Ananya Vadlakonda
Chief
The Chief supervises all members, officers, and committees of CWRU EMS. The Chief oversees day-to-day operations and is responsible for official correspondence with university offices.
Ananya has been with CWRU EMS for about 3 years and currently serves as a Crew Chief. Outside of EMS, Ananya is pursuing degrees in Biology and Sociology and enjoys writing, digital design, and dancing.
Leeza Kuznetsov
Assistant Chief of Operations
The Assistant Chief of Operations (ACO) is primarily responsible for overseeing all shifts and clinical operations. The ACO coordinates all crews and ensures operational compliance with state, university, and CWRU EMS regulations.
Leeza has been with CWRU EMS since Spring 2022 and serves on shift as a second officer. They are a third year Nutritional Biochemistry student from Minneapolis, MN. Outside of EMS, Leeza enjoys playing the flute, needle felting, and struggling with the NYT daily crossword.
Aislyn Papworth
Assistant Chief of Personnel
The Assistant Chief of Personnel (ACP) is primarily responsible for overseeing all clinical members and coordinating individual licensures and certificates. The ACP also serves as the Risk Management Director, ensuring clinical competence and success.
Ace has been with CWRU EMS for 3 years and currently serves as a Crew Chief. Outside of EMS, she is working towards degrees in Neuroscience, French, and Public Health. Ace enjoys baking, traveling, and reading.
Elliot Witscher
Training Director
The Training Director is responsible for maintaining training records and overseeing all training classes for CWRU EMS.
Elliot joined CWRU EMS 3 years ago, and serves on shift as a crew chief. They are a third year geology student from Portland, OR. Outside of EMS Elliot enjoys hiking, cooking, and looking at cool rocks.
Bella Chirakos
Quality Assurance and Safety Director
The Quality Assurance and Safety Director is responsible for maintaining procedural and certification standards for CWRU EMS crew members and operations.
Bella is from Cuyahoga Falls Ohio, and is on the pre-med track majoring in Chemical Biology and minoring in Spanish. Her favorite things about EMS are great friends and the opportunity to learn and teach EMS skills. She is a member of Delta Gamma, and empowering youth exploring justice. In her free time, she likes to do puzzles and binge-watch TV shows.
Michael Womelsdorf
External Operations Director
The External Operations Director is responsible for coordinating crews for all events, activities, community outreach, and service for CWRU EMS.
Mike is from Wallingford, CT. He is currently majoring in Biology on the premed track. Outside of EMS, Mike volunteers with MedWish International and enjoys playing the guitar.
Emily Ghazarian
Equipment Manager
The Equipment Manager is responsible for the maintenance and certification of all CWRU EMS equipment and uniforms as well as purchasing new supplies and equipment for the organization.
Emily is from Mansfield, Ohio. She is currently a junior pursuing a degree in Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism. Emily volunteers at Hudson EMS on the weekends where she gets to ride with an ALS crew. Outside of EMS, Emily is involved in research within the Department of Nutrition and works at the Cleveland Clinic.
Jack McVeety
New Member and Class Coordinator
The New Member and Class Coordinator oversees the onboarding of all new members, which includes EMT Students, Current EMTs, and General Members. The New Member and Class Coordinator is also the head of the Interview Committee, coordinates the CWRU EMS EMT course alongside UH EMT Institute, and is responsible for ensuring the continued success of all new members throughout their time with our organization.
Jack is from New York City. He is majoring in Biology and pursuing a Masters of Science of Anesthesiology. Outside of EMS, Jack likes to play baseball, watch Disney movies, and play the guitar
Alekhya Vadlakonda
Treasurer
The Treasurer is responsible for approving all purchases and disbursements as well as maintaining our budget.
Alekhya is from Saratoga, CA, and has been with CWRU EMS for two years. Outside of EMS, Alekhya is pursuing a B.S in Biology and is involved in research and Discussions, the Undergraduate Research Journal of CWRU. She also enjoys making friendship bracelets, digital design, and singing.
Arianna Thornton
Secretary
The Secretary is responsible for managing the CWRU EMS calendar, maintaining minutes from meetings and any official correspondence with outside agencies, and creating weekly newsletters.
Arianna currently serves as a Second Officer with CWRU EMS, where she's been involved for two years. She is originally from Harvard, MA, where she got her start in EMS working for Harvard Ambulance Service. Outside of EMS, Arianna is pursuing a B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering and enjoys hiking and skiing.
Alex Flores
Public Relations Director
The Public Relations Director is responsible for promoting CWRU EMS sponsored events on social media and making sure the community is informed about the organization and its duties.
Alex is originally from Venezuela but currently lives in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ. He graduated from the CWRU/UH EMS class in the spring of 2022 and currently serves as a Secondary Officer. Outside of EMS, Alex is a third-year double majoring in Neuroscience and Sociology on the Pre-Med track, he’s an RA in the Juniper Residential Community, works at the Atit Lab, and loves to meet new people!
Dennis Rupert
Co-Advisor
Dennis Rupert is the Associate Vice President for Operations and Planning for the Division of Student Affairs at CWRU. He oversees assessment, community outreach, finance, human resources, information technology, marketing, and strategic planning within Student Affairs as well as various operational areas in departments reporting to the Provost.
Dennis has been working in higher education for over 25 years and at CWRU for over 15 of those years. His educational background is in psychology, counseling, and nonprofit management. Dennis has been engaged with serving students ever since he was an undergraduate resident assistant. He enjoys spending time with his family, doing home improvement projects, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
Sara H. Lee, MD
Co-Advisor
Dr. Lee works as the Executive Director of the University Health and Counseling Services, in the Division of Student Affairs. Dr. Lee received her MD from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and did her Adolescent Medicine fellowship at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital and the MetroHealth System in Cleveland, OH, prior to her position with University Health and Counseling Services. As current Executive Director, Dr. Lee oversees services pertaining to mental health counseling, clinics for injuries and illnesses, an allergy clinic, sexual health care along with various wellness programs for students.
Megan Koeth
Co-Advisor
Megan Koeth is the Executive Director of CWRU Public Safety. As Executive Director of Public Safety, Megan oversees the university's police, mobile security, facility security, communications center and emergency management. She is ensuring a safe, resilient and inclusive environment for all. Megan became the Executive Director of CWRU Public Safety in March 2022. However, she joined the university in January 2018 as an Emergency Manager in Public Safety. Since then, Megan has advanced serving as Assistant Director of Emergency Management, Director of Resiliency, and Executive Director of Resiliency.
Jeffrey Luk, MD
Medical Director
Dr. Luk works as an Emergency Physician in the Emergency Department at University Hospitals and is the medical director for University Hospitals MedEvac, the University Hospitals of Cleveland Critical Care Transport Team, Cleveland Heights Fire/EMS Department, University Heights Fire/EMS Department, Shaker Heights Fire/EMS Department, and CWRU EMS.