In 2023, MSTP students, Mary Bedard and Juliana (Jules) Madzia, were two of 110 doctoral students in the US and Canada to receive a $20,000 Scholar Award from the P.E.O Sisterhood, a philanthropic organization supporting higher education for women! Recipients for the P.E.O. Scholar Awards are selected for their strong academic achievement and potential for having a positive impact on society.

And more amazing news from our MSTP students! Both Jules Madzia and Akaljot (AJ) Singh, were selected to receive the University of Cincinnati's 2023 Presidential Medal of Graduate Student Excellence (PMGSE). This is a prestigious honor awarded by the university president to exceptional graduate students who are graduating from their master's or doctoral program. Recipients are selected for their exemplification of scholarship, leadership, character, service, and the ideals of the University of Cincinnati. Further, Jules is now the first UC student to win both this medal and the Presidential Leadership Medal of Excellence, which she received in 2017 as an undergraduate student!

See below for words from Jules and AJ, as quoted in the May 1, 2023 issue of the UC College of Medicine's "Dean's List" enewsletter, announcing their PMGSE awards:

• Jules: “It’s so exciting to receive this honor because it demonstrates that UC leadership values both the non-traditional combination of degrees I'm getting [an MD and a PhD in Sociology] and the specific work that I do on inequality in medical education as well as on increasing access to high-quality gender-affirming care for transgender and gender-diverse people.” 
• AJ: "I am incredibly humbled and grateful to have received the Presidential Medal of Graduate Student Excellence. I am especially grateful for all of the support I received from my mentors and peers, and would like to thank everyone involved in the selection process.” 

Pictured above from left to right: Mary Bedard, G5; Juliana (Jules) Madzia, G4; and Akaljot (AJ) Singh, G6.