YONKERS, N.Y. – Orysia Maria Kozicky graduated on May 23 from New York Medical College in Valhalla, N.Y., where she was inducted into the medical honor society, Alpha Omega Alpha, in her third year. At graduation she was presented the Samuel Spiegel, M.D., Memorial Award for her outstanding scholastic record throughout the four years of medical school and for demonstrating exceptional clinical skills.
She was born on January 14, 1988, to Orest and Maryka (née Dudar) Kozicky. She grew up in Yonkers, N.Y., where she is a parishioner of St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church. She began her education at St. Matthew’s School in Hastings on Hudson, N.Y. Her high school education was completed in New Rochelle, N.Y., at the Ursuline Academy. She completed her undergraduate education at Boston University, graduating magna cum laude with double majors in biology and art history.
Aside from being an exemplary student Ms. Kozicky excelled in multiple sports, including soccer, swimming, tennis, field hockey and lacrosse.
As a young girl she became a member of the Ukrainian American Youth Association (UAYA), where she completed all levels of achievement and attended summer camps in Ellenville, N.Y. She continues to volunteer her time as a counselor at the Yonkers branch of the UAYA and worked as a counselor at the UAYA’s summer camps. Ms. Kozicky won the overall champion award at the UAYA Zlet in 2005 and completed the School of Ukrainian Studies that same year.
Beyond her achievements in education and sports Ms. Kozicky revealed a true talent in art and muic. During an art exhibition at Ursuline Academy, the school purchased one of her art pieces for its collection. Ms. Kozicky played piano, bandura and guitar and was a member of the UAYA Prolisok vocal ensemble. In addition to performing with the Yonkers UAYA branch Ukrainian folk dance ensembles, she was also a student of the Scarsdale Ballet Studio from the age of 9.
After graduating from Boston University Ms. Kozicky worked as an emergency medical technician (EMT) for Empress Ambulance Service, gaining valuable experience in critical care.
Now an M.D., she is following in the footsteps of her father, Dr. Orest Kozicky, a gastroenterologist in Yonkers, N.Y., and her brother Dr. Mark Kozicky, who is completing a year as chief resident in internal medicine at Jacobi Medical Center and will soon start a Nephrology fellowship at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center
Dr. Orysia Kozicky will be continuing her medical career with a residency in Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai-Beth Israel Medical Center. She is a member of Ukrainian National Association Branch 8.