Elizabeth Safar Memorial Award Given To Exemplary Med Student

Established in 1995 by Peter and Eva Safar in memory of their daughter, the Elizabeth Safar Memorial Award in Multidisciplinary Critical Care Medicine is given annually to a Pitt med student who showed a strong interest in acute medical problems and a resuscitation medicine-related field. Based on a variety of factors, including clinical performance, faculty evaluations, and performance at WISER sessions, Christopher Brackney, MD, and Christopher Schott, MD, MS, RDMS, selected Sarah Judith Michelson as this year’s awardee.

“Sarah truly stood out during her CCM elective rotation,” said Schott. “She seemed to have an innate sense of the important clinical details in complex patients. Several CCM faculty commented on her consistent preparation for rounds, her excellent presentations of relevant data, and an advanced background in critical care (evidenced by her particular preference for different types of intubating devices).” Schott also noted that several CCM faculty expressed a desire to try to talk her into critical care medicine, which demonstrated that they had a sincere appreciation of her work ethic and confidence in her ability to succeed in this specialty.

Michelson has critical care in her blood, having a father who works as an intensivist. After graduation, Michelson will be going to St. Joseph Mercy in Ann Arbor for a transitional year, and then to the University of Michigan for an Ophthalmology residency.