The Department of Anesthesiology honored its graduating residents in a special event on June 5 at Bohemian National Hall. Joined by family and loved ones, the 22 graduates enjoyed a memorable evening celebrating their accomplishments and marking an important milestone.
Department Chair Dr. Hugh Hemmings, Jr. opened the program and thanked faculty from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Hospital for Special Surgery for their instruction and guidance.
"Many of your teachers are here to celebrate this success with you. While we cannot take credit for your substantial accomplishments as residents, we do take pride and welcome you as proud alumni of Weill Cornell Anesthesiology," said Dr. Hemmings. He encouraged the graduates to "never lose your curiousity, your empathy and your devotion to your patients."
With a nod to the Knicks, Executive Vice Chair for Academic Affairs Dr. Kane Pryor remarked on the rewards of training, determination and grit, and had a special word for the families in the audience.
"The success of our graduates that we celebrate tonight is not theirs alone. Every single one of you has been supported by others who have made your dream their dream," said Dr. Pryor.
Dr. Eric Brumberger, the residency program director, warmly thanked chief residents Drs. Alice Alexandrov, Jimmy Germi and Al Riccio for their leadership, and recognized the efforts of Residency Support Council leads Drs. Monica Liu, Nikki Thomasian, Ben Cote and Jen Min for their commitment to community.
The evening continued with video messages that were submitted for each resident by their families, followed by the presentation of graduates and award winners.
Congratulations to the department's 2026 graduates and award winners! They are:
CLASS OF 2026 ANESTHESIOLOGY RESIDENTS
(including post-graduate affiliations)
Bracha Abraham, MD, MS
Obstetric Anesthesiology Fellowship at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Alice Alexandrov, MD
Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital
William Aultman, MD, MS
Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Lee Brake, MD
Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center
Benjamin Cote, MD
Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship at Hospital for Special Surgery
Zenobia Faussett, MD, MS
Obstetric Anesthesiology Fellowship at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center
Braulio Fernandez, MD
Faculty at Lenox Hill Hospital/Northwell Health
James Germi, MD, MSTR
Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship at Stanford Medicine
Sarah Grond, MD
Attending Anesthesiologist at White Plains Hospital
Olivia Henry, MD
Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine Fellowship at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Abigail Hessert, MD
Faculty at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Cary Huang, MD
Tri-Institutional Pain Medicine Fellowship at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center
Meaghan Kenfield, MD
Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Hannah Krinsky, MD, MS
Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship at Hospital for Special Surgery
Nassim Lashkari, MD, PharmD, MS
Critical Care Medicine Fellowship at Stanford University
Grace Lassiter, MD, MPH
Attending Anesthesiologist at Greater New York Anesthesia Services
Monica Liu, MD, MBA
Critical Care Anesthesiology Fellowship at University of California, San Francisco
Wenting Ma, MD
Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital
Jennifer Min, MD, MPH
Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center
Alessandra Riccio, MD
Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine Fellowship and Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Syed Tahmid, MD
Faculty at NYU Langone Health
Nicole Thomasian, MD, MPP
Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine Fellowship at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center
2026 AWARD WINNERS
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center |Teacher of the Year
David Amar, MD
Hospital for Special Surgery |Teacher of the Year
Prashant N. Rao, MD
Marjorie Topkins Award | NYP Teacher of the Year
Rima Abhyankar, MD
Hospital for Special Surgery Resident Award | Clinical Excellence in Regional Anesthesia
Hannah Danielle Krinsky, MD, MS
Research Award
Wenting Ma, MD
Nicole Thomasian, MD, MPP
Ronald A. Leff Award | Excellence in Clinical Teaching by a Resident
James William Germi, MD, MSTR
Sadel Wortis Klein Award | Excellence in Clinical Performance
Alessandra Marie Riccio, MD
Joseph F. Artusio Award | Outstanding Resident
Alessandra Marie Riccio, MD
Faculty Mentorship Award
Adam David Lichtman, MD, FASE
Faculty Role Model Award
Julia Scarpa, MD, PhD
NYP-WCM/DHK Faculty Professionalism Awards
Mariam Ashraf, MD
NYP-LMH Faculty Professionalism Awards
Jason White, MD
Timothy M. Connolly Resident Stewardship Award
Caryn Davi
Timothy M. Connolly Attending Award for Colleague of the Year
Ankur Srivastava, MD
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