Distinguished Alumni Award – Frank Papay, M.D. (’84)

Dr. Frank Papay graduated from NEOMED in 1984 and currently works as Chairman of the Dermatology & Plastic Surgery Institute at the Cleveland Clinic, serves as the Section Head of Craniofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and is a Professor of Surgery in the Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University. He has been a pioneer in the area of plastic surgery and made national headlines as part of the surgical team that performed the first total face transplant in the United States. He is known around the world as an incredibly innovative and scientifically active inventor, clinician/surgeon and leader. He has published over 100 scientific papers, abstracts and book chapters and holds 27 patents and 54 provisional patents. 

Distinguished Service Award – James Kravec, M.D. (’02)

Dr. Kravec serves as the Youngstown market chief clinical officer for the Mercy Health system. He also serves as the system medial director for Graduate Medical Education for Bon Secours Mercy Health where he leads operations, strategy and growth for the physician residency programs.  Dr. Kravec is a past president of the NEOMED Alumni Association Board of Directors and was the NEOMED IM clerkship director from 2010 – 2013.  He continues to precept medical students and residents and remains involved in medical education. He has been a CSA rater and judge at the annual NEOMED IM research day and was recognized by the NEOMED class of 2010 and 2013 as an outstanding faculty member and served as the Grand Marshal at commencement for the class of 2012.  He chaired the general medicine section at NEOMED and has been a member of several NEOMED committees. He was instrumental in developing a partnership between Mercy and NEOMED which assists students in loan forgiveness in exchange for service on the medical staff at Mercy facilities. 

Lifetime Achievement Award – Zouhair Yassine, M.D.

Dr. Zouhair Yassine was a founding faculty member of the Department of Anatomy for Northeast Ohio Medical University and remained a current member of the department of until his passing at the age of 91. As an orthopedic surgeon, he was an innovator who introduced the advanced treatment of fractures and total joint replacement. He was one of the founders of the Crystal Clinic, where he served as president of Orthopedic Surgeons.

Dr. Yassine taught at NEOMED for more than 20 years and was well known for his pioneering spirit. He received numerous honors at NEOMED including an Honorary Doctor of Science degree, Honorary Professor of Anatomy and Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, the Dean's Award for excellence in teaching, and Clinical Teacher of the Year. He established the Dr. Zouhair Yassine Medical Scholarship, and the Gross Anatomy Laboratory was named in his honor.