A former Eagle Scout, Christian von Harten was already interested in medicine when he enlisted in the Army Reserve. But he became even more focused after participating in mass-casualty drills as part of a medic unit. He knew he wanted a career that involved service, while also tapping into his love of science. When he had the chance to shadow a certified anesthesiologist assistant (CAA), he knew that's what he wanted to do. "My favorite thing about it was that you're in charge of the patient while they're asleep," he said. "You're watching over their life." Von Harten was drawn to Case Western Reserve because it has one of the oldest and most prestigious anesthesiology programs in the country. He's been impressed by the intensity of his classes, starting with an "anesthesia boot camp" that brings new students up to speed. "It's like there's a waterfall of information coming down at you," he said. Now on rotations, he said getting the chance to work and learn about different specialties has been exciting and inspiring-and that his U.S. Army training helped prepare him for what was to come. "They teach you how to communicate and how to work in a team," he said, "which is exactly what a CAA does in the anesthesia care team model."
This spotlight was featured in the CWRU Medicine Magazine - Winter 2025 edition.