Bonds forged in healing: The Muakkassa brothers

Bonds forged in healing: The Muakkassa brothers

For Camille, Kareem and Ryan Muakkassa, the path to medicine wasn't just a career choice-it was a legacy ignited by inspiration from their father. Growing up in Northeast Ohio, they witnessed firsthand the impact of their dad had as the chief of trauma at Cleveland Clinic Akron General.

"He was extremely busy and would leave us seemingly at random to go back to work," the brothers recall in written responses.

It wasn't until later they understood the depth of his sacrifice: "He was sacrificing his home life to be present for patients and families who needed him more during the worst days of their lives. His commitment and dedication to helping others was a beacon of inspiration for the three of us, and we are ecstatic to one day share his great title in his honor: Dr. Muakkassa."

The Muakkassa brothers are part of a larger family dedicated to healing.

"Although our dad was our primary inspiration, we have many family members who are physicians as well. Our uncle, Kamel Muakkassa, and cousin, Fuad Muakkassa, are two who have both served in the Akron area and at NEOMED, motivating us to continue serving our local community and striving to be our best."

For these Northeast Ohio natives, choosing NEOMED felt like coming home. "Being born and raised in Northeast Ohio meant that NEOMED was a household name, especially for people involved in the medical field," they shared. The University held a special connection: "Both our father and one of our uncles had a passion for teaching and quickly became NEOMED associated faculty. Being part of the NEOMED community and seeing the curriculum firsthand made us confident that we would get a strong medical education while being able to give back to the place we all call home."

PHOTO: Growing up in Northeast Ohio, the Muakkassa brothers dreamed of following in their physician father's footsteps.

But what's it like navigating the rigorous journey of medical school not just with classmates, but with your own brothers?

For Camille, who graduated from NEOMED in May 2025, being the first among his brothers to enter medicine has been incredibly rewarding. He would often receive texts from his brothers, and even their friends, seeking advice on everything from medical school applications to rotations. Camille is currently in his urology residency at West Virginia University.

As the youngest, Ryan (M3) has been fortunate to have two older brothers who have already navigated the medical school journey. He says he relies on them for advice, learning from both their successes and their regrets to best prepare himself. "They are my best resource, and I'm immensely thankful for their support over the past two years," he said. Still, he recognizes the significant expectations and "big shoes to fill," constantly working to catch up and follow in their footsteps, though their support is always appreciated.

Supporting Each Other

Through the inevitable stresses of medical school, their bond has been their strength. Kareem (M4) says he likes to joke with Ryan that "if Camille and I made it, Ryan has nothing to worry about." They all support each other during stressful exams and rotations, which has made medical school more relaxed and enjoyable for them. Ryan emphasized, "it may hard for people outside of medicine to truly understand the expectations and challenges, so I'm grateful to have family who genuinely get it."

PHOTO: Camille Muakkassa, center, surrounded by his family on Match Day 2025.

While a touch of friendly competition exists within the family-they compete with scores on exams and in courses, but always in a friendly spirit-their shared journey has been a unifying force. They use each other as benchmarks for success and enjoy stumping each other with difficult medical questions.

Looking ahead, each brother has distinct aspirations. Camille already knows he wants to help train the next generation of physicians and plans to work somewhere with both residents and medical students. "With five years of urology residency and a potential fellowship ahead, I have plenty of time to discover new passions," he stated. Kareem plans to stay local and practice as an orthopaedic surgeon, aiming to help members of the community return to the activities they love. Like Camille, Ryan plans on becoming a urologist, hopefully in Northeast Ohio to serve the local community. He also loves teaching, whether it's tutoring the class below him or helping friends understand topics, and hopes to continue sharing knowledge throughout his career.

Dream Team

The dream of working together isn't far from their minds. "Ever since entering medical school, I always wondered if we'd end up in the same area and have the potential to work together. It would certainly be a dream come true, but part of becoming a physician is a whole lot of uncertainty in the future. It is definitely something we have all considered though," said Ryan.

Camille acknowledged, "I would love to end up working in the same hospital as my brothers in the distant future." Kareem agreed, drawing a parallel to his father and uncle, who worked together at Cleveland Clinic Akron General. He envisions their future kids hearing, "Which Dr. Muakkassa are you the son of?" as a surreal full-circle event.

Witnessing Camille's match and graduation was a powerful moment for his younger brothers. "Being there for Camille's match was an overwhelmingly emotional experience, feeling as though I myself had matched," Kareem described. "Seeing him officially become Dr. Muakkassa is something I'll never forget."

Ryan also described watching Camille match into his dream specialty as a special moment for their entire family. "On Match Day, multiple staff members approached Kareem and I, telling us we'd soon be in Camille's position, which still feels surreal," said Ryan.