Graduation Celebration Honors the Lerner College of Medicine Class of 2023

For the 27 students in the graduating class of 2023, the celebration on May 20 offered them a chance to reflect on their many accomplishments over the last five years and look forward to the next step in their medical career journey.

In his address to the graduating class, Bud Isaacson, MD, Professor of Medicine and Executive Dean of the Lerner College of Medicine, emphasized that they shouldn’t expect their careers to be linear. Career plans change based on challenges and opportunities, some of which open new doors. He spoke of two CCLCM alumni in particular whose careers did not follow a linear path:

Renee Salas, MD (’09), MPH, MS, was on track to specialize in oncology before switching her specialty to emergency medicine. She then developed a keen interest in the health effects of climate change.

“Her career has been transformed. She is now one of the national leaders on climate health,” said Dr. Isaacson, who added that Dr. Salas is helping build a climate health curriculum at CCLCM.

Dr. Salas was the first to receive the Early Career Alumnus Award from the Cleveland Clinic Alumni Association, and she is one of the youngest members to be elected to the National Academy of Medicine.

Caitlin Hicks, MD (‘12), MS, had been interested in emergency medicine and then changed her specialty to vascular medicine. She has made quality of care a focus of her practice.

Most recently, she and her colleagues used Medicare data to discover that a large subset of patients experienced poor outcomes after unnecessary peripheral vascular surgery.

“Can you imagine a surgeon advocating for less surgery? Predictably, this view was not universally embraced by surgeons across the country,” said Dr. Isaacson. Still, Dr. Hicks continues to courageously advocate for what’s best for patients.

“Expect the unexpected,” Dr. Isaacson told the graduating class. “Although you may have a path now that seems very clear, take advantage of those opportunities when they arrive.”

CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic Tom Mihaljevic, MD, Professor of Surgery, next addressed the students. He shared a story about a fellow surgeon who was humbled by the disease that caused many complications for a patient during surgery. That vulnerability helped him be a better doctor, said Dr. Mihaljevic. He closed by reminding the graduates that they will always have a job at Cleveland Clinic.

Surabhi Tewari and Bernie Wu presented a thank-you book to Mrs. Norma Lerner and Dr. Mihaljevic for their long-standing support of the program and its students.

The alumni and class gift to the college, presented by Joshua Gallop, is a wellness coffee and tea station at the Health Education Campus. The fund that the class established will be used to continuously replenish the station.

Matthew Nagy introduced the student video, a reflection on the students’ last five years. View the student video.

This year’s faculty speaker was Stacey Jolly, MD, MAS, Associate Professor of Medicine. Dr. Jolly shared a four-direction circular concept present in indigenous cultures: East signifies the beginning of a new day, another day to learn and positively influence people’s lives. South signifies growth, a time to be curious and learn. West signifies a time to reflect and rest. North signifies living with purpose. Dr. Jolly connected all the directions with practical and inspiring advice for the students.

On behalf of the class of 2023, Diana Lopez delivered the student presentation. She recounted impactful patient encounters she experienced while studying medicine. After those experiences, she began to view her patients much more holistically, as more than just their medical condition, recognizing that they, like everyone, “yearn for a genuine, compassionate connection with their physician.”

Diana quoted Vanderbilt University’s Wes Ely, MD, who wrote, “The best doctoring combines technical expertise and compassion, and at times it becomes important to focus not only on what’s the matter with the patient but what matters to the patient.”

Several faculty members were recognized with awards:

Kaiser-Permanente Excellence in Teaching Award for Outstanding Pre-Clinical Educator: Amy Nowacki, PhD
Kaiser-Permanente Excellence in Teaching Award for Outstanding Clinical Educator: Steven Campbell, MD, PhD
These once-in-a-lifetime honors recognize the faculty members’ exceptional contributions to student learning and professional development.

Outstanding Faculty Contribution Award: Robert Wilson, DO, Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology
Outstanding Administrative Contribution Award: Traci Brandt, CCLCM administration team
These two awards are presented by each graduating class to the non-faculty and faculty members who most embody the ideals of CCLCM and demonstrate the highest level of commitment to students.

Excellence in Research Award: Kathryn Martinez, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine
Established in 2010, this award recognizes exceptional contributions to student learning and professional development in research.

Elaine F. Dannefer, PhD Award: Phillip Hall, MD, Clinical Professor Emeritus of Medicine
Established in 2017 in memory of Elaine F. Dannefer, PhD, this award recognizes a faculty member who exemplifies and advances the ideals of mentoring and reflective practice at CCLCM.

Twelve graduating students earned a master’s degree in addition to their degree that reads “Medical Doctor with Special Qualifications in Biomedical Research”:

Bioethics & Medical Humanities (MA)

Alexandra White

Biomedical Engineering (MS)

Joshua Cockrum

Clinical Research Scholars Program (MS)

Alissa Becerril

Mario Belfiglio

Sarah DeCou

Aiman Faruqi

Lauren Heusinkveld

Lisa Kojima

Nutrition (MS)

Joshua Gallop

Systems Biology & Bioinformatics (MS)

Dena Crozier (Guo)

Jacob Enders (MS, Systems Biology & Bioinformatics)

Daniel Grits (MS, Systems Biology & Bioinformatics)

Edward J. & Nancy Mueller Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship Pathway

Bernie Wu

On behalf of the entire Lerner College of Medicine, we congratulate the Class of 2023. We are deeply proud of you — individually and collectively — and all that you have accomplished during your five years with us. We wish you all the very best as you embark on the next stage of your medical career.

Aditya Banerjee, MD

Alissa Becerril, MD

Mario Belfiglio, MD

Joshua Cockrum, MD

Dena Crozier, MD

Sarah DeCou, MD

Jacob Enders, MD

Aiman Faruqi, MD

Joshua Gallop, MD

Daniel Grits, MD

Lauren Heusinkveld, MD

Carrie Johnson, MD

Emese (Emi) Kanyo, MD

Priscilla Kim, MD

Lisa Kojima, MD

Diana Lopez, MD

Joseph Mauch, MD

Matthew Nagy, MD

Stephanie Njemanze, MD

Lubika (Jeremiah) Nkashama, MD

Anthony Onuzuruike, MD

Matthew Russell, MD

Paras Shah, MD

Surabhi Tewari, MD

Alexandra (Sasha) White, MD

Bernie Wu, MD

Shannon Wu, MD

Presentation of thank-you book to Mrs. Norma Lerner by Surabhi Tewari

Presentation of thank-you book to Tom Mihaljevic, MD, by Bernie Wu

Faculty speaker Stacey Jolly, MD, MAS

Student speaker Diana Lopez

Outstanding Faculty Contribution Award presented to Robert Wilson, DO, by Stephanie Njemanze

Outstanding Administrative Contribution Award presented to Traci Brandt by Lisa Kojima

Award for Excellence in Research presented to Kathryn Martinez, PhD, by Priscilla Kim

Elaine F. Dannefer, PhD, Award presented to Phillip Hall, MD, by Bud Isaacson, MD

Photo credit: Don Gerda

Commencement speaker Kathy Magliato, MD, MBA, cardiothoracic surgeon, Providence Saint John’s Medical Center, Santa Monica, Calif.

Photo credit: Lisa DeJong