Following a two-year hiatus, the full-length Alumni Reunion Weekend returned to Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine (CPM) August 18 - 20th, bringing over 300 alumni from around the country with it. Alumni Reunion Weekend was first established in 2017 in an effort to bring the community together in support of student scholarships. Each event held across the three day weekend has been thoughtfully crafted to provide the best value and experience for guests while contributing to a number of scholarships awarded to students throughout the year.
As has been traditional the past four years, the North Coast Foot & Ankle Symposium kicked off the weekend on Thursday morning, concluding Saturday afternoon. This year, 25 credits were offered for physicians attending lectures covering wound complications, flatfoot and forefoot reconstructions, trauma, vascular medicine, radiology, biologics and more. In addition, thanks to sponsorship from KSUCPM’s 2022 Corporate Partner of the Year, PICA, attendees took advantage of a 10% discount on their malpractice premium by attending a risk management session held by the company. The North Coast Foot & Ankle Symposium is funded in part each year through support from The Podiatry Foundation.
Following the symposium each evening were a series of events to honor and support the future of the profession through camaraderie and celebration. Kent State University’s 13th President, Dr. Todd Diacon, was on-site Thursday evening for a special ribbon cutting ceremony to formally name KSUCPM clinic spaces following a $10 million gift from The Podiatry Foundation. You can read more on the dedication ceremony for The Podiatry Foundation Foot and Ankle Clinic on page (insert page number of ribbon cutting story once laid out) in this issue.
On Friday evening, both current students and alumni gathered on the KSUCPM patio for a classic summer BBQ. The Friday night social event has been missed for the past two years due to COVID-19, and was eagerly welcomed back as an important opportunity to bridge the gap between generations of podiatrists. On Saturday night, a prestigious lineup of guests headed downtown Cleveland for the college’s premier fundraising event, the Hall of Fame & Alumni Awards Dinner. This year, three alumni award recipients were honored alongside this year’s two Hall of Fame Inductees. In addition, a total of eight scholarships were awarded to current students, bringing the fundraising event full-circle.
A full listing of those recognized at this year’s awards dinner is as follows:
- Eugene Pascarella, DPM, FACFAS, Class of 1982 Hall of Fame Inductee
- Jordan Grossman, DPM, FACFAS, Class of 1993 Hall of Fame Inductee
- Brian Pekarek, DPM, Class of 2003 Alumni Service Award
- Mark Hofbauer, DPM, Class of 1989 Distinguished Alumni Award
- Alton Johnson, DPM, Class of 2016 Young Physician Professional Award
- Moriah Peoples, MSIV White Coat Scholarship
- Katie Diol, MSIV Dr. Thomas V. Melillo Full Tuition Scholarship
- Kayla Curlis, MSIII Founders Scholarship
- Yash Bhalala, MSIV PICA Full Tuition Scholarship
- Jonathan Westerveld, MSIV OPMSA Outstanding Student Leader Scholarship
- Jeff Nerestant, MSII Young Leader Scholarship
- Rebecca Cathey, MSIII Service Scholarship
- George Cassera, MSII Diversity in Medicine Scholarship
If you missed out on this year’s Alumni Reunion Weekend, save the date now to join in on the festivities next year. The weekend returns August 17 - 19, 2023!