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Mallory-Wilson Center Awards presented to Miami senior Reeti Pal and sociologist Jennifer Bulanda

The Mallory-Wilson Center for Healthcare Education is proud to present Miami senior Reeti Pal with the 2017 Ken and Joan Frankel Outstanding Premedical Student Award and Miami Sociology professor Jennifer Bulanda with the Mallory-Wilson Center Faculty/Staff Recognition Award. Reeti will be honored at a ceremony on May 12, while Dr. Bulanda received her award from Miami’s seniors at the Graduating Prehealth Student Reception on April 20th.

Reeti Pal: 2017 Ken and Joan Frankel Outstanding Premedical Student Award

Reeti Pal, 2017 Ken and Joan Frankel Outstanding Premedical Student

Reeti Pal is an honors student with a major in Zoology, co-major in Premedical Studies, and minors in Global Health Studies and Neuroscience. She is set to graduate from Miami summa cum laude, meaning that her near-perfect GPA represents the top 2% of all students graduating from the College of Arts and Science.

According to Rob Balfour, Assistant Director of the Mallory-Wilson Center, "Reeti is a gifted student with a near perfect GPA and phenomenal MCAT score. As exceptional as her academic record is, her extracurricular involvement is equally so. Her activities showed us that she is a well-rounded, compassionate, leader at Miami and in her community. For example, she was a 4-year member of Miami's award-winning Mock Trial Team, served on the Honors Student Advisory Board, mentored a local child in Butler County's Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, worked with dementia patients through Miami’s Opening Minds through Art Program, served as a summer camp counselor for students with special needs, and volunteered at a hospice center.

"Reeti's record both in and out of the classroom earned her multiple medical school acceptances, and we are excited to see her start the next leg of her journey to becoming a physician this coming fall."

The Mallory-Wilson Center is proud to recognize Reeti Pal as not only a deserving recipient of this award but also an outstanding member of the Miami pre-health community.

Jennifer Bulanda: 2017 Mallory-Wilson Center Faculty/Staff Recognition Award

Jennifer Bulanda (center), recipient of the 2017 Mallory-Wilson Center Faculty/Staff Recognition Award, poses with nominator Haley Allen (left) and the omnipresent Swoop

Dr. Jennifer Bulanda is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Gerontology, as well as a Scripps Research Fellow. She teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses and has taught many pre-health students through courses such as Sociology in a Global Context and Medical Sociology.

Dr. Bulanda was nominated by senior nutrition and Premedical Studies co-major Haley Allen (Miami '17), who wrote an outstanding nomination about Dr. Bulanda's impact on students in Miami's pre-health community. Here are a few excerpts from her nomination:

  • "She cares about her students and constantly strives to help them understand material and think critically about the world in which they live."
  • "She sets such a great example to her students of what it means to be a caring and compassionate individual and is willing to share her experiences with students to let them know she understands them and the difficulty of being a pre-health student."
  • "Her classes and guidance will most definitely make me a better healthcare provider and I can only hope that many more students get to experience the great pleasure that is having Dr. Bulanda as a professor."

"Dr. Bulanda has been a wonderful asset to the students in Miami's pre-health program and a deserving recipient of this year's Faculty/Staff Recognition Award," said David Pennock, Director of the Mallory-Wilson Center. "We thank her for working to enhance the Miami pre-health experience."

Backgrounds of Awards

The Ken (Miami '67) and Joan Frankel Outstanding Premedical Student Award was established in 2011 to recognize one graduating premedical student each year who demonstrated excellence both in and out of the classroom during their years at Miami. The recipient is chosen by the Mallory-Wilson Center staff. All students who were enrolled in PMD 301 as juniors were automatically considered for the award, and selection is primarily based on their PMD 301 mock application, academic transcript, and MCAT scores.

The Mallory-Wilson Center Faculty/Staff Recognition Award was established in 2014 by the Mallory-Wilson Center Alumni Board of Directors. Each year the Mallory-Wilson Center Student Advisory Board solicits nominations for the award from graduating seniors. The Student Advisory Board members then select the awardee from nominations received.