- College of Medicine Student Affairs Students
Throughout medical school at UCF, Katherine Cohen has been inspired by how dedicated, caring physicians improve the lives of their patients. That inspiration and her efforts to provide care to all in our community were recognized recently by the Florida Board of Medicine, which honored her with the Chairman’s Medical Student Recognition award. The honor acknowledges her as a professional, compassionate medical leader who is accomplished in clinical care, academics and community service.
Cohen is a third-year student at the College of Medicine and wants to become an internal medicine specialist because she says that career path will give her the opportunity to develop meaningful long-term relationships with patients. She saw that connection when she did a rheumatology elective with Drs. Shazia Beg and Azin Azarfar at UCF Health Faculty Physician Practice. She has close family members and friends who face rheumatic illnesses. “I have seen the differences a great doctor can make,” Cohen says.
She completed her undergraduate work at Rice University in Houston. Her husband, Kevin Ruiz, is a fourth-year UCF medical student who just matched into internal medicine at Orlando Health. They married three months ago, halfway through Cohen’s third year of medical school. “I wouldn’t advise planning a wedding during third-year clerkships,” she jokes. “It means a lot less sleep and a lot more coffee.”
Community service has been a big part of her UCF training. She served as a physician coordinator at KNIGHTS (Keeping Neighbors in Good Health Through Service) Clinic at Orlando’s Grace Medical Home. She also served at the student-run St. Thomas Aquinas Medical Clinic. She conducted quality improvement research at KNIGHTS to help the clinic operate more smoothly. While presenting that research at a recent conference of medical school community clinics, Cohen was struck again by what makes KNIGHTS Clinic distinctive – the fact that volunteer physicians have dedicated years to Grace Medical, enabling them to know their patients and provide a continuity of care.
She applied to medical schools across Florida to be closer to Ruiz, and was thrilled to be accepted at UCF so they could study together. But she says what makes UCF different is the student culture. UCF med students aren’t cut-throat or competitive. They care deeply about each other, offer study tips and become close friends. “Everyone comes to UCF’s College of Medicine because they care about taking care of others,” she said.
Dr. Soraya Smith is assistant dean of students at the medical school. “I could not be prouder of Katherine for receiving this award from the Florida Board of Medicine,” she said of Cohen’s honor. “She is a genuine pleasure. I know this won’t be her last honor and I am excited to see all that the future holds for her.”