The University of Cincinnati announced on May 8 that three students from the College of Medicine have received two of the university’s highest distinctions for 2026.
These awards recognize exceptional achievement and leadership among graduating students. The Presidential Medal of Graduate Student Excellence was awarded to Sarah Geraghty, one of only two recipients across the entire university. Rosalyn Davis and Advika Sumit were honored with the Presidential Leadership Medal of Excellence, which is given to graduating students who demonstrate extraordinary leadership, academic excellence, and service during their time at the University of Cincinnati.
Geraghty completed eight years at UC, earning her undergraduate degree in medical sciences before finishing medical school. She is a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society and a certified Spanish medical interpreter. One notable accomplishment was developing a curriculum to help medical students work effectively with interpreters before their clinical clerkships. Dawn Bragg, associate dean of student affairs at the College of Medicine, said: “Her record of excellence, leadership, compassion and service exemplifies the qualities we strive to cultivate in future physician-leaders.” Geraghty will begin her residency in medicine-pediatrics at Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center this summer.
Davis graduated with degrees in public health and French as well as certificates in business French, translation studies, and global health. Her undergraduate experience included international study programs in France and Tanzania as well as involvement with local organizations such as Madeira 4-H Club. Victoria Cullen, assistant director of the University Honors Program, described Davis as “a student guided by empathy, curiosity and a vision for a healthier, more just world.” Davis plans to pursue doctoral studies in global zoonotic epidemiology.
Sumit earned her degree in medical sciences with a minor in entrepreneurship. She founded a companionship program for neurosurgery patients at UC Health that now includes over fifty volunteers. Sumit also led research projects involving machine learning models for patient care improvement and developed educational tools for physicians nationally. Liran Oren from Otolaryngology said she is “a student whose work across disciplines — spanning engineering, medicine and public health — demonstrates her commitment to using knowledge not for recognition but for impact.” Sumit intends to attend medical school with an interest in head and neck surgery.
The College also recognized Harshman Sihra from Arts & Sciences on receiving this year’s Presidential Leadership Medal after being named a Truman Scholar and serving as a health policy fellow on Capitol Hill.
Since 2019 twelve undergraduate students from UC’s College of Medicine have received similar honors—reflecting what college leaders describe as an ongoing commitment to developing future physician-leaders dedicated both to scholarship and service.
