Clare M. Rimnac, Ph.D., FASM, FIORS, FORS, FAIMBE Distinguished University Professor Emerita

Wilbert J. Austin Professor Emeritus

Director, Center for the Evaluation of Implant Performance

Email: clare.rimnac@case.edu
Phone: (216)-368-6442

Clare Rimnac received a B.S. in Metallurgy and Materials Science from Carnegie-Mellon University in 1978, and an M.S. in 1980 and a Ph.D. in 1983 in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering from Lehigh University. In 1983, she was a Research Fellow and from 1984 until 1996 she was a Scientist in the Department of Biomechanics at The Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. In 1996, Professor Rimnac joined the faculty of the School of Engineering at Case Western Reserve University where she is currently the Wilbert J. Austin Professor Emeritus and Distinguished University Professor Emerita in the Case School of Engineering. 

Over the years, Professor Rimnac’s research has been funded by the NIH, private foundations, and industry and is directed towards orthopaedic biomechanics, with a focus on lifetime and degradation science of medical devices and materials, including: implant retrieval analysis; mechanical behavior and modeling of materials used in total joint replacements; and damage and fracture behavior of bone tissue. She has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.

Among other honors, Professor Rimnac has served on two NIH study sections, is the recipient of an American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Kappa Delta Award, two Hip Society Awards, a Knee Society Award, the J.R. Neff Research Award from the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation, and the ORS/OREF Distinguished Investigator Award. She has served as a Deputy Editor for the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery and was President of the Orthopaedic Research Society.  In 2013, she received the  Women's Leadership Award from the Orthopaedic Research Society.

Professor Rimnac currently serves as a Senior Associate Editor for Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research.  She is a member of the external adivsory board for the Bioengineering Program at Lehigh University, the External Advisory Council for the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineeering at Cornell University, and the Department of Engineering External Advisory Board at Baldwin Wallace University.  

DEGREES

• Ph.D., Lehigh University, 1983
• M.S., Lehigh University, 1980
• B.S., Carnegie-Mellon University, 1978

RESEARCH AREAS

• Mechanical behavior of bioactive and bioinert polymeric biomaterials
• Mechanical behavior of bone tissue
• Implant retrieval analysis
• Lifetime and degradation science

TEACHING INTERESTS

• Fatigue and fracture
• Mechanics of materials
• Musculoskeletal biomechanics

Matthew J. Kraay, M.S., M.D.

Director, Center for Joint Replacement Preservation, UH Cleveland Medical Center Kingsbury G. Heiple and Fred A. Lennon Chair and Professor of Orthopedics, UH Cleveland Medical Center

Email: matthew.kraay@uhhospitals.org

Matthew J. Kraay received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering from Michigan State University in 1977, an M.S. in Bioengineering from The University of Michigan in 1978 and an M.D. from Wayne State University School of Medicine in 1983. Following completion of his surgical internship, Dr. Kraay was an Allen Surgical Research Fellow in Orthopaedics at Case Western Reserve University and completed his orthopaedic residency at University Hospitals of Cleveland/CWRU in 1989. From 1989-1990, he was a Fellow in Total Joint Replacement and Adult Reconstructive Surgery at University Hospitals of Cleveland. From 1990-1991 he was a Fellow in the Comprehensive Arthritis Program at The Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. In 1991, Dr. Kraay became an attending Orthopaedic Surgeon at University Hospitals of Cleveland and is currently Director of the Division of Joint Reconstruction and Arthritis Surgery, Director of the Center for Joint Replacement and Preservation at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical and the Kingsbury G. Heiple, MD and Fred A. Lennon Professor of Orthopaedics at CWRU. He has published more than 70 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.

Dr. Kraay is the recipient of the Volunteer Leadership Award from the Arthritis Foundation of Northeastern Ohio and he currently serves on that organizations Board of Directors and as Chairman of the Medical and Scientific Committee. He is a member of both The Hip Society and The Knee Society.  He has also served on the AAOS Biomedical Engineering Committee, the AAOS Annual Meeting Knee Subcommittee, the American College of Chest Physicians Consensus Conference on Thromboembolic Disease, the University of Michigan - College of Engineering Alumni Society Board of Governors and the University of Michigan Department of Biomedical Engineering External Advisory Board. He has served on numerous hospital committees and is currently on the Medical/Scientific Advisory Board of CellBank, Inc.

DEGREES

• M.D., Wayne State University School of Medicine, 1983
• M.S., The University of Michigan, 1978
• B.S., Michigan State University, 1977

RESEARCH AREAS

• Clinical performance and outcomes of total  joint replacements
• Implant retrieval analysis
• Measurement of wear in THA 
• Deep vein thrombosis and complications following total joint arthroplasty

Steven Fitzgerald, M.D.

Email: Steven.Fitzgerald@UHhospitals.org

Steven Fitzgerald received a B.S. in Biology from Boston College in 1999 and an M.D. from Tulane University School of Medicine in 2004. Following completion of his surgical internship, Dr. Fitzgerald was an Allen Surgical Research Fellow in Orthopaedics at Case Western Reserve University and completed his Orthopaedic residency at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center in 2010. He then completed a fellowship in Lower Extremity Adult Reconstruction at Mayo Clinic.  In 2012, Dr. Fitzgerald became an attending Orthopaedic Surgeon at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center.

Dr. Fitzgerald currently serves on SCIP/HOPS Hospital Quality Assurance Committee. He has also served on the Curriculum Committee and Resident Application Process Evaluation Committee in the Department of Orthopaedics at Case Western Reserve University.

DEGREES

• M.D., Tulane University School of Medicine, 2004
• B.S., Boston College, 1999

RESEARCH AREAS

• Clinical performance and outcomes of total  joint replacements

Rebecca Moore, M.S.

Research Engineer/Research Coordinator/Laboratory Manager - Wearn 511

Email: rdl2@case.edu
Phone: (216)-844-1745

DEGREES

• M.S., Case Western Reserve University, 2002
• B.S., Case Western Reserve University, 2000

RESEARCH AREAS

• Implant retrieval analysis

Jay Bensusan, M.S.

Senior Research Engineer

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Biomechanics and Biofabrication/Biomanufacturing Laboratories
Glennan 621

Email: jsb5@case.edu
Phone: (216)-368-1395

DEGREES

• M.S., Case Western Reserve University, 1986
• B.S., Case Western Reserve University, 1981

RESEARCH AREAS

• Biomehanical testing of orthopaedic materials and constructs

Ajit Vakharia, M.D. - Allen Fellow 2019-2020

Jason Ina, M.D - Allen Fellow 2018-2019

Jerry Du, M.D. - Allen Fellow 2017-2018

Christopher Flanagan, M.D. - Allen Fellow 2016-2017

Andrew Tsai, M.D. - Allen Fellow 2013-2014

Emily Szabo, M.S.

Ph.D. Candidate, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Expected graduation: 2025

My long-term goal is to develop a diagnostic method based in both qualitative and quantitative data to predict the likelihood of an accidental or non-accidental trauma fracture in a child upon first presentation to a clinician. As an aspiring professor and academic researcher, I also seek to teach and mentor undergraduate and graduate students in bone biomechanics by providing research opportunities to a diverse group of students including women and underrepresented minorities.

Dylan Crocker, M.S.

Ph.D. Candidate, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Expected graduation: 2023

My career goal is to achieve an applied biomechanics position within a professional sports organization to prevent athlete injuries.

Leandra Bowsman

B.S./M.S. Candidate, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Expected graduation: 2023

I have accepted a full-time position as a materials development engineer at DePuy Synthes and look forward to furthering advancements in biomaterials.

Mitchell Melander

B.S./M.S. Candidate, Biomedical Engineering
Expected graduation: May 2023

I am interested in work related to the research and development of medical devices as well as biomedical applications of additive manufacturing.

Lin Xu

Expected graduation: May 2023, Biomedical Engineering

Eleanor Veith

Expected graduation May 2024, Biology and business management

Adam Ketchum

Expected graduation May 2023, Mathematics and Physics

Liam Giger - B.S., Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 2022

Ashley Schuett - B.S./M.S., Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 2020

Pranav Adavi - B.S., Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 2020

Christine Stanko - B.S., Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 2019

Jamila McKenzie - B.S., Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 2020

Andrew Dupuis - B.S., Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 2017

Madeline Strnad - Chemistry and Education, Case Western Reserve University, 2018

Penny Kitsopoulos - B.S., Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 2020

Emma Hawley - B.S., Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 2017, M.S., Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 2018