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For students at ����APP, some of the best lessons stem from some of their hardest moments. That much is true for Anuj Pullakandam, a second-year majoring in biology on the pre-med track, whose work with the Academic Ambassador Program has been both educational and deeply personal. 

As an ambassador, Pullakandam works directly with the Greater Cleveland community, taking on everything from community engagement and research recruitment efforts to social media and newsletter content development.

“I was motivated to join CADRC when my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's,” shared Pullakandam. “As one of his primary caregivers for the summer, it was incredibly difficult to watch someone that I loved slowly lose parts of his memory. My experience with my grandfather opened my eyes to some of the struggles so many families face every day, and it is what motivates me to get involved in initiatives like the CADRC.”

As a federally designated Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, CADRC works in collaboration with ����APP, Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, the MetroHealth System and the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center to advance the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia through innovative research, clinical care and community engagement.

Experiential learning that moves the needle

Beyond the important work of supporting community members, helps students expand their educational avenues so they can reconcile what they’re learning in textbooks with what real people are experiencing. It also allows them to gain more robust skills—the type they’ll need after graduation.

“[Participating as ambassadors] enhances their communication skills by presenting information to seniors and the general public,” said Edna Fuentes-Casiano, CADRC’s outreach coordinator. “They can attend events to share information about our research study and what the center does.”

Salayna Abdallah, a practicum student and research assistant with Case Western Reserve and University Hospitals who is pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology at Kent State University, understands the value this work holds. 

“These experiences help build community and strengthen support for those impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias,” she said. “My grandmother passed away from Alzheimer’s disease many years ago, which makes the CADRC’s mission especially meaningful to me.”

Through this hands-on engagement, ambassadors can see how diseases like Alzheimer’s affect families firsthand—an experience that often makes them feel more committed than ever to pursuing careers that can help prevent and treat neurodegenerative diseases. 

“While I have experience with neurodegenerative disease in an academic setting, I had limited exposure to clinical and community-based work,” said Carly Parker, who is studying neuroscience with minors in chemistry as well as bioethics and medical humanities at CWRU. “Joining the CADRC has allowed me to bridge these areas while contributing to efforts to support individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease. It’s reinforced my interest in pursuing a career related to neuroscience.”

Working in tandem with CADRC helps students grow professionally, gaining knowledge and honing skills while deepening their connection to the community. It sets the stage for these future physicians and scientists to better understand the people whose lives their careers could help change. 

“I've learned to approach conversations with empathy when communicating with people in vulnerable positions,” Pullakandam said. “Whether I'm participating in educational seminars or helping with Alzheimer's awareness events, I've grown more confident in my ability to listen actively and provide support to families affected by this disease.”

Ultimately, ambassadors’ work with CADRC has the potential to impact patients and caregivers on a global scale. 

“Alzheimer's is a disease that affects millions of families worldwide, and research is our best hope for finding treatments and ultimately a cure,” said Pullakandam. “The outreach and education work we do as ambassadors helps break down any negative stigmas and raise awareness about the importance of participating in research studies related to Alzheimer's.”

Whether it be by educating people about Alzheimer’s, connecting with caregivers at luncheons and the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s, or finding new participants for crucial research, the CADRC Academic Ambassador Program pushes the needle for doctors to provide better care for patients and for researchers to find new treatment options that can potentially end this devastating disease.