Case Western Alumni Achievement Award
Our family is deeply honored that the Case Western Reserve CAA Program in Washington, DC, annually presents an Alumni Achievement Award in memory of our beloved, Maria Fortner, Class of 2019.
About the Award
Maria was a proud leader and was selected as Co-Chief during her Master’s program. She was a dedicated Anesthesiologist Assistant, an AA Professor of Instrumentation, and someone who believed there was something sacred about hospital walls—that they reveal who we truly are, where titles fall away and only compassion remains. Maria was an endless promoter of the AA program, helping students and other professionals discover a fantastic career opportunity.
She was brilliant and driven, yet endlessly kind; disciplined and determined in the classroom, yet gentle and fun with her patients. She loved cracking jokes as she put them to sleep to put them at ease, all while remaining strongly grounded in her faith. Even while courageously battling Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Acute Myeloid Leukemia, she remained focused on others—comforting patients before her own procedures, declining gifts so someone else could receive them, and protecting her family from fear even in her hardest moments.
This award is presented to a student who reflects Maria’s strength, leadership, academic excellence, faith, and selfless service—someone who treats every patient not just as a case, but as a human soul deserving of dignity and love.
"Maria didn't just study anesthesia; she practiced compassion. As a 2019 graduate of the Master of Science in Anesthesia Program, she was known for her 'unforgettable smile' and her ability to see the person behind the patient. This award is granted annually to a graduating student who exemplifies Maria’s unique blend of clinical excellence and radical humanity."
Criteria of Spirit
In addition to academic excellence, recipients of the Maria Fortner Alumni Achievement Award are expected to display aspects of Leadership, Service, and Strength. The Case Western Reserve Professors choose a student with the following qualities:
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Resilience: A student who has overcome adversity with grace.
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Service: Active involvement in community or patient advocacy.
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The "Human Touch": A faculty-recognized ability to provide comfort in high-stress medical environments.
Past Recipients
Ernesto Campos
Homestead, Florida
CWRU Class of 2027
