Stories

Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Engineering New Opportunities

When a 7-year-old girl with cerebral palsy outgrew her treasured Toyota FJ Cruiser toy, engineering students took on modification of the motorized car as a senior product-design project. Using the resources of think[box] and the Bingham Machine Shop, the team adapted controls, improved seat support and increased legroom—restoring the gift of mobility to her.

Quote from Fynn McPherson (CWR ’14), Design Team Member; Business and Systems Integration Analyst at Accenture: "She was smiling and laughing, driving it back and forth across the lawn. In the grind of coursework, we often lose sight of why we got into engineering. I did so to help people by developing better solutions for whatever they are facing. It was rewarding to see what a few people, some engineering and simple tools can do to improve someone’s life."

Manot, Israel

Digging Deep for Dental Clues

Archaeological remains often provide insight into the past. But Case Western Reserve dental students discovered that specimens dating back as many as 200,000 years actually explained much about the patients they see today.

Quote from Bruce Latimer, PhD, Professor of Orthodontics; Fellow, Institute of the Science of Origins: "For dental students, the teeth give them a whole new perspective on the evolution of the human mouth. The students are better able to understand why we, as humans, have the dental problems we have, such as the misalignment of the top and bottom dental arches and the presence of the third molars."

Columbus, Ohio

Taking a Case to the Top Court

Milton A. Kramer Law Clinic students already made university history by securing a $1 million-plus verdict for homeowners fleeced by an unscrupulous repair firm. Now they’ve done it again by winning the right to argue before Ohio’s Supreme Court. At issue: Can a judge award fees to attorneys working pro bono cases if the opposition fails to meet its discovery obligations?

Quote from Yelena Grinberg Katz (LAW ’14), First-Year Associate, Jones Day: "The process—from taking the pending case, to writing the petition to appeal, to receiving the news that the court accepted the case—has been incredible. I really believe in the impact this case could have: It would provide consistency and equality in the courtroom and hopefully encourage more attorneys to take on pro bono work."

Novelty, Ohio

Learning Leadership from Herds

The professor in this program has two legs, but even she acknowledges most of the teaching is done by those with four. Jackie Stevenson (SAS ’78), an adjunct professor with the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, counts on her draft horses, ponies and zebra to convey her program’s most important human lessons—such as teambuilding and personal discovery—to corporate CEOs, Israeli Army commanders, hospice counselors and more.

Quote from Jodi Berg, CEO of Vitamix; Participant in Stevenson's Leadership Program: "Horses—and how they exist as a herd—have so much synergy with how teams in business work together to accomplish a common goal. It took us to a raw, real state of who we are—and who we want to be. We have new tools for teamwork that will help take us to new horizons together."

South Pole, Antarctica

Capturing Light—and Answers

Using the South Pole Telescope, Physics Professor John Ruhl and an international team of scientists detected a subtle twist in the oldest light in the universe, the cosmic microwave background. Their work was so impressive that Physics World magazine named it one of the top 10 breakthroughs of 2013.

Quote from John Ruhl, PhD, Professor of Physics: "Scientists have been talking about the possible existence of this signal for quite some time. It’s remarkable to see that it really exists and that we’re going to be able to make use of it to help us further understand the contents and history of the universe."

Shanghai, China

Tackling Public Health

Our medical school faculty have found that China's westernization is leading to critical health concerns. In a study of nearly 22,500 adults in the Zhabei District of Shanghai, roughly onethird had metabolic syndrome, based on measurements including cholesterol, blood pressure and body mass index. The findings illustrate the vital importance of a 10-year collaboration the school launched with Zhabei in 2011 for research, education and public health.

Quote from Li Li, MD, PhD, Professor of Family Medicine; Leader of Zhabei Health 2020 Survey: "Metabolic syndrome is the precursor to diabetes, and it can lead to colon and breast cancer, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. This is a huge problem for the Chinese government and the population; many don’t even understand what metabolic syndrome is, let alone what it can lead to. Obesity and diabetes prevention and education are now parts of the national focus."

Cleveland, Ohio

Engaging All Audiences with Art

Nancy and Joseph Keithley believe so passionately in collaboration that they committed $15 million to establish a joint institute between Case Western Reserve and the Cleveland Museum of Art. A major element of the effort is an innovative doctoral program in art history that can prepare graduates to increase engagement with art around the world.

Quote from James Wehn, Doctoral Student, Art History; Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellow: "People have been making art for thousands of years. Yet today, people have mixed feelings about museums; some view them as too highbrow or even boring. I hope to change those mindsets and find new ways for people to interpret art by helping them discover its historical context and connect it to current events and social concerns."

Maprik, Papua New Guinea

Netting a Win for Global Health

Mosquito nets already have been shown to reduce the spread of malaria. But working with an international team, our global health experts showed that simply adding insecticide to the nets could nearly eliminate another bug-borne disease, lymphatic filariasis. The infection affects more than 120 million people worldwide, causing elephantiasis, among other painful conditions.

Quote from James Kazura, MD, Professor of International Health, Medicine and Pathology; Director of the School of Medicine’s Center for Global Health & Diseases: "It has been gratifying to witness a turnabout in attitude from the belief 30 years ago that the disease was untreatable to an expectation it will likely be eliminated during my lifetime. The payoff is better health and less suffering for poor people of the developing world. Our work has made a difference."

Cleveland, Ohio

Helping with the Hardest Decisions

Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing's Ron Hickman hopes to offer a high-tech solution for a deeply human dilemma: what to do when you are responsible for health care decisions for a loved one. With the support of a $460,000 federal grant, he’s teamed with experts to create an electronic experience that allows people to explore the entire process before engaging in it for real

Quote from Ron Hickman, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor of Nursing: "These decisions are among the most difficult and emotional that people must make. With this virtual 'coach,' they can explore options on their own so actually advocating is less intimidating."

Mountain View, California

Extending Impact by Giving Back

As June 30, 2013, drew to a close, Case Western Reserve's supporters— from Silicon Valley to Southeast Asia—enabled the university to cross an amazing threshold: $1 billion in capital campaign funds. The figure represented the overall goal for a campaign originally scheduled to close at the end of 2016. Rather than stop and celebrate victory, the university has expanded the campaign to $1.5 billion, with scholarships and endowed professorships among its top priorities.

Quote from Jeff Rozic (CWR ’02), Brand Product Strategist at Google; Five-Consecutive-Year Donor to Annual Fund: "My involvement began with motivation to literally pay back the education that I got through scholarships. But as I’ve grown and had time to reflect on how formative the experience was for me, I really now am motivated more by wanting to be part of the cycle of participation that an alum should be involved in. It comes down to the alumni who I interacted with and the quality of opportunities I had because of the school."

Las Vegas, Nevada

Showcasing Student Startups

With the help of the university’s Blackstone LaunchPad entrepreneurial program, six student startups put their inventions on display at the renowned International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). One of the companies, Everykey, began as a class assignment at the Weatherhead School of Management. Its Bluetooth-enabled wristband allows wearers to unlock password-protected devices by simply being within range.

Quote from Chris Wentz (CWR ’13), Chief Executive Officer of Everykey: "When we first got there, it was so disheartening because we were surrounded by all of these epic booths. But to see how these big companies presented themselves motivated us. It raised our expectations. We have to really work hard to become a great company. We left with a clear message: Surround yourself with greatness and you'll strive to make your company great, too."

Yangon, Myanmar

Advancing Modern Education Abroad

A 1962 military coup in Myanmar led to 50 years of isolation—five decades of turmoil and neglect of higher education. To help revive and modernize the Southeast Asian country’s university.

Quote from Nway Nay Hlaing, PhD, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Yangon Technological University: "We are very behind. Our entire faculty left the university when it closed in the mid-'90s, so now most faculty are new hires with no experience in teaching or research. With Professor Lacks’ help, we’ve learned to use computers for simulations rather than pencil and paper, and we’ve learned modern teaching techniques to connect better with students. Without him, it would take years for our university to be successful."

Cleveland, Ohio

Growing Gorillas’ Heart Health

First, our biology faculty and graduate students designed new healthy diets for the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s Western Lowland Gorillas, Bebac and Mokolo, who have heart disease. That partnership proved so successful that the university’s Squire Valleevue Farm joined the collaboration—and now provides 57 pounds of endive, 78 pounds of dandelion greens and 209 pounds of romaine lettuce to the zoo every week.

Quote from Chris Kuhar, PhD, Executive Director, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo; Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biology: "Purchasing produce from the farm has several benefits: We know the local greens our animals are consuming are packed with vitamins and minerals because they were picked within the last few days; the carbon footprint is smaller because the food comes from just up the road; and we are investing our dollars back into Northeast Ohio."