Jefferson Physician Organization Lewis Yecies, M.D.
Memorial Scholarship Awardees

William graduated in June from Sackets Harbor High School and recently began his freshman year The University of Chicago, where he studies biology on a pre-med track.

Upon completion of undergraduate studies, William plans to continue his education in medical school. He aspires to practice medicine as a physician. William is the son of Mariko and Tim Virkler, Watertown.

Shira graduated in June from Carthage High School as her class valedictorian and will begin her freshman year at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., this fall, where she plans to study neuroscience. Upon completion of undergraduate studies, Shira plans to continue her education in medical school. She is the daughter of Michelle and Dr. Nata Parnes, Carthage.

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Shira graduated with the Seal of Triliteracy, is a National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society member, a four-year NYSPHSAA Section III Scholar Athlete, and was a New Vision Health BOCES student.

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Shira was involved in many extracurricular activities throughout high school, including Math League and Key Club, and served as Vice President and President of the Student Government, and a member of the Superintendent’s Advisory Council. She was also very active in Junior ROTC and competed as a member of the Varsity Golf and Tennis teams, earning the Frontier League Tennis Champion Award. Shira has devoted volunteered hundreds of hours to community service, supporting Flags4Vets, the Healthy Kids Running Series and the Victim’s Assistance Center.

Lauren graduated in June from South Jefferson High School and began her freshman year at St. Lawrence University, Canton, where she is a pre-medicine student. Upon completion of undergraduate studies, Lauren plans to continue her education in medical school to become a pediatrician. She is the daughter of Erin and Jim Bier, Calcium.

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Lauren is a National Honor Society member and a two-sport athlete, competing in varsity volleyball and tennis. She participated in a wide range of extracurricular activities throughout high school, including Key Club, MASH Camp, Peer Tutoring, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), LEAD, and Spanish Club. Lauren also served as a volunteer EMT for South Jefferson Rescue Squad and the Thousand Island Emergency Rescue Service (TIERS).

Sophia graduated in June from Watertown High School and will attend the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Mass., this fall to pursue pre-medicine studies. Upon completion of undergraduate studies, Sophia plans to continue her education in medical school to become a pediatrician. She is the daughter of Amy and David Renzi, Watertown.

Meet Jacob Bier, the Class of 2021 recipient of the Jefferson Physician Organization Lewis D. Yecies, M.D., Memorial Scholarship.

Jacob graduated in June from South Jefferson High School and will attend St. Lawrence University, Canton, this fall to study biology. Upon completion of undergraduate studies, Jacob plans to continue his education in medical school to become a doctor. He is the son of Erin Sweeney-Bier and James Bier, Calcium.

Established in 2017 by the Jefferson Physician Organization to honor Dr. Yecies’ life and legacy of service, this permanent Northern New York Community Foundation scholarship is a $1,000 award to a Jefferson County high School graduate who is pursuing pre-medicine studies.

 I have been accepted to the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. I will be starting the MD program there in July so I'll be in Buffalo for the next 4 years.

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I'm interested in pursuing primary care and I'm hoping that in the next few years, I can explore this interest and determine the type of physician I want to be! 

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I truly appreciate all the support you and JPO have given me throughout my undergraduate years. 

I am currently finishing up my second year at Campbell University Osteopathic School of Medicine in North Carolina. In the next year I will be starting my rotation years in Morehead City NC and then residency will come after that.

I graduated from SUNY Geneseo in May of 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Sociomedical Sciences. After graduation I moved to North Carolina to work in a clinical trial vaccines lab, where my team and I tested the first mRNA flu vaccine. Last year, I matched into a Master's program for Genetic Counseling at the University of Pittsburgh, where I am also completing my Master of Public Health in Public Health Genetics. I just finished my first year and will begin clinical rotations at the local hospitals here in Pittsburgh in May. I plan to graduate with both degrees in June of 2026 and take my genetic counseling board exam in August. After that, I will hopefully start practicing as a licensed and board-certified genetic counselor!