McLeod Named Marvin Award Recipient for Highest Score
| May 2, 2017 | Cody McLeod, a third-year medical student at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), is the 2016 recipient of the Dr. Horace N. Marvin Award.
The Marvin Award is presented annually by the UAMS College of Medicine’s Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences to the student who scores the highest in their class on their first attempt at the United States Medical License Exam (USMLE) Step 1, commonly called “the Boards.”
McLeod is from Arkadelphia. He is the son of Susan Williams and Kevin and Angel McLeod and is a graduate of Arkadelphia High School and Henderson State University.
Ashley and Cody McLeod pause for a picture next to the bust of Marvin in the UAMS Library during a ceremony in Cody’s honor.
McLeod said he was surprised when he got his score, which he actually had his wife, Ashley McLeod, look at first.
“When she told me what it was, I couldn’t believe it,” McLeod said. “It was better than I did on my practice tests. So I was just really excited about it, but I didn’t think I had the highest in the class. Looking around, we have so many brilliant people, so I feel more fortunate – even lucky – if you will.”
McLeod’s ultimate goal is to become an orthopaedic surgeon like his father. He has also been inspired by his research adviser from Henderson, Vincent Dunlap, Ph.D., and his adviser at UAMS, Corey Montgomery, M.D.
McLeod’s name has been added to the plaque that hangs next to Marvin’s memorial bust in the UAMS Library.
The Marvin Award was established with anonymous donations in 1985, the year Marvin retired after 43 years of service to UAMS. He was course director of Medical Microscopic Anatomy and was chair of the Department of Anatomy from 1958-1967, after which he served as associate dean for Academic Affairs.