Reda Riffi, a CWRU pre-med student leader and CEO of The non profit ELEOS Impact, has been named the recipient of the Nourish 2025 Nelson Mandela Prize for Excellence in Equity, Inclusion, and Global Compassionate Service. The award, presented by the leadership of Nourish Educare in South Africa, recognizes individuals whose humanitarian efforts and global leadership reflect the enduring legacy of Nelson Mandela. Riffi’s selection highlights his exceptional commitment to uplifting underserved populations through initiatives spanning global healthcare, education access, and student opportunity.
The letter of recognition praises Reda Riffi’s “resilience, empathy, and drive to serve,” describing ELEOS as a movement that advances the values of inclusion, peace, and equity. For more than four years, his work in South Africa, particularly in Vrygrond – one of Cape Town’s most underserved communitieswas central to the decision. According to the selection committee, Reda Riffi’s efforts “transcend borders and inspire global action.” This award solidifies his standing as one of the most impactful young global leaders working at the intersection of medicine, humanitarianism, and international collaboration.
Link between the meeting with UAE Leadership in Dubai and the Award:
The recognition in South Africa comes with a growing international network led by Eleos, the non-profit founded by Reda Riffi. The recent diplomatic meeting in Dubai laid the groundwork for expanding the impact of Reda Riffi’s initiatives far beyond South Africa, connecting them to new partnerships in the Middle East.
Why His Excellency Mohammed Al Baloushi?
ELEOS Impact is honored to announce a new collaboration with His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Al Baloushi, an esteemed leader from Dubai and senior advisor from the Office of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah and Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates. Sheikh Mohammed Al Baloushi is a member of the Sharjah Consultative Council (11th legislative term), appointed by Emiri decree on December 12, 2023. He previously served as an elected representative for Sharjah City and now holds a prominent advisory role in the royal family court. As Chairman of the Board, His Excellency is widely regarded as a revolutionary figure in the Gulf region, advocating for better healthcare access, equity for minority communities, and sustainable social advancement, especially for healthcare and education.
In addition to his official leadership roles, Mohammed Al Baloushi is seen as a bold and visionary reformer whose impact transcends politics by gaining an exceptional popularity. Young, energetic, and deeply connected to the people he serves, he has emerged as a powerful force for equity and inclusion in the UAE. His advocacy extends to foreign workers, feminism, and underrepresented communities, promoting their rights
to inclusion, opportunity, and access to high-quality, publicly funded healthcare. His initiatives promote sustainable development through education reform, healthcare innovation, and global collaboration in service, integrity, and compassion. Admired not only for his influence but also for his humility and character, shaped by altruism and the willingness to serve the underprivileged.
A community member from Sharjah: “I voted for Sheikh Mohammed Al Baloushi because he leads with purpose, defends the dignity of the underserved, and believes that everyone—citizen or not—deserves the privileges of free healthcare as a fundamental right to all”.
“His Excellency Mohammed Al Baloushi leads with compassion and mercy, driven by a genuine desire to build a more just, inclusive, and supportive environment for minorities. This is precisely why ELEOS and our CWRU campus community need to recognize the importance of collaborating with a visionary leader whose mission so perfectly aligns with our shared commitment to healthcare equity, global inclusion, and compassionate service. And I am pleased to hear that he is ready to support US students,” Reda Riffi.
Meeting in Dubai: main takeaway
Reda Riffi’s recent meeting with Sheikh Mohammed Al Baloushi in Dubai marked a turning point for Eleos. The two leaders outlined a shared vision centered on education and healthcare, with plans to launch new externally funded programs connecting U.S. students – especially CWRU students – to clinical, research, and service opportunities in the UAE. These initiatives will offer hands-on experience for future medical leaders but also strengthen cultural understanding and long-term impact in vulnerable communities.
Why are this award and meetings important to CWRU?
This partnership represents a major step forward for CWRU ELEOS. It fulfills a commitment Riffi made through the CWRU Dream Fund Award (see official announcement) to expand global health equity initiatives for US students overseas.
With rising NIH funding cuts and challenges due to national shifts, this collaboration provides new, international pathways for student engagement, especially for CWRU’s pre-med and global health students. Moreover, it is open to students across disciplines, positioning Case as a university with a global footprint in healthcare, education, diplomacy, and innovation. The ELEOS-UAE initiative is not limited to pre-med students only.
Through the Eleos–UAE partnership, Eleos is the first CWRU-based undergraduate honors society to be operating through an expansive international network in the US, South Africa, Morocco, the UAE, Qatar, Brazil, Tunisia, France, Germany, South Korea, and more. Through these connections, US pre-med students will have access to educational and professional opportunities, conferences, internships, and real-world engagement in global health and equity leadership.
CWRU Pre-Med Students Have Priority:
CWRU students pursuing medicine, nursing, or public health will receive priority placement in all Eleos initiatives, with opportunities to gain international healthcare exposure, contribute to community clinics, and build cross-border research collaborations. These opportunities are especially relevant given the increasing demand for globally minded, culturally competent physicians and health professionals.
As NIH Funding Declines… New opportunities!
“With NIH funded research and clinical training opportunities shrinking for pre-med students, international partnerships have become essential to sustaining student engagement in health equity work. Through collaboration with global leaders like His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Al Baloushi from the United Arab Emirates, ELEOS is expanding to create new pathways for such opportunities for experiential learning, clinical exposure, and international service in hospitals to allow students to make an impact on healthcare while benefiting local populations overseas. It is a win-win” (Reda Riffi).
This shared mission – centered on inclusion, opportunity, and long-term impact – embodies the values of academic excellence, compassionate leadership, service to underserved populations, and the pursuit of systemic change through global collaboration. These partnerships help ensure that academic equity and access to meaningful healthcare experiences remain possible, regardless of shifting national policies.
“Pre-med students often must choose between studying abroad, gaining clinical experience, or volunteering – each with financial barriers. This type of opportunity combines all three: it’s abroad, clinically focused, and volunteer based. And the best part is that it is fully funded.” Reda Riffi.
AIIM, an Example of ELEOS Initiatives in the U.S.:
Another example of initiatives of ELEOS, AI in Medicine (AIIM) is a new database that provides accessible summaries of recent research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare. It has been the first undergraduate student-led initiative recommended by the AAMC (Advancing AI Across Academic Medicine Resource Collection) for physicians, medical schools, academic health systems, and teaching hospitals. AIIM organizes its database by specialty, helping physicians, researchers, and students stay up to date on the latest developments in medical AI.
AIIM was co-founded by Shiv Patel, Ethan Lowder, and Pema Childs. It is a student-led database that provides accessible, physician-oriented summaries of recent research in medical AI, where Reda Riffi serves as Executive Director. ELEOS-AIIM is a collaborative division founded by Reda Riffi and Ethan Lowder, a Harvard Medical student, as a partnership between the ELEOS Association and AIIM. This ELEOS initiative provides opportunities for undergraduate students nationwide, especially those impacted by NIH funding cuts.
Summaries are written by undergraduate student researchers, and this initiative operates under the ELEOS Association. Through ELEOS-AIIM, students gain experience and authorship opportunities for pre-med students across 16 medical specialties, where other students from other campuses nationwide are selected to join CWRU pre-med student writers and collaborate in groups per specialty. This initiative strengthens academic engagement and supports meaningful contributions to artificial intelligence, clinical innovation, global health equity, and scientific communication.
Owen Anderson, CWRU neuroscience student researcher; and ELEOS AIIM Head of Neurotechnology “AIIM represents more than an accumulation of knowledge, a center for learning, and a community of writers, it is an organization that recognizes the significance that AI will have in the future of medicine, and actively tries to ensure a smooth transition”.
Nick Leonard, a CWRU PPSP scholar, pre-med student, and ELEOS-AIIM writer and orthopedic team lead, shared: “As a future physician, I know the importance of continuing education and staying up to date with advancements in your field. AIIM provides a powerful, free, and easy-to-use tool allowing even the busiest of physicians to stay informed about the newest AI advancements in medicine. This directly impacts patient care and I’m thrilled for the opportunity to positively impact treatment plans while building my knowledge base in the process”
For more information please contact Evan Harnak (CWRU ELEOS Associate Director for administrative purposes): ebh58@case.edu Or Reda Riffi, CEO of ELEOS Impact: rxr545@case.edu
