05/3/07, Dr. Rich Cohen Didn't Like Medical School

"I vowed if I ever got out of the misery and into the real world I would do whatever I could to make medical school better."

Obviously he has. Dr. Cohen has been selected by Upstate Medical University students to receive the Alpha Omega Alpha Volunteer Clinical Faculty Award for his contribution to their education and training. Members of the Gamma Chapter of the national Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society cited Dr. Cohen for his "contributions and influence on their professional development."

Dr. Cohen, a member and past president of the Community Memorial Medical Staff, is the founding director of the Department of Family Practice in Hamilton and Director of Continuing Medical Education at the hospital.

He has been a member of the SUNY Upstate Medical University for more than 20 years. His dedication and volunteerism – Dr. Cohen has never received a salary from Upstate – was recognized earlier, in 2003, with the presentation of the President's Award for Voluntary Faculty Service.

In making that award, Upstate noted, "In his role as professor, Dr. Cohen demonstrates his personal joy of practicing medicine and caring for people. Members of the Family Medicine Department have often commented that when they review students' work they literally know whom Dr. Cohen has taught by the students "warmth and attentiveness toward their patients."

A native of Minneapolis, Dr. Cohen is an ardent Twins fan and a baseball enthusiast and scholar. He was the founding president of the Mid-York Little League, a long-time umpire and the leading authority on Hooks Wiltse, the only Hamiltonian to play Major League Baseball.

"I want to make sure our time together is enjoyable," said Dr. Cohen of his students. "I want my courses to be interesting, relative, positive and to let the students know I care about them and am there to help them."

Dr. Lynn Cleary, councilor to AOA Gamma Chapter, said, "The students unanimously felt Dr. Cohen contributed substantially, with great passion and quality, to their educations."

The AOA Volunteer Clinical Faculty Award will be presented to Dr. Cohen May 18 at the honor society's annual dinner. The organization was founded in 1902 by University of Illinois medical students to promote scholarship and research in medical schools, encourage a high standard of character and conduct among medical students and graduates, and recognize high attainment in medical science, practice, and related fields. Today, the organization includes more than 125 chapters nationwide.