Medical Education News - M1 & M2 MD Student Edition

Tuesday april 14, 2026
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1. Message from Vice Dean Logio
2. Student Affairs & Wellbeing
3. Curriculum
4. Financial Aid
5. Research
6. Events & Opportunities
7. Staff Spotlight

Dear Students:

Spring has sprung, officially! All those allergy sufferers, beware! Everything is blooming at one time. It’s a great reminder of the cycle of life. Our first-year students are about to be replaced by new first year students! The second years are off studying for Step 1 and gearing up for immersive learning while they take care of patients. 

Wellbeing Wednesdays

Check out the Wellbeing Wednesday activities for April.

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

CDC Epidemiology Elective Program (EEP) is Accepting Applications

The CDC Epidemiology Elective Program (EEP) is currently accepting applications for the 2027 program cycle. The application window closes on April 21, 2026, and the program is open to students in their third year and beyond — meaning current second-year students are also eligible to apply now.

EEP offers students a unique experience working alongside applied epidemiologists on real public health investigations — a valuable complement to academic training and an excellent pathway toward a career in the field.

National Medical Fellowships Fee Assistance Program

Applications are now open for the National Medical Fellowships Fee Assistance Program, which helps cover USMLE Step 1 or Step 2 exam fees for medical students with financial need. For details and to apply, please see the announcement in Canvas.

Apply Now for Financial Aid

Submit your financial aid application for the 2026-2027 school year today!  The deadline to renew your financial aid is May 1, 2026.

For instructions, visit the SOM Financial Aid website. 

Questions? Contact the SOM Office of Financial Aid at medfinancialaid@case.edu, 216.368.3666, or visit HEC, Suite 111.

Financial Wellness Tip

Remember to regularly check your “vitals,” which include your credit score, expense history, and loan balances.

Save the date! School of Medicine Graduate and Medical Student Research Day

Join us for the School of Medicine Graduate and Medical Student Research Day, which will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. In collaboration with the SOM Office of Graduate Education, this event welcomes CWRU SOM graduate and medical students to showcase research through poster and oral presentations across a broad range of critical topics. Abstract submission and general registration will open in summer 2026. Learn about past event years here: https://case.edu/medicine/events/student-research-day

Call for Abstracts! 

The American Medical Association is accepting abstracts for two upcoming research programs. The first opportunity, the AMA Poster Showcase, takes place on June 5th, with an abstract deadline of May 3rd. Learn more and submit here: Poster Showcase. The second opportunity is the AMA Research Challenge, with an abstract deadline of July 16th. Learn more and submit here: Research Challenge.

Medical Education Scholars Pathway Naming Announcement 

Please join us at the HEC, Room 201, for the announcement of the renaming of the Medical Education Scholars Pathway in honor of Dr. Stephen Gehlbach.

4:30 – 5:30 PM | Reception

Join us for a formal reception with appetizers and soft drinks. This will be an opportunity for students, faculty, and guests to connect before the program.

5:30 PM | Program Opening

Welcome and opening remarks from Dean Stanton Gerson, followed by the announcement of the renaming of the Medical Education Scholars Pathway in honor of Dr. Stephen Gehlbach.

5:35 PM | Recognition of Dr. Gehlbach

Presentation of a commemorative School of Medicine gift and brief remarks from Dr. Stephen Gehlbach.

We hope you will join us to celebrate this special occasion.

Public Health Innovations Conference

Wednesday, April 14th 12:00pm

Midtown Collaboration Center: Rise Conference Room, 1974 East 66th Street

Keynote Presentation

“Two Speckled Monsters, Public Health in America: 1721 and 2026”

Environmental Health Connector National Speaker

Join us for an evening of inspiration from our National Environmental Health Speaker Dr. Odoms-Young on the topic of "Hope and Resiliency in Communities and Local Food Systems." Learn more and register.

Location: MidTown Collaboration Center, 1974 E. 66th Street, Rise North & South Conference Room, Cleveland, OH 44103

Date and time: Tue, Apr 28, 2026 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Organizer: Dr. Ivory Simms, (216) 368-5774, ijs34@case.edu

MetroHealth Family Medicine Department Conference

The MetroHealth Family Medicine Department is hosting an upcoming Family Medicine CME conference event, and it is free for students to attend.

2026 AAP Medical Student Essay Contest on The Art of Communication in Psychiatry

It is time for the 2026 AAP Medical Student Essay Contest on The Art of Communication in Psychiatry!

Benefits

• Complimentary Annual Meeting Registration
• Up to $1,000 reimbursement for meeting-related travel, hotel, and meal expenses
• Essay presented as a poster at Annual Meeting

The selected winner of the creative writing contest will receive up to $1,000 for reimbursement of travel expenses to attend the 2026 AAP Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, UT where s/he will present the essay. The theme is: The Art of Communication in Psychiatry: Connecting with the Patient.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: June 1, 2026

Submission Requirements
The contest is open to any student who is both currently enrolled in an accredited medical school in the United States, Canada or around the world and will be enrolled at the time of the Annual Meeting September 16-19, 2026. The work must be an original unpublished essay of 1,000 words or less. ONLY ONE SUBMISSION PER STUDENT WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Students may click here to apply online.

Essays should be submitted electronically and request the following information:

• Student’s Name
• Name of Medical School where enrolled, year in school
• Mailing Address, Phone Number, Email Address

Selection Criteria
Judges will be blinded to the participant and affiliated medical school. Judging will be based on originality, uniqueness, flow of thought, and appropriateness to the theme.

Deadline for submission is June 1, 2026. No additional submissions for the 2026 Annual Meeting will be considered after that date.

For QUESTIONS ONLY, contact James Haliburton, MD, Medical Student Essay Subcommittee Chair, at jamesrhaliburton@gmail.com. All essay submissions must be made through the Award portal.

Kaliya Smith, Office Manager, joined the School of Medicine three months ago and has already become an important part of the community.

A Cleveland native, Kaliya graduated from MC2STEM High School and Cleveland State University. She earned her degree in Organizational Leadership, with a major in Urban Development, a minor in Communications, and a certificate in Public Management. She brings more than 10 years of experience in community development and nonprofit leadership. Before coming to the medical school, she led Cleveland’s only creative reuse center, Upcycle Parts Shop. Kaliya has also appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show twice and has been a licensed cosmetologist since 2016.

Outside of work, Kaliya is a proud girl mom of two. She finds joy in food, travel, and the color pink. One especially unique fun fact about her is that one of her two front teeth is a fused tooth, a condition that is exceptionally rare.

About her role, Kaliya says, “I view my role as a supportive team member within the Office of Student Affairs, focusing on creating an organized environment where everyone can do their best work without distractions. My goal is to ensure our daily operations run seamlessly so the team and the students feel both supported and empowered.”

Kaliya says that knowing her support makes someone else’s day a little easier is one of the things she loves most about being an office manager. Serving others is what gives her those warm, fuzzy feelings. Her personal and professional motto is “Grow as You Go,” a mindset that reflects the culture of OSA. She approaches her work with openness, flexibility, and a willingness to learn, which helps her build genuine relationships with staff and students alike. She also finds that some of her best ideas come when there is an immediate need. For Kaliya, limited resources can spark creativity, pushing her to think in practical, innovative ways and find solutions outside the box.

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