Medical Student Honored by PCOM
January 12, 2018
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has announced medical student
Andrew Canakis is the recipient of the 2018 Mason W. Pressly Memorial Medal. It is
presented to a student for his or her outstanding achievement and service to the College,
the community and the osteopathic profession. Recipients are selected by representatives
of the overall College community. Mr. Canakis will receive his medal at PCOM’s Founders’
Day luncheon on Friday, January 26.
Mr. Canakis holds a deep commitment to community service. While at PCOM, he founded
the College’s Gastroenterology Club, which organizes simulation events, and hosts
practical talks for students seeking a potential fellowship in the specialty; and
also the PCOM chapter of Philadelphia’s Health Career Academy, a program through Lankenau
Medical Center that brings medical students into Philadelphia high schools to educate
those students on issues such as diabetes, cancer and trauma.
Mr. Canakis helped develop the academy’s curriculum, which he believed to be more
effective when the students had hands-on exercises. He noted, “The more they learned,
the more interest they displayed, the more involved they became.” He also helped expand
the program to include the University of the Sciences.
In addition to his work in the community, Mr. Canakis has also been involved in several
research projects. In 2017 he wrote and presented a case report on an inverted colonic
diverticulum at the World Congress on Gastroenterology (WCG). He also worked with
his mentor, Steven Lichtenstein, DO ’90, clinical professor and chair, division of
gastroenterology, department of Internal Medicine, on a project titled, “Inappropriate
Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in Patients Admitted Under Observation Status.” It
also was presented at the WCG.
He worked with PCOM alumnus Ryan Urbas, DO ’13, on a poster titled, “Venous thromboembolism
prophylaxis in hospitalized patients with inflammatory bowel disease,” which was presented
at the 2017 Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Disease conference. He also is working
with faculty at Johns Hopkins University on a book chapter on treatment modalities
for inflammatory bowel disease, and he participated in and co-authored a retrospective
study published in Minerva Gastroenterology that evaluated the use of fully covered self-expanding metal stents in patients with
benign biliary disease.
Mr. Canakis will receive his doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from PCOM in June.
He received his undergraduate degree in history from the College of William and Mary.
He resides in Berlin, Maryland, and comes from a family of physicians.
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About Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Founded in 1899, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands
of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists
who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms.
PCOM operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic
medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy and school psychology, and graduate degrees in
applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic
medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, non profit leadership
and population health management, organizational development and leadership, physician
assistant studies, school psychology, and public health management and administration.
PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service
to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care
to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
For more information, contact:
Daniel McCunney
Associate Director, News and Media Relations
Email: danielmc1@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6304 | Cell:
267-449-1360