Medical Student
Cleveland Clinic
Riley A. O’Toole, BA, MHS, is a third-year medical student at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. A San Diego native, she earned her BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, where she played collegiate soccer and became the longest-serving captain in program history. She went on to complete her MHS in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where her thesis in neuroimmunology examined the role of neuroinflammation in depression.
At Cleveland Clinic, Riley’s research spans sports medicine and musculoskeletal oncology. She investigates wound healing complications and patient-reported outcomes following soft tissue sarcoma surgery, as well as opioid reduction strategies and sex differences in ACL reconstruction. Her work reflects a broader commitment to improving the experiences and outcomes of women, both as patients and as future surgeons.
In addition to her research, Riley is deeply engaged in leadership and mentorship. She founded and serves as President of her institution’s Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society chapter, co-leads the Orthopaedic Interest Group, and serves on the medical school admissions committee. Through these roles, she fosters mentorship for women in orthopaedics while promoting evidence-based, equitable care that prioritizes the patient experience.
