Neurology
Dawn Arisa Rice
Bellflower, CA
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Victoria Elizabeth Rich
Prescott, AZ
Family Medicine
Katherine Grace Roach
Glen Dale, WV
Family Medicine
Josephine Marie Rodgers
Lancaster, PA
Family Medicine
Muhammad Uzair Rohail
Boca Raton, FL
Psychiatry
Olivia Marie Rombold
New Brighton, PA
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Joshua Alan Rosenberger
Rivesville, WV
Emergency Medicine
Cassandra Quinn Ross
Pittston, PA
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Taylor Alexandra Route
Temecula, CA
Emergency Medicine
Brian Nathaniel Ruiz
Melbourne, FL
Internal Medicine
Ryan Pierce Russell
Scott Depot, WV
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Raya Saba
Allentown, PA
Emergency Medicine
Sumeet Santosh Salvi
Nashua, NH
Internal Medicine
Keirston Lee Sampson
Rainelle, WV
Dermatology
Nicole Marie Santos
Tampa, FL
Anesthesiology
William Paul Sebastian
Fredericksburg, VA
General Surgery
Maria Victoria Sena
Ashville, NY
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Manali Shailesh Shah
Evansville, IN
Internal Medicine
Muneeb Ali Shah
Reading, PA
Internal Medicine
Hunter Floyd Sheard
Honesdale, PA
Internal Medicine
Vivian Catherine Shiffler
Harrisburg, PA
Emergency Medicine
Isabelle Fey Sinitsa
Reading, PA
Internal Medicine
Olivia Amy Skiro
Mountain Top, PA
Internal Medicine
Margaret Sydney Ann Smith
New Martinsville, WV
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Harrison Jack Solomon
Bedford, NY
Internal Medicine
Travis Gene Steerman
Philippi, WV
Psychiatry
Stephen Russell Sutphin
Oak Hill, WV
Family Medicine
Tristen Edmond Szajna
Clinton Township, MI
Family Medicine
Jesse Wayne Tate
York, PA
Family Medicine
Luna Thapa
Hicksville, NY
Anesthesiology
Madison Margaret Tissue
Pittsburgh, PA
Family Medicine
Brennan Reese Toler
Barboursville, WV
Internal Medicine
Justina D. Toma
South Brunswick, NJ
Psychiatry
Devin Patrick Towne
Saratoga Springs, NY
Pediatrics
Cuong Chi Tran
Philadelphia, PA
Family Medicine
Nancy Ai Tran
Fairfax, VA
Family Medicine
Lindsey Elizabeth Trusal
Selinsgrove, PA
Emergency Medicine
Anastasia Victoria Tsiunchik
Sacramento, CA
Anesthesiology
Benjamin Stevan VanTasel
Williamsburg, VA
Otolaryngology
Alexa Joan Vasiliadis
Reston, VA
Family Medicine
Kayla Madison Vaughan
Madison, WV
Internal Medicine
Emily Skwarek Votel
Troy, MI
Family Medicine
Aarron Taylor Ward
Lake, WV
Family Medicine
Aiden Frederick Ward
Myrtle Creek, OR
Family Medicine
Carleigh Elizabeth Ward
Finksburg, MD
Family Medicine
Ruth Alexandria Warren
Erie, PA
Neurology
Simon Johannes Werkhoven
Tempe, AZ
Emergency Medicine
Jordan Patrick Wherthey
Johnstown, PA
Internal Medicine
Beth Anne Wichowski
Middletown, NJ
Family Medicine
Nicholas Charles Wilson
Pinckney, MI
Emergency Medicine
Wendy Eileen Wismer
Huntington Woods, MI
Pediatrics
Amanda Lynn Wolfe
Pentress, WV
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Skylar Woolman
Reno, NV
Emergency Medicine
Abigayle Lyn Wyer
Fairmont, WV
General Surgery
Prateek Yadav
Oak Hill, VA
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Amy Catherine Yeung
Manhattan, NY
Internal Medicine
Jun Yuminaga
Bayside, NY
Emergency Medicine
Michael Anthony Yurchak
Buffalo, NY
Family Medicine
Yevgeniy Zelondzhev
Marlton, NJ
Emergency Medicine
Braden Kyle Zimmerman
Honey Brook, PA
Family Medicine
- Candidates wearing honor stoles represent the top 10 percent of their class academically.
- Candidates wearing medallions are members of Psi Sigma Alpha, a national honorary osteopathic academic fraternity.
- Candidates wearing gold and maroon cords are members of Sigma Sigma Phi, a national honorary osteopathic service fraternity.
- Candidates wearing black and gold cords are members of the Gold Humanism Honor Society, a national honor society comprising medical students, physicians and leaders who have been recognized for compassionate care.
- Candidates wearing black, brown and green cords are members of the Rural Health Initiative, a statewide program comprising students with a special interest in rural medicine.
These are candidates for the May 3, 2024, graduation at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.
This document is not to be considered an official record that degrees have been awarded.
Ira P. Monka, D.O.
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Ira P. Monka, D.O., is an American Osteopathic Association (AOA) board-certified family physician who is serving as the association’s president for 2023-24. Monka also has served the AOA as third vice president, Bureau of State Government Affairs member and program chair for the Osteopathic Medical Conference and Exposition.
A fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, Monka practices at the Medical Institute of New Jersey in Cedar Knolls, N.J. New Jersey Monthly magazine named him a “Top Doc” for several years. He is a past president of the New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons.
Monka earned his osteopathic medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, N.J., now known as the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed an internship at the former Humana Hospital in South Broward, Fla., where he served as chief resident, as well as a residency at what is now known as Overlook Medical Center in Union, N.J.
