草莓社区

Class of 2026: Called to become physicians and ready for the next step

The Stritch Class of 2026, their families, and members of the Stritch community gathered on Saturday, May 9 for Commencement. The ceremony celebrated our newest alumni and their path to becoming compassionate physicians who are committed to caring for the whole person in the Jesuit tradition.

Future anesthesiologist interested in global health selected as Stritch Commencement student speaker

Class of 2026 President Athena Barrett has been actively involved in research projects, community service activities, and the Community and Global Health (CGH) Honors Program during her time at Stritch. As Commencement approaches, she shares thoughts on her Stritch experience and advice for future medical students.

For 草莓社区 students and their friends and families, graduation is a time of pride, reflection, and hope for the future. As he gets ready to graduate as a Doctor of Medicine, Nathan Dhablania (MD 鈥�26, MPH 鈥�26) is reflecting on his Loyola experience, accomplishments, and post-graduate life.

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.

Stritch Class of 2026 learns their residency match

Match Day is an annual rite of passage for medical students in the United States. It is when they open the envelopes that reveal where they will continue their medical training in residency. Stritch physicians-in-training matched in 24 specialties across 25 states, with 56% matching in the Midwest.

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.

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 草莓社区-Ukrainian Catholic University International Bioethics Training Program.

2025 Stritch Medalist

Stritch Medalist Eva Bading, MD, FAAFP embodies Loyola鈥檚 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.

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鈥檚 commitment to translating fundamental science discoveries into treatments to improve human health and patient outcomes.

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.鈥� All Stritch first-year medical students complete the program as part of their two-semester Patient Centered Medicine 1 course.

Called to provide compassionate, equitable care

The Jesuit value of 鈥渃ura personalis鈥� 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.

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.

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.

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鈥檚 dream of becoming a physician. The Stritch Dean鈥檚 First-Generation Scholarship was created to help reduce that barrier for students who are the first in their families to graduate from college.

Rooted in the Jesuit, Catholic identity of 草莓社区 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, 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.

In the annual essay contest, medical and nursing students are invited to share real-life stories of humanistic care, and this year鈥檚 inspirational prompt was the quote: 鈥淥f all the tools in my medical bag, the most important of all is not in the bag itself 鈥� it鈥檚 my ears, to listen to the patient." Gomez is committed to serving and uplifting communities, and her essay was entitled 鈥淣o Est谩s Sola.鈥�

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.

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

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.

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.

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

When the Stritch School of Medicine Class of 2025 gathers for Commencement, they鈥檒l be addressed by someone who鈥檚 not only shared their journey but helped shape it鈥擬4 Class President Samantha Swamy.

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.

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

Physician’s Vocation Program

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

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.

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鈥攁 mission to heal individuals while also transforming the systems and structures that affect their health.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Earning three degrees will help Chidozie Onyiuke navigate medicine and business

Chidozie Onyiuke's pursuit of three degrees鈥擬D, MA, and MBA鈥攕howcases 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.

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.

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.

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.

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鈥檚 Art Reflection.

MD/PhD candidate overcomes the odds

Learn about Cesar Montelongo-Hernandez's Unique Story

2023 President's Medallion

Interview with Charlotte Adema, President's Medallion 2023 awardee.

Two Students Win St. Albert's Day Competition

鈥淒uring the interview process, all the Stritch professors seemed really invested in my goals and what I wanted out of a graduate education. It was a very welcoming environment right from the start,鈥� she said.

Mark Kuczewski receives international bioethics award

Congratulations to Stritch's Director of Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics and Healthcare Leadership, Mark Kuczewski, PhD, for receiving the 2023 IAB Award for Bioethics Service in the Face of Challenges.

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.

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.

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.

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鈥檚 role in cardiac health, her work aims to uncover therapeutic strategies for improving heart function.

WINS inspires the next generation with science sisters’ day

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

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.

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

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

Meet the Stritch Class of 2028

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

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.

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.

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.

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.