News & Events : Loyola University Chicago

Ramzan Shahid, MD (left), Theresa Kristopaitis, MD (center), and Tina Marino-Misura, MEd (right)

Outstanding Faculty and Staff Awards 2026

While the Stritch Class of 2026 was celebrating their monumental achievement of matching into residency programs, they also took a moment at their Match Day celebration to honor two faculty members and one staff member with awards for going above and beyond in supporting them throughout various phases and aspects of their medical school journey.

Megi Maci wearing a magenta suit and smiling while standing in front of a maroon background

Aspiring physician leader Megi Maci receives President’s Medallion

Megi Maci has been actively involved in multiple leadership roles, community service initiatives, extracurricular activities, and research projects at Stritch. Planning to specialize in Obstetrics and Gynecology, she is driven to improve the health of vulnerable populations and practice medicine in a compassionate, dignified, and human-centered way.

Senior Scientist Award winner Harel Dahari and Junior Scientist Award winner David Barefield

Junior and Senior Scientist of the Year Awards 2025

Senior Scientist of the Year Award winner Harel Dahari, PhD, and Junior Scientist of the Year Award winner David Barefield, PhD, exemplify Stritch’s commitment to translating fundamental science discoveries into treatments to improve human health and patient outcomes.

2025 Stritch Medalist

Stritch Medalist Eva Bading, MD, FAAFP embodies Loyola’s commitment to service and being a person for others in the Jesuit tradition. Throughout her expansive career, she has been a mentor, role model, and inspiration for faculty, medical students, and residents. As a clinician, she's known for providing high-quality, patient-centered care and consistently demonstrated the practice of medicine as an act of faithful service.

Two medical students wearing white coats walking down a hospital hallway with a Chaplain

Chaplain Mentor Program gets to the heart of patient-centered care

The program is designed to assist students in recognizing the importance of the personal and spiritual dimension of healthcare by having them spend time with Loyola University Medical Center chaplains, who hold adjunct appointments at Stritch.  All Stritch first-year medical students complete the program as part of their two-semester Patient Centered Medicine 1 course.

Stritch medical student Nathan Dhablania

Called to provide compassionate, equitable care

The Jesuit value of “cura personalis” proved its significance for MD/MPH candidate Nathan Dhablania at a young age. Now, the future ophthalmologist envisions a career that integrates clinical practice, research, and service, guided by the same principle that shaped him as a child.

Emily E. Anderson, PhD, MPH, named 2025 Hastings Center Fellow

She is an accomplished professor in the Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics at Stritch and teaches research ethics and responsible conduct of research to graduate and medical students, as well as courses in empirical bioethics and global bioethics. She is also the principal investigator of the Loyola University Chicago-Ukrainian Catholic University International Bioethics Training Program.

Stritch Faculty and Staff Awards 2025

Each year, faculty and staff who have had made significant contributions to medical education and to our school are recognized with awards as voted on by students. At an awards reception in fall 2025, individuals across various teams who exemplify our mission and provide valuable contributions to our school community were presented with awards.

Image of Stritch School of Medicine building with yellow wildflowers and greenery in foreground

New scholarship aims to help first-generation students jump financial hurdles

The financial burden for a college education can be great, and it can be even greater for medical school and can derail a student’s dream of becoming a physician. The Stritch Dean’s First-Generation Scholarship was created to help reduce that barrier for students who are the first in their families to graduate from college.

James V. Talano (MD '65, BS '61) addressing the audience at the Alumni Awards ceremony

Stritch Alumni Awards 2025

Each year, the Stritch School of Medicine proudly honors distinguished alumni through the Alumni of the Year Awards. These awards recognize individuals whose careers and character reflect the core values of a Stritch education and a deep commitment to caring for the human spirit. Recipients exemplify service to humanity and excellence in research, innovation, and education.

Five students in white coats walking and talking on campus

Welcome, Class of 2029!

The Stritch Class of 2029 recently started their first year of medical school and celebrated their White Coat Ceremony. Get to know some of our new M1s and discover what inspired them to become physicians and why they chose Stritch.

Mark Kuczewski and group of Ukrainian Fellows wearing scarves in Loyola colors of maroon and gold

Bridging healthcare and ethics: 25 years of the Neiswanger Institute

Rooted in the Jesuit, Catholic identity of Loyola University Chicago and Stritch School of Medicine, the Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics and Healthcare Leadership has been committed to social justice and advocating for the marginalized for the past 25 years. Director and Professor Mark Kuczewski, who has led the Institute since its inception, reflects on the past 25 years and how the bioethics programs continue accompanying individuals on their educational journeys.

Min Park, MD, Named Chair of Neurological Surgery

Min Park, MD, has joined Loyola Medicine and Stritch School of Medicine as the new chair of the department of neurological surgery. Dr. Park is a nationally recognized neurosurgeon whose career spans advanced clinical practice, academic leadership, and military service.

Integrating prayer, self-reflection, service, and education

In this Q&A, John Hardt, co-director of the Physician's Vocation Program, shares his vision for the program and thoughts on how it helps shape students' perspectives on faith and medicine.

Nan Sethakorn Receives Lung Cancer Research Award

Nan Sethakorn, MD, PhD, is the recipient of the 2025 Lung Cancer Research Award from the Respiratory Health Association. The award will go toward conducting research focused on the development of new immunotherapy drugs that can re-invigorate immune cells with the goal of eradicating cancer.

M1 Maria Jose Gomez outside with green grass and trees

M1 Maria Jose Gomez Named a Winner in Gold Foundation’s Humanism in Healthcare Essay Contest

In the annual essay contest, medical and nursing students are invited to share real-life stories of humanistic care, and this year’s inspirational prompt was the quote: “Of all the tools in my medical bag, the most important of all is not in the bag itself – it’s my ears, to listen to the patient." Gomez is committed to serving and uplifting communities, and her essay was entitled “No Estás Sola.”

Dr. William Small, Jr., wearing his white lab coat

William Small, Jr. appointed regional vice president of oncology by Trinity Health

Trinity Health has appointed William Small, Jr., MD, FACRO, FACR, FASTRO, as vice president of oncology for Trinity Health’s Illinois/Indiana region, which includes Loyola Medicine and Saint Joseph Health System.

Emma Federico speaking into a microphone

A calling beyond the clinic

For Emma Federico, the path to medicine was never just about stethoscopes and prescriptions. It was about something much larger—a mission to heal individuals while also transforming the systems and structures that affect their health.

Leading with Compassion and Vulnerability

From co-leading a Mental Health Town Hall for his first-year medical school classmates to setting boundaries that protect his own well-being, M1 Class Vice President Daaren Bukhari is helping shape a more compassionate future for medicine.

Students in caps and gowns at Commencement Ceremony

Stritch graduates ready for next step in their calling as physicians

The Stritch Class of 2025 entered medical school in the midst of a global pandemic in 2021. Yet, they worked hard and persevered. Learn more about where some of the Class of 2025 students matched and what they say are the most valuable things they learned during their time in medical school at Stritch.

Samantha Swamy wearing a maroon Match Day t-shirt and speaking into a microphone

Path to the Podium: A Four-year Journey of Resiliency

When the Stritch School of Medicine Class of 2025 gathers for Commencement, they’ll be addressed by someone who’s not only shared their journey but helped shape it—M4 Class President Samantha Swamy.

Theresa Kristopaitis, MD (left) and Margaret Zhi-Yin Tsien, MD (right)

Stritch Students Honor Outstanding Educators with Annual Awards

Annually, the fourth-year medical students (M4s) at Stritch honor exceptional faculty members with Outstanding Classroom Educator and Outstanding Clinical Educator awards. The 2025 award recipients were Theresa Kristopaitis, MD and Margaret Zhi-Yin Tsien, MD.

Three students jumping for joy in the middle of the crowd at Match Day

Match Day: Class of 2025 opens envelopes that change their lives

On Friday, March 21, 174 Stritch students experienced the emotional whirlwind of Match Day, an annual rite of passage in which medical school students learn where they will continue their training as paid residents

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Stritch Alumna’s Journey from Medical Student to Emergency Medicine Chair

Shannon Lovett, MD, discovered her passion for medicine early and pursued Emergency Medicine for its fast-paced, high-stakes nature. A Stritch alumna, she returned to Loyola, becoming Chair of Emergency Medicine in 2024. She prioritizes clinical excellence, faculty development, and mentorship, shaping the next generation of physicians.

St. Ignatius stained glass window located in the Stritch School of Medicine

Physician’s Vocation Program

John Hardt, PhD, vice dean of professional formation and co-director of the Physician’s Vocation Program, reflects on the program’s roots in Ignatian spirituality and the integration of prayer, self-reflection, service, and education.

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A Voice for the Underserved: Alumnus Caylon Pettis’s Journey to Psychiatry

Driven by a deep commitment to healthcare equity, Caylon Pettis, MD, MPH, turned personal experiences of injustice into a mission to advocate for underserved communities through psychiatry.

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Amy Blair, MD, holding her Spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award

Amy Blair, MD, received Loyola Medicine's Spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award

Dr. Amy Blair exemplifies the spirit of service and compassion that the Spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award embodies. Her tireless efforts and inspirational service make her a deserving recipient.

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Douglas Anderson, MD (left), Shanna Adamic (middle), and John Leonetti, MD (right)

Former Chiefs Cheerleader Survives Life-threatening Tumor Thanks to Surgery Performed by Stritch Professors

John Leonetti, MD, professor of Otolaryngology, and Douglas Anderson, MD, professor of Neurological Surgery, have worked together to remove more than 2,000 acoustic neuromas over nearly four decades. The story was also featured on FOX32 Chicago and in the Daily Mail.

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Stritch School of Medicine Dean Sam J. Marzo (MD '91)

Full Circle Moment: Future Physician Inspired by Dean Sam Marzo, Who Performed Life-Saving Surgery on Her as a Child

From life-saving surgeon to inspiring mentor, Dean Sam Marzo continues to make a profound impact. Years after performing a critical surgery on young Megan Gallian, Marzo reconnected with her as part of the Evans Scholar program.

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Jim Stankiewicz, MD, received Leo Lions Legacy Award

Jim Stankiewicz, MD, tenured professor of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, received the 2024 Andy McKenna Leo Lions Legacy Award from Leo High School. A member of Leo High School's Class of '66, Stankiewicz has dedicated his career to advancing global health initiatives and mentoring the next generation of changemakers.

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M4 Roxana Parada is Advocating for Patients and Breaking Barriers as a DACA Medical Student

A DACA medical student at Stritch advocates for underrepresented communities while pursuing her passion for psychiatry and mental health care.

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Stritch Alumna Shares Her Unique Journey to Residency

Deena Kishawi (MD '20) reflects on her residency matching experience after applying to both OB/GYN and orthopaedic surgery. Now joining Brown University as faculty, Kishawi shares advice with current Stritch students on staying open to unexpected opportunities in the residency process.

Polish American Medical Society Scholarship Recipients 2024

The Polish American Medical Society is Empowering the Next Generation of Polish-American Doctors

PAMS empowers Polish-American medical students by providing scholarships, mentorship, and resources.

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Latine Leadership in the Sciences

Gonzalo Torres, PhD, reflects on his journey from Chile to leading Loyola's Department of Molecular Pharmacology, focusing on diversity, mentorship, and drug addiction research.

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Mark Cichon’s Calling: Healing and Teaching

Mark E. Cichon, DO, reflects on mentorship and leadership in emergency medicine as he receives the 2024 Stritch Medal, emphasizing service and teamwork.

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People sitting around a table at a dinner

The CCGH creates new scholar position

In memory of Matt Weyenberg, the Center for Community and Global Health (CCGH) has established the Matt Weyenberg Scholar position to honor his remarkable contributions to global health and social justice.

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CGH Honors Program Fuels a Student's Passion for Global Health

Nina Patel (MD ’26) combines medicine and humanitarian work, gaining global health experience through Stritch’s CGH Honors Program and WHO collaboration for Ukrainian refugees.

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Two students wearing white coats with faculty members in white coats standing behind them

Meet the Stritch Class of 2028

170 future physicians with diverse backgrounds, strong academic stats, and a commitment to excellence.

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Amanda Vanderplow, PhD standing at a podium and speaking into a microphone

Amanda Vanderplow, PhD, receives national funding award

Amanda Vanderplow, PhD, earns NRSA award, advancing groundbreaking research on MeCP2-associated disorders like Rett syndrome with innovative therapeutic approaches.

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Earning three degrees will help Chidozie Onyiuke navigate medicine and business

Chidozie Onyiuke's pursuit of three degrees—MD, MA, and MBA—showcases his dedication to integrating medicine and business for impactful healthcare innovation. Inspired by personal experiences and driven by a passion for helping others, Onyiuke is now beginning his Internal Medicine residency at Tulane School of Medicine.

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One students looks into a microscope while two other students look on

WINS inspires the next generation with science sisters’ day

WINS engages middle school girls in STEM through Science Sisters’ Day, sparking curiosity with hands-on experiments and fostering future scientists.

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Laura Sherer, PhD, wins fellowship

Laura Sherer, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow at Stritch, earned an American Heart Association fellowship to advance her groundbreaking research on heart failure. Focused on the BAG3 protein’s role in cardiac health, her work aims to uncover therapeutic strategies for improving heart function.

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Group of students wearing caps and gowns and toasting with champagne glasses

M4s’ experience: Entering medical school during a worldwide pandemic

The Stritch Class of 2024 overcame pandemic challenges, building resilience, connections, and adaptability for their medical careers.

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Dr. Sari Hart: “I want my students to remember why they came to medicine.”

Dr. Sari Hart, an emergency medicine physician at Edward Hines Jr. VA and assistant professor at Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, was awarded the Stritch Humanism in Medicine award for developing and teaching a humanism-based elective course called Healer’s Art Reflection.

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Chanpreet Kaur (left) and Yewon Rhee (right) hold certificates for winning competition

Graduate Students Win Society for Neuroscience Competitions

Chanpreet Kaur, a Stritch graduate research assistant, won first place at the Chicago Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) meeting, and Yewon Rhee, a second-year candidate for the MS in Neuroscience, won the SfN Graduate Student Poster Competition.

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Stritch School of Medicine building with trees reflected in some windows and a light blue sky above

Stritch recognizes excellence with Jr. and Sr. Scientist awards

Sean Fanning, PhD, and Toni Pak, PhD, were selected as Stritch 2023 Junior and Senior Scientists of the Year (respectively) for their unique approaches and innovative research.

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Two wooden squares with letters on them and a hand turning the first one over

How and when should medical schools teach Emotional Intelligence?

When is the optimal time for medical students to learn about EI and begin developing their EI skills? Through their research, M4s Julia Versel and Alexandra Plezia teamed up with Stritch Professor and Assistant Director of Advising Dr. Ramzan Shahid, to provide some answers to these questions.

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