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1. Message from Vice Dean Logio
2. Notices
3. Curriculum
4. Student Affairs
5. Financial Aid
6. Research
7. Health Sciences Library
8. Events & Opportunities
9. Staff Spotlight

Dear Students:

It’s a winter wonderland! (And it’s technically not even Winter yet…first day of Winter is December 21st!) I hope you are staying safe and warm as you prepare for your winter break. Congratulations on getting to the midpoint of the year. Of course, for the M2s, it’s more than the midpoint…you only have until March 20, 2026, to finish out the curriculum!

I must say you are an impressive bunch. SICKED was AMAZING! The talent and joy you demonstrated was spectacular. As a member of the audience, I can attest to the fact that we were entertained from start to finish. It was a fabulous celebration of all the hard work you put in during rehearsals. With over 250 students participating, you showed your unity in the experience of Case medical school. THANK YOU.

As we prepare for a new year, let’s be sure to pause and reflect on the year behind us. We have much to be grateful for, including being part of a community like CWRU School of Medicine. This time of year can be hard for some, especially with the tragic news we hear every day. Please take it one day at a time and think about what’s to come in 2026.

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for a fantastic 2026!

LL

Security Update from President Kaler

Effective immediately, the university is increasing security and police presence and, as of Monday, Dec. 15, around 7 a.m., all buildings on the Case Western Reserve University campus will move to card-access only for the remainder of the month. 

Building access will be available as follows:

• Academic buildings: All faculty, staff and student IDs will work in every academic building.
• Administrative buildings: ID card access will be limited to those who work within each specific administrative building. Those needing access to additional buildings for business purposes should coordinate in advance with their colleagues in these buildings.

Please know that this move may cause some access issues; please call the CWRU Police non-emergency number at 216.368.3300 or contact a nearby police or security officer if you need assistance gaining access to a building. 

As a reminder, do not:

• prop interior or exterior doors at any time, 
• hold an outside door open for strangers, or 
• allow strangers to “piggyback” on your access card.

Small Group Rooms

There has been discussion around Med Ed students having difficulty with many of the small group rooms (289 and 213 rooms), as they are being used by undergraduates. If you run into this issue, please call the Security Desk at 216-444-3362 to have the undergrads removed from the room. If there is no answer, please call the Cleveland Clinic Police at 216-444-2250; the dispatcher will send a security officer.

Purpose of the Synthesis Essay Question (SEQ)

We've received excellent questions about the purpose of the Synthesis Essay Question (SEQ). A SEQ is designed to guide you to deeper, more thorough research into a weekly Block topic or explore closely related material. For example, after learning about the regulation of glycolysis, you might be asked to explain what happens when a person with type 1 diabetes eats lunch but does not take insulin. An SEQ is meant to be researched and used to strengthen and solidify your understanding. Material that is covered in an SEQ may be part of the final SSEQ. An SEQ is a learning tool that does not directly reflect the style of the final SSEQ exam questions. SSEQ exam questions are typically more integrated, draw on multiple topics across the block, and will ask you to limit the length of your response. 

Class of 2029: REQUIRED Orientation for the Longitudinal Clinical Skills Program

On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 12:30pm in HEC 176, all students in the Class of 2029 are required to attend an orientation for an overview of the components needed to complete the Longitudinal Clinical Skills Program (LCSP). Block 8 Foundations of Clinical Medicine Co-Faculty Leaders, Elizabeth Painter, PsyD, MSCP and Elaine Cruz, DO, will facilitate along with other Block 8 Administration. 

If you have curricular conflicts that will prevent you from being able to attend this mandatory session (e.g., other graduate coursework), please provide advanced notice to patientbased@case.edu by no later than Monday, January 12, 2026, at Noon.

Attendance will be taken via swipe card readers that will be available on both entrances of the lecture hall. The session will begin promptly. Make sure to bring your Case ID card. Ensure your card is properly swiped and the system confirms your attendance to avoid being marked absent. Lunch will not be provided. Please arrange to enjoy lunch at Samson Pavilion after lectures earlier in the day.

Kowal SAGE Movement Experiential

This is a reminder for M1s to register for the Kowal SAGE movement session. Students will either need to participate in a virtual GeroFit session or a Whole Health activity at the Cleveland VA Medical Center. Please be advised that certain Whole Health activities may be conducted in-person, as specified.

Registration is due by Friday, December 19th at Noon. Students that fail to register by the deadline will be administratively assigned to an activity.

Registration Form: Please use the designated form to sign up for a Kowal SAGE Movement Experiential. 

If you have any questions, please email kowalsage@case.edu.

SAVE THE DATE - Upcoming Mandatory Class Meetings

M1 Class Meeting: Wednesday, January 21, 2026, from Noon-1pm

Topic: CP - Making Career Decisions 
IN-PERSON: HEC 176 (Lecture Hall) 
Food provided after the meeting 

M1 Class Meeting: Monday, February 16, 2026, from Noon-1pm 

Topic: Welcome to Block 4 + MedEd Announcements & Updates
IN-PERSON: HEC 176 (Lecture Hall) 
Food provided after the meeting 

M2 Class Meeting: Wednesday, February 11, 2026, from Noon-1pm

Topic: Building Your Team & Planning for M3 Elective Rotations 
IN-PERSON: HEC 176 (Lecture Hall) 
Food provided after the meeting 

COMING SOON: Non-Clinical Career Series

The Office of Student Affairs will be hosting a Non-Clinical Career Series this winter! Our goal is to expose students to the variety of career options available to them, such as consulting, pharmaceuticals, technology, public health, and more.  Stay tuned for more information!

Save the Date! Cultural & Wellbeing Week


Wellbeing Wednesdays

Check out the Wellbeing Wednesday activities for January. 

Want to get involved with promoting engagement and wellbeing?  Email  SOM-Wellbeing@case.edu to join the Office of Student Affairs - Student Engagement and Wellbeing student committees.

Follow us on Instagram @cwru_medwellbeing 

SNAP Town Hall: Get Help, Get Answers

Food insecurity affects many, even in medical, PA, MSA, dental, and nursing school. Come learn about SNAP benefits, eligibility, and the application process at the SNAP Townhall.

We'll highlight the CWRU Community Pantry, mobile pantry events, and wellness resources.

Date & Time: Dec 16, 12PM
Location: HEC 103B

Lunch for in-person attendees; virtual option available. 

RSVP: https://forms.gle/eeBgP9xiFb4rQzj88

Qooper

Be the lucky one to get a CWRU SOM mentor! There is still time to register in the Qooper app. 

Financial Wellness Tip 

"Review your expenses for the school year carefully, and accept only the amount of financial aid needed to cover your tuition and living expenses." - MD Student: Class of 2029.

Spring 2026 Loan Disbursement and Tuition Billing Dates

Please visit the SOM Financial Aid Website for upcoming Spring 2026 loan disbursement and tuition billing dates. For more assistance, the SOM Office of Financial Aid can be reached directly at medfinancialaid@case.edu, 216.368.3666, or by visiting our office in the HEC, Suite 111.

Summer Research - Research Project Database

If you’re an M1 student searching for summer 2026 research projects, start with our Research Project Database. We have recently added several new opportunities to our External Research Opportunities section, including fellowships with Harvard Medicine, PROSPECT, WINN CIP, and ACG Summer Scholars. We encourage you to review the full database and apply soon if you are interested. If you have any questions, reach out to Medical Student Research: medstudentresearch@case.edu

Library Closed During Winter Break

The HEC Circulation Desk & the Allen Memorial Library will be closed December 18, 2025 thru January 4, 2026 for winter break.  Normal library hours resume on Monday, January 5th.

OhioLINK materials can be picked up until 5:00 pm December 17th.  Normal pickup times resume Monday, January 5th.  

Staff will be available by email through December 23rd. Questions can be sent to askCHSL@case.edu.

44th Annual William Carlos Williams Poetry Competition

The deadline for submissions to Northeast Ohio Medical University's annual William Carlos Williams poetry competition is fast approaching!

We will award prizes in two categories again this year: our classic medical student competition, now in its 44th year, and, for a second time, a physician category. The medical student category is open to students enrolled in MD and DO programs in the US, Puerto Rico, or Canada, and the physician category is open to any rank of physician (MD or DO) at any career stage, from residency to retirement, in the US, Puerto Rico, or Canada. Additional eligibility criteria and submission details can be found online at https://www.neomed.edu/wcw-poetry-competition/.

To be considrerd, please submit online by midnight eastern time on December 31, 2025. Contact wcw@neomed.edu with any questions or for additional information.

John P. Murphy Symposium in Medical Humanities

Mark your calendars for the John P. Murphy Symposium in Medical Humanities which will be held on the Health Education Campus on Saturday March 28 from 9am-4pm. This free symposium features keynote speakers, student presentations, and hands-on workshops in medical and health humanities and arts. For students interested in presenting (flash presentations, papers/projects, visual arts, or performance), January 11 is the deadline for 250-word abstracts. Submit proposals here. 

Jenn Furlong, Learning Specialist

Meet your Learning Specialist, Jenn Furlong. Jenn has been at SOM for almost a year and a half.

She grew up in Shaker Heights and Solon Ohio, until she moved to Ann Arbor to attend University of Michigan (GO BLUE!). She received a degree in elementary education with a science focus, leading her to teach middle school science for 5 years. After she received my Master's in STEM Curriculum and Instruction, she worked for two years as the STEM Dean of Instruction at a middle school, where she coached all the math and science teachers.

Jenn then transitioned into her current role, where she develops peer tutors. She has build the School of Medicine Near-Peer Tutoring elective, to help support all students as they navigate the school's rigorous curriculum. She supports students as they develop their tutoring skills. She also collects and analyzes data regarding the program's performance to grow and develop it to better meet students' needs.

Jenn loves getting to know the students - and she loves knowing that she is working to improve their educational experiences!

She draws her biggest inspiration from her students, in every setting. She says, "serving students to the best of my abilities has helped me develop my views of the world, and drives me to continue my work."

Outside of work, she loves watching true crime docu-series with her cats, while crocheting or completing jigsaw puzzles. You can also find her on a nature walk, or riding her bike around the Metroparks. She is a night owl and one of these days, she would love to see the sunset at the Solstice Steps.

A "fun fact" about Jenn is that she has dual citizenship. She is a US citizen and a Canadian citizen.

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