Faculty Recognition Awards
Dr. Anthony J. Thomas, Jr. Award for Compassion and Care Criteria: Display compassion, sincerity and promotes an atmosphere of collaboration. Eligibility: Interns, CRM staff or visiting Scientists are eligible. Selection: Nominated by CRM faculty and research a staff. Award: Recipient honored by a decorative plaque.
Sijo Parekattil, MD Dr. Sijo Parekattil is Co-Director of Robotic Surgery & Director of Male Infertility and Microsurgery in the Department of Urology at the University of Florida, Gainesville. He completed his urology residency training at Albany Medical Center and then went onto complete dual fellowship training from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland in Laparoscopy/ Robotic Surgery and Microsurgery/ Male Infertility. Dr. Parekattil's research focuses on the clinical application of robotics in microsurgery. He has performed some pioneering work in the arena of robotic microsurgery and has now performed over 240 such procedures. His research interests include work in the area of chronic orchialgia and the use of nerve imaging modalities during surgery, nerve regrowth inhibitory matrix sheaths to prevent neuroma formationin such patients, the use of robotic microsurgery for congenital obstructive syndromes in male infertility.
Dr. Edmund Sabanegh Award for Excellence in Male Infertility Criteria: Display strong interest and aptitude in the field of male infertility. Eligibility: Interns, CRM staff or visiting Scientists are eligible. Selection: Nominated by CRM faculty and research a staff. Award: Recipient honored by a decorative plaque.
Rakesh K. Sharma, Ph.D. Dr. Sharma is the Project Staff and Coordinator of Research at the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology laboratory. Dr. Sharma has published over 130 scientific papers and review articles in peerreviewed scientific journals, authored 7 book chapters and over 300 abstracts at both national and international scientific meetings. Dr. Sharma is a member of American Society of Reproductive Medicine, American Society of Andrology, Society for Medicine and Reproductive Urology and the Society for the Study of Male Reproduction. He is an Ad hoc reviewer for the Journal of Andrology, International Journal of Andrology, Urology, Reproductive Biomedicine Online, Biology of Reproduction, Human Reproduction, Fertility & Sterility and Asian Journal of Andrology.
Dr. Tommaso Falcone Award for Excellence in Female Infertility and Women s Health Criteria: Display strong interest and aptitude in the field of Female Infertility and Women s Health. Eligibility: Interns, CRM staff or visiting Scientists are eligible. Selection: Nominated by CRM faculty and research a staff. Award: Receive signed copy of Book Clinical Reproductive Medicine and Surgery by Falcone and Hurd. Recipient honored by a decorative plaque.
Sajal Gupta, MD Dr. Gupta is the Supervisor of the Andrology Laboratory,. She is a Project Staff and Assistant Coordinator of Research at the Center for Reproductive Medicine. Dr. Gupta has published over 30 review articles and scientific papers in peerreviewed scientific journals, authored 1 book chapter, and has presented 30 abstracts at both national and international scientific meetings. Dr. Gupta is a coinvestigator or principal investigator on 6 research grants. She is a member of American Society of Reproductive Medicine, American Society of Andrology and the Society for the Study of Male Reproduction. Dr. Gupta is an ad hoc reviewer for Human Reproduction, Fertility & Sterility, and European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Dr. Sijo Parekattil Award for Excellence in Reproductive Research Criteria: Display strong desire and aptitude for scientific writing skills, shows initiative and/ or creativity in his / her work. Aptitude for original scientific research. Eligibility: Interns, CRM staff or visiting Scientists are eligible. Selection: Nominated by CRM faculty and research a staff. Award: Recipient honored by a decorative plaque and cash award of $500 presented by Dr. Sijo Parekattil. Award sponsored by Dr. Sijo Parekattil
Anthony H. Kashou Hometown: Born in Philadelphia, PA; raised in Binghamton, NY Education: Binghamton University, SUNY New York, Binghamton, NY (majoring in biochemistry, BS expected 11) Future plans: Attend the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. Lead Intern on 4 Writing Projects: The Role of Obesity in ROS Generation and Male Infertility. Oxidative Stress and the Use of Antioxidants for Idiopathic oligo-asthenoteratozoospermia. Is There a Link between Exercise and Male Factor Infertility? Proteomics: A look into the human spermatozoa.
Kim Dao Ly Award for Volunteerism Criteria: Display qualities of enthusiasm and willingness to participate in improving the smooth functioning of internship, organizing day to day activities, student counselor. Shows willingness to assist beyond normal expectations. Involvement in decision-making or problem solving process as early as possible. Eligibility: Interns and volunteers. Selection: Nominated by CRM faculty, visiting scientists and research a staff. Award: Recipient honored by a decorative plaque. Cash Award of $500 presented by Kim Dao Ly. Award sponsored by Kim Dao Ly
Julia Ellis-Kahana Hometown: Suburbs of Philadelphia, PA Education: Friends Central School (high school class of 09), Brown University (rising sophomore) Future plans: I plan on double concentrating in education (emphasis in human development) and English literature, while fulfilling pre-med requirements at Brown. Interesting fact: I play on the women s ultimate frisbee team at Brown, called Disco Inferno. We are a highly competitive intercollegiate team. Writing Projects: -Lead Intern: Ovarian Endometrioma: Effect on IVF Outcomes Bench Research Project: -Improving the Predictive Value of TUNEL Assay in Clinical Setting
Reecha Sharma, MD Dr. Reecha Sharma is a Research Volunteer at the Center for Reproductive Medicine since March 2010. She graduated from Terna Medical College, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Navi Mumbai in 2005. She earned her Masters in Health Administration from St. Joseph's University, Philadelphia in 2008.
CRM Award for Volunteerism Criteria: Display qualities of enthusiasm and willingness to participate in improving the smooth functioning of internship, organizing day to day activities, student counselor. Shows willingness to assist beyond normal expectations. Involvement in decision-making or problem solving process as early as possible. Eligibility: Interns and volunteers. Selection: Nominated by CRM faculty, visiting scientists and research a staff. Award: Recipient honored by a decorative plaque. Cash Award of $500 presented by CRM
Vanessa Stanich, B.S. Vanessa Stanich graduated in Business Administration at PUC-Sao Paulo, specialized in Models of Strategic Personnel Management in Brazil at FIA Sao Paulo University. She is a professional with nine years of experience in Human Resources, six of them in Compensation and Benefits. Vanessa worked in important companies in Brazil like Citigroup, Levi Strauss, Skanska, which was the last one and where she was the Compensation and Benefits Coordinator. She is a Cleveland Clinic Volunteer in Andrology since March 2010.
CRM Faculty Recognition Award Eligibility: CRM staff or visiting Scientists are eligible. Selection: Nominated by CRM faculty and research a staff. Categories: Cash Award may be given to the selected internship course faculty. Recipient honored by a decorative plaque. Award sponsored by Molecular Biometrics, LLC
Tamer Said, MD Dr. Tamer Said graduated from Alexandria Medical School, Egypt in 1994 and received his master degree from the Department of Dermatology and Andrology, University of Alexandria where he holds the position of Assistant Lecturer. Dr. Said completed his Research Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Research in Human Reproduction, Infertility and Sexual Function (2002-05) and worked as a Research Associate from June 2005 to May 2006. Dr. Said is the Director of the Andrology Laboratory and Reproductive Tissue Bank, Repromed Ltd in Canada.
Rajender Singh, Ph.D. Dr. Singh received his Ph.D. degree in 2007 from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He is a scientist at the Central Drug Research Institute. Dr. Singh has published 25 scientific papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals and is a recipient of the Young Scientist Award from the Indian Society of Human Genetics. Dr. Singh is the managing editor of the Frontiers in Biosciences and an ad hoc reviewer for the Journal of Andrology, Human Reproduction, and Asian Journal of Andrology. His current research interests include: understanding the etiology of male infertility, treatment of male infertility and exploring targets for male contraception.
Ali Ahmady, Ph.D., HCLD. Dr. Ali Ahmady is the Lab Director at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, and assistant professor of Reproductive biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Ahmady received his Ph.D. in embryology from National University of Singapore under the supervision of Professor SC Ng. Dr. Ahmady developed the Single Sperm Curling test for selecting a viable sperm in ICSI procedure. He has also developed the hamster-icsi assay for evaluating the fertilizing ability of sperm. Dr. Ahmady produced the first live birth in the mouse using ICSI. Dr. Ahmady is an author of a manual for IVF, co-author of a chapter in the atlas of embryology, and has published more than 20 peer-reviewed manuscripts.