Alan (Al) Cohen, M.D.
Surgeon-in-Chief, Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital
Dr. Alan Cohen is the epitome of leadership and volunteerism, and is the perfect candidate for the Northern Ohio Live Awards of Achievement.
Dr. Cohen, also known as “Big Al,” is surgeon-in-chief and chief of the division of pediatric neurological surgery at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, but his titles among patients, parents, and faculty are a far better description of his service to our community, and ultimately to the world.
“Dr. Cohen is the best!”
“We love ‘Big Al’!”
“We thank God every day for sending us to Dr. Cohen.”
“He is not only an extremely talented surgeon; he has such a gentle personality when it comes to his patients that it makes me proud to say that I am his secretary,” said Helen Novotny.
“Al is an example of leadership at many levels. He is a teacher, a patient advocate and a scientist. His example is something we all treasure and admire,” said Meri Armour, senior vice president at Rainbow.
Dr. Cohen has been helping children for more than thirty years. As a pediatric neurosurgeon, it is Dr. Cohen’s job to save the lives of children and perform miracles everyday, but there are so many things he does that are far removed from the requirements of his job.
Each year, Dr. Cohen hosts “Elvis Day” at Rainbow. This past year, it was Elvis’ 70th birthday, and Dr. Cohen organized a special concert at which several of Rainbow’s doctors and surgeons performed Elvis songs for the patients. Dr. Cohen dressed up and played the part of Elvis and emphasized the importance of letting “kids be kids.”
But what’s even more amazing than Elvis is the way in which Dr. Cohen reaches out to those in need all over the world, without seeking recognition or accolades. He has helped children from all corners of the world, and he works with numerous organizations throughout the country to help save the lives of those who cannot get the treatment they
need at home. He does this work in addition to his regular case load, and he does it for free and without hesitation. He coordinates and encourages others to participate in such charitable work and networks with other community organizations so that all patient needs are met. One example of Dr. Cohen’s passionate commitment to the health of children occurred just a few months ago.
This past December, Dr. Cohen gave a family from Nigeria the most precious Christmas gift anyone could give, and he gave it freely and straight from his heart.
In early December, Dr. Cohen received an email from Tami Shobe in Waynesfield, Ohio, the founder of Children’s Medical Missions West, about a 13-year-old girl, Faridah Ameh, who had a life-threatening brain tumor. Shobe forwarded Dr. Cohen some primitive brain scans and photos of Faridah and her family. The very next morning, Dr. Cohen had everything lined up – the hospital and a team of radiologists, anesthesiologists and specialists had all agreed to provide their services for free to help save Faridah.
Children’s Medical Missions West helped coordinate the travel arrangements, and on December 19th, Faridah and her mother arrived in Cleveland.
Faridah’s tumor was the largest one that Dr. Cohen had ever seen and worse yet was the fact that one of her carotid arteries ran through the middle of the tumor. Yet, just a few days later (two days before Christmas), Dr. Cohen drilled into Faridah’s skull and cut into her brain. The surgery took twelve hours and was extremely complicated, but Dr. Cohen and his generous hospital team were successful. Her brain was working and there was no cancer. The tumor was removed, and Faridah would celebrate Christmas.
Treating Faridah without cost and generating enthusiasm and encouraging the same giving spirit among the team of professionals needed to perform the surgery is just one example of the countless times Dr. Cohen has generously used his talents and gifts to make a difference in the world.
Dr. Cohen has worked with Children’s Medical Missions West on previous cases, and he has an ongoing relationship with them and is always willing to help when his expertise is what is needed.
As the surgeon-in-chief at Rainbow, Dr. Cohen is at the heart of the hospital and his leadership and dedication to children is unprecedented. The hospital, the community, and the world are better because of his work.
Dr. Cohen received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University, and he attended medical school at Cornell. He has worked at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital since 1994, and he is the Rainbow Professor of Neurological Surgery and Pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.