Student Spotlight: Michael Ramos

Tell us briefly about yourself.

I was born and raised in Independence, Ohio, a small suburb of Cleveland. I attended Princeton University, where I majored in molecular biology and played varsity football for four years. After graduating from Princeton, I worked at GlaxoSmithKline in New York City for two years, then moved back to Cleveland, where I began research at the Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute. While working at Cole Eye, I completed a master’s degree in medical physiology at Case Western Reserve University. During medical school, I developed a passion for orthopaedic surgery, and I will start my orthopaedic surgery residency at Duke University Medical Center in July.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy staying active by working out and playing golf. I am an avid Cleveland sports fan and try to attend as many games as possible with friends and family. My wife, Jacqueline, and I enjoy cooking together and hiking in the Cleveland Metroparks, and we also have a baby boy due in June!

Why did you choose CCLCM?

CCLCM was my top choice. One of my principal investigators at Cole Eye was a member of CCLCM’s first graduating class, so I had a strong understanding of the school and the opportunities it offered. I was also drawn to CCLCM’s mission to train physician investigators. After training, I plan to practice at an academic medical center with dedicated research time and ultimately felt CCLCM would best position me to accomplish these goals.

What is one of your favorite experiences at CCLCM thus far?

Capstone was a great two weeks. After the busyness of acting internships, residency applications and interviews, the two weeks were a great way to reconnect with friends and classmates and end five years of medical school.

Tell us about your research year project.

My project was conducted under the mentorship of Nicolas Piuzzi, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in adult reconstruction at Cleveland Clinic. I had worked with Dr. Piuzzi since the start of my MS1 year, and my thesis was a project we began developing during the clinical research summer. The project investigated specialized implants used in revision total hip arthroplasty. We reviewed data from over 300 surgeries and reported on stem survivorship, reoperation, re-revision and stem loosening. The study provided the most comprehensive radiographic assessment of these stems, and we found that a stem canal fill of nearly 80% was sufficient for intermediate implant survival. The project was accepted for a podium presentation at the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons 2025 Annual Meeting and is currently under review for publication.

How do you manage stress?

I have always found that spending time with family and friends is the best way for me to decompress. Whether we are cooking, hiking, playing golf, watching a show or just being together, that time has always helped me through the ups and downs of medical school and life.

What are some words of wisdom you live by?

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.

What’s something you've been learning about lately simply out of curiosity?

I have recently taken up fly fishing and have taken a few free classes offered at a local sporting goods store. The rivers around Cleveland, including the Rocky and Chagrin rivers, are well known throughout the country for their steelhead trout!

What advice would you give to new CCLCM students?

Take time to explore your clinical, research or extracurricular interests. The beauty of the CCLCM curriculum is that it provides time to discover your true passions. Once you do, immerse yourself in them.

Also, embrace Cleveland. No matter what hobbies or activities you enjoy, there are plenty of options in Cleveland, whether they are sports, music, art, theater or outdoor activities. An added benefit is that they are usually half the cost of other major cities.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

My family has had season tickets for the Cleveland Browns for over 35 years. I have yet to see a team worth watching in my life, but hopefully sometime over the next 35 years!