Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
UNC Health Announces Plans for Community Hospital in Wilmington
CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina, May 12 -- The University of North Carolina School of Medicine issued the following news:
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UNC Health Announces Plans for New Community Hospital in Wilmington
The hospital will expand access to specialty and primary care across the New Hanover region's rapidly growing communities, closer to home
* UNC Health is proposing a new community hospital in New Hanover County, pending regulatory approvals.
* The proposed Wilmington hospital will be located at South 17th Street and Shipyard Boulevard and will offer a comprehensive range of specialty services, including
... Show Full Article
CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina, May 12 -- The University of North Carolina School of Medicine issued the following news:
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UNC Health Announces Plans for New Community Hospital in Wilmington
The hospital will expand access to specialty and primary care across the New Hanover region's rapidly growing communities, closer to home
* UNC Health is proposing a new community hospital in New Hanover County, pending regulatory approvals.
* The proposed Wilmington hospital will be located at South 17th Street and Shipyard Boulevard and will offer a comprehensive range of specialty services, includingcardiology, oncology, neurosurgery, and obstetrics.
* Targeted to open in 2030, the hospital will expand access to primary and specialty care for historically underserved neighborhoods and one of North Carolina's fastest-growing regions.
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WILMINGTON, N.C. - UNC Health is announcing plans to build a new community hospital on a 62-acre proposed site in New Hanover County, pending regulatory approvals. This proposed hospital will strengthen UNC Health's statewide reach - connecting North Carolina communities from the mountains to the coast.
Planned for the southeast corner of South 17th Street and Shipyard Boulevard, the site was selected for its accessibility and its geographic infill capacity in serving a rapidly growing region. This project marks a significant step forward in UNC Health's commitment to improving access to primary care and specialty care closer to home.
"As a Wilmington native, I've seen firsthand the challenges families face when specialty care isn't available in their own community," said Dr. Cristy Page, CEO of UNC Health. "This is what 'care closer to home' looks like: a community hospital, backed by a statewide, state-owned academic health system, designed to bring the additional services this growing community has asked for."
The proposed new hospital will offer a comprehensive range of specialties, including emergency care, cardiology, oncology, OBGYN and more.
"This is an important first step in our commitment to ensuring that families in Wilmington and the surrounding areas have access to the high-quality, compassionate care they deserve - right here at home," said Ernie Bovio, UNC Health's Regional President, Southeast Coastal market. "As I've listened to my own neighbors and community members across the region, I've heard a clear message: Wilmington is ready for more choice in healthcare - and UNC Health is ready to deliver it."
The announcement follows the recent addition of Bovio to UNC Health's leadership team. Bovio, who joined UNC Health as Regional President for the Southeast Coastal market in April 2026, brings deep local knowledge and extensive healthcare leadership experience to the region. His role includes overseeing UNC Health operations in the area, including Onslow Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, and guiding long-term strategic planning to address community health challenges.
As North Carolina's state-owned health system serving patients from all 100 counties, UNC Health's approach in Wilmington reflects its broader mission to improve the health and well-being of all North Carolinians. The health system's not-for-profit model focuses on expanding access to care, investing in the healthcare workforce, and advancing research that directly benefits the communities it serves. UNC Health has long served the area through the UNC School of Medicine Wilmington campus, which trains doctors in the region. We expect to nurture and build on those existing partnerships.
Wilmington Health - the largest independent, physician-owned practice in Southeastern North Carolina - also supports the project, and its providers are expected to participate on the medical staff of the new facility.
"Wilmington Health has served this community for more than 50 years, and we know firsthand that our patients are interested in choice," said Jeff James, CEO of Wilmington Health. "We strongly support UNC Health's plan to bring a new community hospital to our region- closing critical gaps in specialty care and ensuring families across our region have options to access the services they need, right here at home."
UNC Health is proposing this hospital through North Carolina's Certificate of Need (CON) process, which ensures healthcare investments are aligned with community needs. UNC Health is targeting an opening date of 2030. UNC Health will continue to engage openly with local community leaders and residents and share updates as plans evolve and progress is made towards achieving CON approval.
To learn more about UNC Health's proposed hospital, visit YourCareRightHere.com.
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About UNC Health
UNC Health is North Carolina's academic health system, dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all North Carolinians through patient care, education, research, and community engagement. With a statewide network of 20 hospitals, hundreds of clinics, and an affiliation with the UNC School of Medicine, UNC Health serves communities across the state with a mission-driven, not-for-profit approach focused on quality, access, and innovation.
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Original text here: https://news.unchealthcare.org/2026/05/unc-health-announces-plans-for-new-community-hospital-in-wilmington/
UIS Bloomberg Lab Connects High School Students to Careers
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 12 -- The University of Illinois Springfield campus issued the following news:
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UIS Bloomberg lab connects high school students to careers
Author: Blake Wood
During the spring semester 2026, the University of Illinois Springfield College of Business and Management welcomed 35 high school students from across central Illinois to campus for hands-on learning experiences using Bloomberg Terminals in its new Sean and Taryn Grant/Landmark Auto Trading Lab.
Students from Routt Catholic High School in Jacksonville, the Christian County CEO Program and Calvary Academy
... Show Full Article
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 12 -- The University of Illinois Springfield campus issued the following news:
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UIS Bloomberg lab connects high school students to careers
Author: Blake Wood
During the spring semester 2026, the University of Illinois Springfield College of Business and Management welcomed 35 high school students from across central Illinois to campus for hands-on learning experiences using Bloomberg Terminals in its new Sean and Taryn Grant/Landmark Auto Trading Lab.
Students from Routt Catholic High School in Jacksonville, the Christian County CEO Program and Calvary Academyin Springfield participated in the visits, which were designed to introduce them to real-world financial tools, expand their understanding of business careers and connect them with opportunities available at UIS.
The lab, which opened in February, features 11 Bloomberg Terminals that support hands-on learning for UIS students pursuing careers in finance, data analytics and related fields. The terminals provide access to real-time financial data, allowing users to research markets, analyze investments, perform modeling and valuation and build data analytics skills using a professional platform.
"I am so happy that our college created this lab," said Minh Tam "Tammy" Schlosky, UIS associate professor of finance. "This is experiential learning at its finest. The students are gaining real value that not many universities offer. They get to have their hands on the best technology that only the top of the top finance programs are using."
Throughout the visits, UIS faculty and staff led demonstrations and interactive sessions to give students a firsthand look at how Bloomberg technology is used in both academic and professional settings.
Routt Catholic High School brought nine students to campus March 31 for a Bloomberg workshop led by UIS faculty. Students explored financial concepts, received career advice in finance and met with faculty leaders from the department.
Nine students from the Christian County CEO Program visited April 30 along with four advisors and teachers. During their visit, they participated in a hands-on demonstration using the Bloomberg Terminals and engaged in discussions about experiential learning, artificial intelligence and academic programs offered through the College of Business and Management.
Seventeen students from Calvary Academy visited the lab May 11, where they participated in a live demonstration and learned more about experiential learning opportunities at UIS. The students were accompanied by their teacher, Katie McElroy, and engaged with university representatives throughout the visit.
"These visits give students a meaningful introduction to the type of hands-on, career-focused learning they can expect at UIS," said Serkan Karadas, UIS associate professor of finance. "We're proud to share our resources with the community and help students see what's possible for their future."
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Original text here: https://www.uis.edu/news/uis-bloomberg-lab-connects-high-school-students-careers
MCC Welcomes Coordinator to Its Wray Regional Center
FORT MORGAN, Colorado, May 12 -- Morgan Community College issued the following news release:
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MCC Welcomes New Coordinator to its Wray Regional Center
Rosales brings more than 20 years of experience in human resources, operations, and administrative management.
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Morgan Community College (MCC) announces the appointment of Cynthia Rosales as the MCC Coordinator of Regional Center - Wray. Rosales brings more than 20 years of experience in human resources, operations, and administrative management. She has a strong background in supporting employees, managing complex business functions,
... Show Full Article
FORT MORGAN, Colorado, May 12 -- Morgan Community College issued the following news release:
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MCC Welcomes New Coordinator to its Wray Regional Center
Rosales brings more than 20 years of experience in human resources, operations, and administrative management.
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Morgan Community College (MCC) announces the appointment of Cynthia Rosales as the MCC Coordinator of Regional Center - Wray. Rosales brings more than 20 years of experience in human resources, operations, and administrative management. She has a strong background in supporting employees, managing complex business functions,and ensuring compliance across multiple organizations. Most recently, she served as Administrator for Steinbeck Trucking LLC, where she built the business from the ground up and led day-to-day operations, financial management, and regulatory compliance.
Previously, Cynthia Rosales served as a Human Resource (HR) Manager supporting regional sites across Colorado and Utah, where she worked directly with leadership and employees on hiring, onboarding, employee relations, and workforce management for up to 200 employees. She also brings experience in HR coordination and administrative support, including payroll processing, recruiting, and safety program management.
Rosales is a proud alumna of Morgan Community College, where she earned both an Associate of Arts and an Associate of Applied Science in Business Management. She began her journey with MCC as a work-study student at the Wray Center, giving her a firsthand understanding of the college's role in supporting students and rural communities.
Since the opening of the new Wray Regional Center facility in January 2026, MCC has expanded from primarily administrative support to offering increased in-person classes and student services. Rosales' role will further support that growth as the Center continues to evolve.
"I am so pleased to welcome Cynthia to the MCC team," said MCC Director of Regional Community Outreach - Wray, Mindy Centa. "Cynthia's experience will help provide strong Wray Center on-site support, continue smooth day-to-day operations, and allow me more time for community outreach, further increasing our ability to serve students and the Wray region."
Deeply rooted in Wray, Cynthia is passionate about supporting local students and strengthening community connections. She is an active volunteer and is committed to expanding access to education in rural communities.
For more information about Morgan Community College or to view current employment opportunities, please visit MorganCC.edu/careers.
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Original text here: https://www.morgancc.edu/2026/05/11/mcc-welcomes-new-coordinator-to-its-wray-regional-center/
Johns Hopkins University: FDA Approves Early Warning System for Sepsis
BALTIMORE, Maryland, May 12 -- Johns Hopkins University issued the following news:
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FDA approves early warning system for sepsis
The AI system detects deadly infections faster than doctors, saving thousands of lives from a condition that claims more than 250,000 lives each year in the U.S.
By Jill Rosen
An early warning system for sepsis, one of the deadliest infections for hospital patients, has been approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, one of the first AI-based medical tools to get clearance.
The tool, developed by Johns Hopkins University researchers and now
... Show Full Article
BALTIMORE, Maryland, May 12 -- Johns Hopkins University issued the following news:
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FDA approves early warning system for sepsis
The AI system detects deadly infections faster than doctors, saving thousands of lives from a condition that claims more than 250,000 lives each year in the U.S.
By Jill Rosen
An early warning system for sepsis, one of the deadliest infections for hospital patients, has been approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, one of the first AI-based medical tools to get clearance.
The tool, developed by Johns Hopkins University researchers and nowcommercialized by Bayesian Health, detects sepsis hours faster than doctors and has reduced deaths by nearly 20%.
"Pre-suspicion screening is what creates lead time, and lead time is what changes outcomes in sepsis. Once a clinician already suspects sepsis, the clock has been running--often for hours or even days," says lead researcher Suchi Saria, a Johns Hopkins professor and director of the AI & Healthcare Lab, who began translating her lab's research into a real-world system after losing her nephew to sepsis in 2017. "No other cleared test or device monitors for sepsis prior to clinician suspicion."
With sepsis, every hour that detection is delayed significantly decreases a patient's chance for survival. Sepsis is easily missed because its symptoms, such as fever and confusion, are common in other medical conditions.
To beat those odds, Saria and a team at Johns Hopkins created the Targeted Real-Time Early Warning System. The federally funded work, which integrates electronic health records with advanced clinical AI, has helped doctors spot sepsis cases nearly two to 48 hours earlier than traditional methods.
The system is reducing sepsis mortality rates by 18% in dozens of hospitals across the United States--a significant advance in addressing a deadly immune response that claims more than 250,000 lives each year.
"It gives physicians an additional set of eyes and ears and could genuinely help save lives," says Albert Wu, a Johns Hopkins expert in patient safety expert and a co-investigator on the work. "This is a significant milestone for Johns Hopkins and Dr. Saria's team."
In 2023, under the FDA's Breakthrough Designation--a designation to expedite technologies with potential to improve care for life-threatening conditions--the technology was deployed at several health systems, including Cleveland Clinic, MemorialCare in California, and the University of Rochester School of Medicine, where it significantly reduced in-hospital mortality, morbidity, and length of stays for patients with sepsis.
"Few clinical AI systems can reason across the full breadth of messy, real-world hospital data and deliver guidance clinicians can reliably act on," Saria said. "FDA approval is a regulatory first that shifts what the standard of care can be for a condition associated with roughly one in three in-hospital deaths. This represents decades of clinical AI research at Johns Hopkins translated into practice--not just models built in the lab, but technology delivered where it matters: at the bedside."
FDA clearance also opens the door to allow hospitals using the system to receive Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement under the New Technology Add-on Payment program, which compensates hospitals for use of new technologies.
"Suchi's work has reached a major milestone," says Ed Schlesinger, dean of Johns Hopkins' Whiting School of Engineering. "It's poised to have a significant role in preventing hospital deaths and complications."
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Original text here: https://hub.jhu.edu/2026/05/12/fda-approves-early-warning-system-for-sepsis/
Columbia University Zuckerman Institute: Brain-Controlled Hearing System Proves Itself in First Human Studies
NEW YORK, May 12 (TNSjou) -- Columbia University Zuckerman Institute issued the following news:
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Brain-Controlled Hearing System Proves Itself in First Human Studies
After more than a decade of research, scientists evaluate implanted brain-decoding technology that helps people hear one voice among many
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Scientists at Columbia University's Zuckerman Institute have the first direct evidence from human studies that brain-controlled hearing technology can help people single out a voice in a crowd. These early findings suggest that researchers may one day develop a hearing augmentation device
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, May 12 (TNSjou) -- Columbia University Zuckerman Institute issued the following news:
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Brain-Controlled Hearing System Proves Itself in First Human Studies
After more than a decade of research, scientists evaluate implanted brain-decoding technology that helps people hear one voice among many
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Scientists at Columbia University's Zuckerman Institute have the first direct evidence from human studies that brain-controlled hearing technology can help people single out a voice in a crowd. These early findings suggest that researchers may one day develop a hearing augmentation devicethat can, among other feats, overcome the problems that conventional hearing aids have with noisy surroundings. Their research was published online today in Nature Neuroscience.
"We have developed a system that acts as a neural extension of the user, leveraging the brain's natural ability to filter through all the sounds in a complex environment to dynamically isolate the specific conversation they wish to hear," said senior author Nima Mesgarani, PhD, a principal investigator at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute and an associate professor of electrical engineering at Columbia's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science.
"This science empowers us to think beyond traditional hearing aids, which simply amplify sound, toward a future where technology can restore the sophisticated, selective hearing of the human brain," Dr. Mesgarani added.
In the new study, Columbia researchers teamed up with surgeons and their epilepsy patients who were undergoing brain surgery to better pinpoint the sources of their seizures. The hospital patients, who volunteered to be part of this study, already had electrodes implanted in their brains. Dr. Mesgarani's system used the electrodes to measure the brain activity of the patients as they focused on one of two overlapping conversations played simultaneously. The system then automatically detected which conversation a patient was paying attention to and adjusted the volume in real time, turning up that conversation while quieting the other.
For one volunteer, the experience of controlling the system with her brain was literally unbelievable. She accused the researchers of secretly adjusting the volumes. Others told stories about friends and family with hearing impairments who could benefit from such a technology. One person said: "It seems like science fiction." (You can view videos from the researchers here (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TONWQV-Ti3w) and here (https://www.vishalchoudhari.com/real-time-aad).)
Modern hearing aids excel at amplifying speech while suppressing certain kinds of background noise, such as traffic. But they cannot separate and enhance particular voices of interest; they boost every voice coming into the microphone indiscriminately. This makes it difficult for people to concentrate on a specific talker amidst a jumble of voices.
A promising solution to this problem is a hearing device that could mimic the way in which the human brain can typically identify and focus on just one speaker in a crowd, a phenomenon sometimes called the cocktail party effect.
In 2012, Dr. Mesgarani and his colleagues discovered ways to identify which sets of brain signals are linked with specific conversations amidst crowds of speakers. For example, the timing of peaks and valleys of brain waves can match up with the sounds and silences within a conversation. They also found that a distinct pattern of brain activity can reveal which conversation a person was focusing on and which they were filtering out.
These discoveries could one day lead to real-world hearing assistance and augmentation devices that can monitor brain waves to detect and amplify the conversation a person is most interested in. Over the course of hundreds of more studies in the past decade or so, Dr. Mesgarani and others have overcome a host of challenges attempting to make this dream a reality, such as developing computer algorithms to automatically separate out the voices of multiple speakers in a group, and then compare the voice of each speaker to the brain waves of a listener.
"The central unanswered question was whether brain-controlled hearing technology could move beyond incremental advances, towards a prototype that could help someone hear better in real time," said Vishal Choudhari, the paper's first author, who received his PhD in electrical engineering while in Dr. Mesgarani's lab and who led the development and evaluation of the system. "For the first time, we have shown that such a system that reads brain signals to selectively enhance conversations can provide a clear real-time benefit. This moves brain-controlled hearing from theory toward practical application."
The researchers partnered with physicians and patients who volunteered to be part of the study at the Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine; the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, New York University School of Medicine; and the University of California San Francisco's Department of Neurological Surgery.
The scientists developed real-time machine-learning algorithms that could examine the brainwaves and identify which conversation the patients were paying attention to. Once deployed, their system could rapidly deduce which conversation each listener was paying attention to and make it easier for them to hear it. This happened both when the researchers guided the subjects toward a particular conversation, and when the subjects chose freely, as would be necessary in a real-world conversation.
"For this to work in real time, the system has to be very fast, accurate and stable for the experience to feel pleasant for the listener," Dr. Mesgarani said.
The scientists found their new system correctly identified which conversation the volunteers paid attention to. This dramatically improved the intelligibility of the speech the volunteers focused on, reduced listening effort, and was consistently preferred by the volunteers when compared to conversations the system did not provide assistance with.
One volunteer recalled her uncle, who had hearing problems. "Can you imagine if this technology existed in a world [where] ... he could access it? He might actually live a much more peaceful... life."
According to the World Health Organization, more than 430 million people worldwide live with disabling hearing loss, many of whom struggle most in noisy social environments. Untreated hearing loss is a leading modifiable risk factor for dementia, as well as a primary contributor to depression and social isolation. Scientists say this research lays the groundwork for future wearable systems that could one day integrate brain sensing with advanced audio processing. This would assist people with hearing loss and potentially augment hearing and reduce fatigue from listening for anyone in everyday challenging environments such as restaurants, classrooms, busy workplaces and family gatherings.
The scientists note that a great deal of work is needed before this technology is available in a wearable form that can work in a minimally invasive way in more complicated real-world scenarios. For instance, they would one day like to see how well their system can perform in real-world listening conditions which are more complex, Dr. Mesgarani said.
"The results mark an important step toward a new generation of brain-controlled hearing technologies that align with the listener's intent, potentially transforming how people navigate noisy, multi-talker environments," Dr. Choudhari added.
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The paper, "Real-time brain-controlled selective hearing enhances speech perception in multi-talker environments," was published in Nature Neuroscience on May 11, 2026.
The full list of authors includes Vishal Choudhari, Maximilian Nentwich, Sarah Johnson, Jose L. Herrero, Stephan Bickel, Ashesh D. Mehta, Daniel Friedman, Adeen Flinker, Edward F. Chang, and Nima Mesgarani.
This work was funded by grants from the Marie-Josee and Henry R. Kravis Foundation and the National Institute of Health's National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
The authors report no conflicts of interest.
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Original text here: https://zuckermaninstitute.columbia.edu/brain-controlled-hearing-system-proves-itself-first-human-studies
Case Western Reserve: 3 Faculty Members Named Distinguished University Professors
CLEVELAND, Ohio, May 12 -- Case Western Reserve University issued the following news:
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Three faculty members named Distinguished University Professors
Case Western Reserve University is home to exceptional faculty scholars across a wide range of fields. They drive innovation, collaboration and creativity, inspiring their students to do the same.
Each year, in recognition of the important role faculty play at our institution, the university selects outstanding faculty members for the title of Distinguished University Professor. This title--the highest honor for faculty members at CWRU--reflects
... Show Full Article
CLEVELAND, Ohio, May 12 -- Case Western Reserve University issued the following news:
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Three faculty members named Distinguished University Professors
Case Western Reserve University is home to exceptional faculty scholars across a wide range of fields. They drive innovation, collaboration and creativity, inspiring their students to do the same.
Each year, in recognition of the important role faculty play at our institution, the university selects outstanding faculty members for the title of Distinguished University Professor. This title--the highest honor for faculty members at CWRU--reflectsan individual's career contributions to the university and their respective fields.
This year, CWRU will recognize three exceptional faculty members with the honor during commencement convocation Wednesday, May 13: Gary Galbraith, Sharona Hoffman, JD, and Anthony Wynshaw-Boris, MD, PhD.
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Read more about their distinguished careers.
Gary Galbraith (CIT '86; GRS '88, dance)
Professor, Department of Dance
College of Arts and Sciences
Gary Galbraith has built his career at the intersection of art and innovation--reimagining what dance can be and how it can contribute to research, technology and human understanding.
For nearly three decades, his work has pushed the boundaries of choreography through emerging technologies while advancing research in dancer health and redefining how the arts can function within a research university. In recognition of these wide-ranging contributions to dance, scholarship and teaching, Case Western Reserve University has named Galbraith (CIT '86; GRS '88, dance) a Distinguished University Professor--its highest faculty honor.
A faculty member in the Department of Dance since 1999, Galbraith has a national and international reputation for pioneering work in dance and technology. His projects consistently challenge artistic and technical limits, from early experiments with networked performance to more recent explorations using holography and motion-tracking systems.
"Throughout his long career here at CWRU, Professor Galbraith has displayed a strong record of excellence and innovation in teaching," wrote College of Arts and Sciences Dean David Gerdes, PhD, in nomination materials. "His work in this field of dance and technology is one of the areas that helps keep the Department of Dance unique among dance departments in the country."
Among Galbraith's earliest landmark projects was Kinetic Shadows, a large-scale performance that connected dancers and musicians across more than 2,000 miles using high-speed networking. The work was among the first to leverage Internet2 capabilities in a live artistic setting and helped inform future best practices.
Galbraith has continued to build on that momentum through dances such as Imagined Odyssey and Quest, both of which incorporated Microsoft HoloLens technology to generate live holograms on stage, and In Another Place and Time, which used LiDAR for motion tracking.
This spirit of innovation extends into his teaching. Galbraith has integrated HoloAnatomy software into coursework, allowing students to explore anatomical structures in immersive, three-dimensional ways. His work superimposing HoloAnatomy onto live dancers has also been adopted in medical education at CWRU, demonstrating the broader impact of his research across disciplines.
In addition to his creative and pedagogical contributions, Galbraith has played a pivotal role in advancing research in dancer health. He co-founded the Dance Wellness Program alongside Department of Dance Chair Karen Potter (GRS '89, dance). He later developed the Dancer Wellness Project, now one of the largest databases of its kind, supporting injury prevention and performance optimization for dancers worldwide. His work in this area has led to international presentations, invited talks, and collaborations with leading dance companies and institutions.
Galbraith's ability to balance creative and scholarly research has earned significant recognition, including the university's Faculty Distinguished Research Award in 2019--the first time it was awarded to a faculty member in the arts. He has also received the John S. Diekhoff Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching in 2005, underscoring his impact in the classroom.
Beyond his individual accomplishments, Galbraith has been instrumental in shaping the Department of Dance. Over the past 27 years, he has helped grow the program, expand its curriculum and establish its reputation as a forward-thinking, interdisciplinary program.
For Galbraith, the Distinguished University Professorship is both a personal milestone and a broader acknowledgment of the arts within a research institution.
"It's quite humbling," he said. "When I look at the list of others, I realize I'm something of an outlier--but I'm proud of that. It speaks to the idea that the arts can be an integral part of innovation and the research enterprise."
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Sharona Hoffman, JD
Edgar A. Hahn Professor of Law, Law-Medicine Center
School of Law
When it came to deciding the course of her career, Sharona Hoffman found herself returning to a central focus: health law.
She leaned in, becoming an internationally recognized expert in health information technology and medical privacy law and teaching on the Case Western Reserve University School of Law faculty for what's approaching three decades. This spring, the university recognized Hoffman's extraordinary impact in her field by naming her a Distinguished University Professor.
Hoffman's journey to this honor first took root when, armed with a bachelor's from Wellesley College and a JD from Harvard Law School, she clerked for a federal judge and then worked for three years at a large Los Angeles law firm on cases including the Exxon Valdez oil spill case.
By this point, it was the early 1990s, and Hoffman knew big-firm work wasn't for her.
She then began a new path in law at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, where she gained experience in employment and disability discrimination.
"It was a very exciting time to do disability law, because the Americans with Disabilities Act went into effect in 1992," she explained. "So every case was really cutting-edge and precedent-setting."
While in Houston, Hoffman's family grappled with several serious health problems, which compelled her to learn how to navigate the American medical and health insurance systems. This personal quest piqued her interest in health law, which led her to earn an LLM at the University of Houston Law Center.
"Everything was leading in the direction of health law," she said, "and I've never looked back."
In 1999, Hoffman joined the faculty at Case Western Reserve University School of Law where she is now the Edgar A. Hahn Professor of Jurisprudence and co-director of the Law-Medicine Center. She also has a secondary appointment at the School of Medicine's Department of Bioethics.
Hoffman is one of the law school's most prolific writers, having written two books, more than 80 articles and book chapters, and 45 opinion and other short pieces.
"This is remarkable because most law review articles exceed 50 pages," said law school Dean Paul Rose in his nomination of Hoffman for the honor. "These publications span several areas related to health law, and Dr. Hoffman is recognized for her expertise in each of them."
Among the subjects about which Hoffman has recently written are law-related aspects of aging, cognitive decline, health care access and artificial intelligence. Her first book, Aging with a Plan: How a Little Thought Today Can Vastly Improve Your Tomorrow, helps readers understand how to build sustainable social, legal, medical and financial support systems for aging and caregiving.
Importantly, Hoffman doesn't stop at publishing her findings; she takes them on the road, sharing her research with the general public at community venues and events.
"It is a challenge to translate academic work into a popular audience talk," she said, "but it's important to me that my work have broader impact."
"It's been a wonderful 27 years at Case Western Reserve," Hoffman enthused. "This is a great honor, and I'm humbled to be joining such a distinguished group of scholars."
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Anthony Wynshaw-Boris, MD, PhD
James H. Jewell MD '34 Professor of Genetics
School of Medicine
As a native Clevelander and dual alumnus of Case Western Reserve University who returned to the university in 2013, Anthony "Tony" Wynshaw-Boris, MD, PhD (GRS '84, biochemistry; MED '87), has long understood the impact CWRU has as an education and research powerhouse--not only in Northeast Ohio, but around the world.
And through his roles as physician-scientist and educator, he himself has helped make the university the force it has become today. That's why Wynshaw-Boris is now being honored as a Distinguished University Professor.
Wynshaw-Boris, the James H. Jewell MD '34 Professor of Genetics, is an elite leader both in the biomedical sciences field and at CWRU School of Medicine. He has served as president of the American Society of Human Genetics, executive editor of Human Molecular Genetics, chair of the American Society of Human Genetics Government and Public Advocacy Committee, and on multiple National Institutes of Health councils and advisory boards.
At the university level, Wynshaw-Boris has served on the Council of Basic Science Chairs, the Committee on Biomedical Research, the Medical Scientist Training Program Advisory Council, the School of Medicine/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Affiliation Advisory Panel and the University Provost Search Committee.
During his decade as chair of the School of Medicine's Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Wynshaw-Boris revitalized the department by growing annual funding, recruiting new faculty members, reviving the Center for Human Genetics and expanding the Genomics Core.
Wynshaw-Boris has mentored countless graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty members to help launch their careers. While he's been a meaningful mentor to many, he also believes that each and every trainee has played an equally vital role in his own career, providing unique strengths and perspectives that have bolstered his work.
"Trainees have been integral to my scientific success," he said. "I have devoted a substantial effort to optimize the training experiences and career development of my trainees. My approach is to foster their development as independent scientists, physicians or physician-scientists."
As a researcher, Wynshaw-Boris has been a trailblazer in human genetics for decades. His studies of the pathophysiology of neurogenetic disorders--such as autism, ataxia telangiectasia and lissencephaly--have helped identify novel therapies through the creative use of animal models and inducible pluripotent stem cell models.
"Dr. Wynshaw-Boris is one of the most accomplished physician-scientists of his generation," wrote School of Medicine Dean Stan Gerson, MD, in nominating Wynshaw-Boris. "[He's] a visionary leader whose impact on science, medicine, education and our institution has been extraordinary. His achievements exemplify the highest standards of scholarship and service that this honor recognizes."
His election to the National Academy of Medicine this past fall further cements and recognizes his groundbreaking contributions, which have changed our fundamental understanding of human health and disease.
Through all his successes, Wynshaw-Boris has never forgotten his roots here in Cleveland and at the university.
"Being selected as a Distinguished University Professor is immensely gratifying," shared Wynshaw-Boris. "Since this has occurred in the bicentennial year of Western Reserve Academy and Case Western Reserve University, two formative institutions of mine, it is especially meaningful."
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Original text here: https://case.edu/news/three-faculty-members-named-distinguished-university-professors
CWRU Law Students Find Their Footing - and Success - in the Courtroom
CLEVELAND, Ohio, May 12 -- Case Western Reserve University issued the following news:
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CWRU law students find their footing--and success--in the courtroom
Students turn courtroom competitions into national wins
Story by: Lauren Marchaza
Whether it's a grueling objection battle in a local mock trial or a complex debate over international humanitarian law, the students at Case Western Reserve University School of Law are increasingly finding their voices--and their trophies--in the courtroom simulation.
Led by veteran practitioners, CWRU law students are turning practice into national
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CLEVELAND, Ohio, May 12 -- Case Western Reserve University issued the following news:
* * *
CWRU law students find their footing--and success--in the courtroom
Students turn courtroom competitions into national wins
Story by: Lauren Marchaza
Whether it's a grueling objection battle in a local mock trial or a complex debate over international humanitarian law, the students at Case Western Reserve University School of Law are increasingly finding their voices--and their trophies--in the courtroom simulation.
Led by veteran practitioners, CWRU law students are turning practice into nationaltitles. For these budding advocates, the moot court and mock trial programs are more than just extracurriculars; they are the high-octane laboratories where future lawyers are forged.
From rookie to captain
When 3L Kaylara Benfield joined the International Criminal Court (ICC) Moot Court team during her first semester of law school, she was a self-described rookie with no debate experience and a lingering anxiety about public speaking.
She came to CWRU School of Law from University of Utah, where she studied psychology and political science with the intention of studying international law. Under the leadership of moot court coaches Michael Benza (WRC '86, LAW '92), professor of practice at the School of Law, and attorney Caroline Ford (LAW '21), Benfield learned how to solve legal problems both new and unique, and how to develop and defend well-reasoned arguments in court.
"Our philosophy for coaching moot court and mock trial is to help students develop their skills in putting together a case, preparing the case for court and practicing their presentations so that they learn how to do that for their real clients," said Benza. "Part of this learning process involves discovering what does--and equally important does not--work in a case. Helping students to learn that no case is the same as any other, and each requires a process of preparation is the best part of coaching."
Along the way, she picked up awards for best prosecution oralist and best prosecutorial memorandum. This year, she stepped into a new role as team captain. In her leadership role, she has challenged and supported her team, provoking the passion and excitement required to win.
"Moot court is more than just the competition; it is an experience that teaches you so much about your capacity to address complex systems," she explained. "My goal was to help facilitate that professional development as best as I could."
In March, three years after her first practice, Benfield led her ICC team through its first-ever national victory. Next up: the international competition in The Hague, the Netherlands, in June where they'll compete against teams from across the globe.
"We've had an amazingly accomplished group of students this year. I cannot wait to see how they fare at internationals," said Benfield, who is joining the business litigation practice group at UB Greensfelder LLP in Cleveland after graduating this month. "Being able to lead them and see each of them succeed and grow individually was the best part about being team captain."
Preparing and pivoting
Third-year student Jordyn Dawson--who came to CWRU School of Law from Mercer University with a bachelor's degree in law, public policy and Africana studies--joined the Black Student Law Association's mock trial team during her first year at the recommendation of her peer mentors. Mock trial, they promised, was the closest thing to real courtroom litigation she'd find.
It was Dawson's first mock trial practice where everything clicked into place. She'd always been destined to perform inside a courtroom--and she had found her training ground. Dawson quickly rose to the role of captain, a position she's held for the last two years.
Together, she and her team have honed their skills in oral argument, legal writing and preparation. But the experience has been about more than building legal expertise, said Dawson.
"Mock trial gave me a space to grow as an advocate, challenge myself and learn from an incredibly supportive team," she said. "Over time, my teammates became like family, and the program became a place where I could refine my craft while turning hard work into competitive success."
That "success" took the form of two national championships in three years: one in 2024 and again in 2026.
"It's where preparation meets performance," Dawson reflected, "and where the team's dedication truly comes to life."
It was under the guidance of her coaches, who together boasted more than 50 years of combined experience, that she learned the mantra that defines the program: Prepare, prepare, prepare--and then, prepare to pivot.
It's a philosophy held by her coaches: Russ Tye, chief trial counsel for the Cuyahoga County Office of the Public Defender, and Diane Russell, first assistant prosecutor for Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office. Together, they have coached their students through cross-examining witnesses and triumphing over their opponents in objection battles.
Dawson graduates this month, and will be joining Squire Patton Boggs as an associate in Cleveland.
Tye, who joined as a coach after proudly watching his own daughter compete at the high school level, acknowledged how far they've come since their first semester of law school.
"Their overall eagerness to learn and challenge themselves, embrace the family dynamic, and help one another develop arguments, has been incredibly impressive," he said. "Seeing them develop the knowledge and confidence not only to compete, but to compete and win, is a reminder that we as coaches have equipped them with the tools needed to build the championship they deserve."
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Original text here: https://case.edu/news/cwru-law-students-find-their-footing-and-success-courtroom
