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Shaden Eldakar-Hein, MD, MS, FACP, senior associate dean of the Temple/St. Luke’s School of Medicine, and James Anasti, MD, director of clinical curriculum and research and clinical professor of OB/GYN, were recently honored on the eve of Commencement at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine. In addition, Temple/St. Luke’s School of Medicine graduates from the Class of 2025 were also recognized during the Awards Day ceremony.

Dr. Eldakar-Hein is the recipient of the 2025 Blockley-Osler Award for excellence in clinical teaching. This award was created in 1987 by the Blockley Section of the Philadelphia College of Physicians and honors the teaching traditions of William Osler, a founding professor of Johns Hopkins Hospital who helped to revolutionize medical education around the world. Since her appointment in December 2020, Dr. Eldakar-Hein has been responsible for all key academic functions of the medical school and oversees the medical education of more than 160 students each year. 

As an internal medicine hospitalist and Temple alum, Dr. Eldakar-Hein shared that receiving the award was particularly meaningful on two fronts: It was voted on by students at both the Temple/St. Luke’s campus and the North Philadelphia campus, and it’s also awarded for teaching in a health care setting.

“I enjoy taking care of patients, and it’s rewarding in general to be at a campus where I can teach clinically,” said Dr. Eldakar-Hein, who was also chosen as an honoree this year by several graduates of the St. Luke’s Internal Medicine Residency program.  “It’s also nice to have the outreach from the students, whether it’s the regional campus, students from the Philly campus, or our internal medicine residents.”

Having formed a close and collaborative relationship with all faculty at the Temple/St. Luke’s School of Medicine, Dr. Eldakar-Hein was equally proud to see Dr. James Anasti awarded the Golden Apple. The award was announced by Taj Singh, MD, class president of the Temple/St. Luke’s Class of 2025, and recognizes Dr. Anasti’s outstanding teaching, commitment and enthusiasm in educating medical students.

Dr. Anasti, a Temple alum who remembers voting for the award for those who educated him, is also the first Temple/St. Luke’s recipient of the Golden Apple.

“To make these connections – to see these students who started here at the medical school, now working across the street at the hospital – it’s absolutely priceless. To live vicariously through these students and watch them grow is incredible,” shared Dr. Anasti. “They’re all unique individuals and each one has brought something to me and to our school.”

Temple/St. Luke’s graduates recognized during the ceremony:

Alpha Omega Alpha Class of 2025

Sierra Camburn, MD
Madelyn Class, MD
Katherine Peake, MD
Matthew Record, MD
Saran Taj Singh, MD
Abigail Sprague, MD

Gold Humanism Honor Society Class of 2025

Sierra Camburn, MD
Morgan Choma, MD
Eryn Fitch, MD
Manasa Ponnapalli, MD
Sarah Taj Singh, MD

Student Awards

Madelyn Class, MD: Susan and Elliot Menkowitz, MD, Class of 1967 Award, recognizing members of the graduating class who are members of the Alpha Omega Honor Society and demonstrate exemplary research, service and leadership in the academic and local communities

Manasa Ponnapalli, MD: The Emily Reeves, MD, Memorial Award, recognizing members of the graduating class who have demonstrated a strong academic record with a commitment to school leadership, participation, and service; and the J. Robert Willson, MD Research Award, for exemplifying outstanding critical and analytic thinking, strong interest in research, and great promise for pursuing a career in the reproductive sciences

Salena Ringenbach: Bernard J. Ronis, MD and Max L. Ronis, MD Prize in Otolaryngology, recognizing a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated commendable interest and aptitude in ear, nose, and throat surgery

Saran Taj Singh, MD: Lewis Katz School of Medicine Service Award, presented to members of the graduating class, who through their leadership and service have made outstanding contributions to the life and culture of the medical school