Health System Leadership Group
Paul K. Whelton, MB, MD, MSc, president and chief executive officer and vice president, Health Sciences, Loyola University Chicago. Dr. Whelton joined Loyola University Health System (Loyola) in 2007. He has overall responsibility for Loyola and senior oversight of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and Niehoff School of Nursing. Most recently, he was senior vice president for health sciences at Tulane University Health Sciences Center as well as dean of the Tulane University School of Medicine (Tulane). Dr. Whelton has held faculty positions at both Tulane and Johns Hopkins University. A native of Cork City, Ireland, Dr. Whelton received his medical degree from the National University of Ireland, University College Cork, and a master of science degree in epidemiology from the University of London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He completed residency training in internal medicine and a nephrology fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and a post-doctoral fellowship in epidemiology at the Medical Research Council Epidemiology and Clinical Care Unit, Northwick Park Hospital, Middlesex, England. Dr. Whelton has conducted a series of groundbreaking studies on the prevention and treatment of hypertension for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the National Institute on Aging. Well-published and a frequent presenter and lecturer at scientific meetings, Dr. Whelton has served as a consultant to numerous national and international health agencies and governments.
Karen Lewis Alexander, senior vice president, Development & External Affairs. Ms. Alexander joined Loyola in 2008 as vice president of Development to oversee the planning, management and implementation of the fund-raising program and long-term development goals for Loyola University Health System, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and the university's Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. In her current role, she has overall responsibility for Development, Marketing and Planning. Prior to joining Loyola, Ms. Alexander was associate vice president for alumni and development communications and advancement initiatives at the University of Chicago, where she had worked for seven years in progressive roles. Before joining the University of Chicago, Ms. Alexander had worked in various capacities at InterArt Distribution in Bloomington, Ind., and at Union Theological Seminary in New York. She earned her bachelor of arts degree from Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. She is a member and voting judge of The University & College Designers Association and a member of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. Ms. Alexander has been a guest speaker at conferences, and has earned myriad awards for her work on design, writing and marketing education campaigns for higher education.
William Cannon, MD, AAP, ACP, associate professor, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine and Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine; chief of staff and associate dean, Graduate Medical Education. Dr. Cannon is responsible for the oversight of the medical-dental staff as well as the oversight of graduate medical education. He also has oversight of Loyola University Health System quality & patient safety, risk management and patient relations. He continues to practice internal medicine and pediatrics. Dr. Cannon received a bachelor of arts degree from Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., and his doctor of medicine degree from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (Stritch). He completed a combined residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at Loyola University Medical Center (LUMC). Dr. Cannon also is an associate professor of internal medicine and pediatrics at Stritch. He has held a variety of positions at LUMC and Loyola University Health System, including medical director of primary care and managed care and program director for the combined internal medicine and pediatrics residency program. Dr. Cannon is chairman of Loyola University Chicago Insurance Corp. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Physicians. Dr. Cannon has received several awards for teaching, including two Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching and an Inspirational Faculty Award from the Department of Medicine, Stritch. He is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha.
Patricia Cassidy, president, Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, and senior vice president, Strategy. As president of Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, Ms. Cassidy is responsible for creating a strategic plan for the future of Gottlieb. She also represents Gottlieb at the Loyola University Health System (Loyola) leadership table. Ms. Cassidy also serves as senior vice president responsible for Loyola strategic planning. Serving in that strategic planning role since 1998 as the senior vice present for System Development & Strategy, Ms. Cassidy had responsibility for overall strategic planning, marketing and public relations, quality and patient safety, managed care contracting, and government and community affairs for Loyola and Loyola University Physician Foundation (LUPF). Prior to this, Ms. Cassidy served Loyola and LUPF in many capacities including vice president for managed care for the health system. Prior to Loyola, Ms. Cassidy worked in both the health-care insurance and marketing industries. Ms. Cassidy is a cum laude graduate of the University of Illinois and received her master’s degree in business administration from Loyola University Chicago. She serves on the boards at RML Specialty Hospital and Leaders Bank and holds an honorary appointment on the faculty of Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing and is a co-course director at Stritch.
Mark E. Cichon, DO, FACEP, FACOEP, associate professor and division director, Division of Emergency Medical Services, Department of Surgery, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine; medical director, Emergency Department and aeromedical transport, Loyola University Medical Center. Dr. Cichon has primary administrative responsibilities for the emergency medical services provided at Loyola University Medical Center. He overseas Loyola's Emergency Medical Services System, which incorporates education program training at all levels of care in the emergency system. Dr. Cichon also chairs the Region 8 Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee, is a member of the Illinois Medical Emergency Response Team and is a bioterrorism/mass casualty consultant for the Cook County Department of Public Health, among many other related appointments. Dr. Cichon earned his doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine/Midwestern University. He completed his residency training in emergency medicine at Chicago Osteopathic Medical Center. He is certified in emergency medicine by the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine. His special interests include disaster preparedness, pre-hospital medicine and chest pain evaluation. He is co-principal investigator for the Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children Grant with the Illinois Department of Public Health. Dr. Cichon is president elect of the Illinois College of Emergency Physicians and holds membership in numerous professional societies; he is a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians.
Richard L. Gamelli, MD, FACS, dean, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (Stritch); Robert J. Freeark, MD, Professor of Trauma Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stritch; professor, Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Stritch; director, Burn & Shock Trauma Institute and medical director, Burn Unit, Loyola University Health System (Loyola). Dr. Gamelli was named dean in April 2009. He is responsible for overseeing Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (Stritch) and graduate school education and research programs for both students and faculty. He joined Stritch in 1990 as professor of surgery; he was named chair of the Department of Surgery five years later. During his tenure, he has held numerous leadership positions within the institution, including vice president and board member of the former Loyola University Physician Foundation; he is a member of the Loyola University Health System/Loyola University Medical Center Board of Directors. Dr. Gamelli is one of the nation's leading authorities on burn injury and its treatment. His research centers on the effects of burn injury and infection on myelopoiesis, which has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the past 20 years. He is a member of the NIH Center for Scientific Review's Surgery, Anesthesia and Trauma Study Section. The number of his publications in peer review journals, books and abstracts exceeds 400. Dr. Gamelli earned his medical degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine. He completed both a surgical internship and surgical residency at the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont. He held a number of positions during his tenure at the Vermont medical school, including professor of surgery and vice chairman of the Department of Surgery. He holds membership in dozens of medical and scientific societies, including the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, the American Board of Surgery and the American Burn Association (ABA). He is past president of the ABA; he has been an active member since 1979. He also is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Gamelli is the current editor-in-chief for the Journal of Burn Care and Research, and he is a member of several additional editorial boards including Shock, The Practice of Surgery and Contemporary Surgery. He has earned many teaching awards and also has been named to assorted top physician lists both locally and nationally.
John Gianopoulos, MD, FACOG, Mary Isabelle Caestecker Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and chair, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (Stritch); division director, Division of Maternal/Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Stritch; medical director, Women's Service Line, Loyola University Health System. Dr. Gianopoulos began his career with Loyola as a medical student at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. He also completed a residency and a fellowship in maternal fetal medicine at Loyola before joining the faculty as an instructor. During his tenure at Loyola, Dr. Gianopoulos has served in numerous academic and administrative roles, including his current position as medical director of women's health services. As such, he overseas all women's related services throughout Loyola University Health System. He has earned numerous awards for excellence in teaching. He also has been named to several top physician lists both locally and nationally. Dr. Gianopoulos is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology and holds a subspecialty certification in maternal-fetal medicine. His special interests include genetic and birth defects, high-risk obstetrics, lupus in pregnancy, premature labor and delivery, triplets and ultrasound diagnosis. He is a fellow in the American Institute for Ultrasound in Medicine, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, the American College of Obstetricians Gynecologists and the Chicago Gynecological Society. Dr. Gianopoulos has authored or co-authored dozens of abstracts and publications in his field.
David W. Hecht, MD, IDSA, professor and chair, Department of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine; co-director, Infectious Disease & Immunology Institute. Dr. Hecht was named chair of the Department of Medicine in January 2009, with administrative responsibility for the largest department within Stritch. He is a renowned infectious disease clinician and researcher who has been a member of the Stritch faculty for more than 20 years. He is the immediate past division director of the Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine. Dr. Hecht earned his medical degree from Stritch; he completed a residency in internal medicine at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and a fellowship in infectious disease and geographic medicine at Tufts University, Boston. Dr. Hecht is certified by the American Board of Medicine. His current research focuses on antibiotic resistance in bacteria, and he has been a leader in the development of international testing guidelines for anaerobic bacterial strains. Dr. Hecht is a member of the American College of Physicians, the American Society for Microbiology and the Anaerobe Society of the Americas, among others, and a fellow of the Infectious Disease Society of America. He has published myriad scholarly articles and has been a guest lecturer at dozens of medical symposiums and conventions worldwide.
Paula Hindle, RN, MSN, MBA, vice president, Health Care Services and chief nurse executive. Ms. Hindle joined Loyola University Health System in 1997 as vice president. In 2004, she was named chief nurse executive of ambulatory services as well. She is responsible for nursing education and support services, social work, quality resource management, infection control and patient education. She has functioned in a nurse executive position for health-care providers for two decades. She received her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Fitchburg State College in Massachusetts, her master of science degree in nursing from Duke University and her master’s degree in business administration from Simmons College in Massachusetts. Ms. Hindle has been an active member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, Massachusetts Organization of Nurse Executives, Virginia Organization of Nurse Executives, the Illinois Organization of Nurse Leaders and Sigma Theta Tau. In 1990, Ms. Hindle received the Outstanding Alumna Achievement Award from Simmons Graduate School of Management.
Richard H. Kennedy, PhD, vice president for Health Sciences Research, senior associate dean for research and professor of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Cell and Molecular Physiology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. Dr. Kennedy joined Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in 2004 following 20 years at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock. He began his tenure there as an instructor in the Department of Pharmacology and Interdisciplinary Toxicology; his last positions were professor and chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and dean of the university’s graduate school. From 1995 to 1997 he also served half time as the vice-president for EPSCoR Research at the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority, a state agency focusing on the development of a competitive statewide research infrastructure. His research in cardiovascular pharmacology and pathophysiology has resulted in more than 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts and has been funded by a variety of agencies including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the American Heart Association (AHA). Currently, his research is focused on the signaling pathways and cardiac actions of cytokines, prevention and treatment of adverse cardiac remodeling and gender differences in the cardiac aging process. Dr. Kennedy received his bachelor of science degree from St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 1975 and his doctoral degree in pharmacology from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1981. He also had postdoctoral training in cardiac pharmacology at Michigan State University. He serves regularly on various peer-review groups including NIH, the AHA, the Veterans Administration Merit Program, the American Diabetes Association and the British Columbia Health Care Research Foundation.
Vicki Keough, PhD, RN-Cs, ACNP, CCRN, professor and acting dean, Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. Dr. Keough joined Loyola University Chicago in 1986 and its Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing in 1992. Most recently, she served as a professor and associate dean of the school’s master’s program and director of the doctor of nursing practice program. Prior to joining Loyola, Dr. Keough served as an emergency department clinical nurse specialist at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Ill., and as a staff nurse in the Department of Emergency Medical Services at Loyola University Health System. Dr. Keough earned her doctorate and master’s degrees in nursing from Loyola’s Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing and her bachelor of science degree from St. Xavier University in Chicago, Ill. Throughout her career, she has presented and published several studies and received numerous research grants and honors. Dr. Keough is a member of the American Nurses Association, the Illinois Nurses Association, the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, the Emergency Nurses Association and the Illinois Emergency Nurses Association, where she has been recognized as a distinguished leader.
Terry Light, MD, FAAOS, FACS, Dr. William M. Scholl Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and chair, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine; medical director, Orthopaedics Service Line. Dr. Light directs the educational programs and oversees clinical care and research efforts in this area of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (Stritch). He earned his medical degree from Chicago Medical School. He completed his surgical internship and orthopaedic surgery residency at the Yale/New Haven Hospital. He completed a fellowship in hand surgery at Connecticut Combined Hand Surgery Program. Before joining Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, he served as assistant professor of surgery at Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Light is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and holds a certification in hand surgery from the same board. His clinical and research interests have focused on hand surgery with a particular emphasis on children's hand problems and medical education. Dr. Light has provided professional leadership as president of numerous medical organizations, including the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, the Academic Orthopaedic Society, the American Orthopaedic Association, the Illinois Orthopaedic Society and the Chicago Hand Society. He is an honorary member of hand surgery societies in Hong Kong, Australia, Japan and Lithuania. He is an international speaker on hand surgery and has authored over 100 articles, book chapters and editorials on orthopaedic topics.
Sharon O'Keefe, president, Loyola University Hospital. Ms. O'Keefe joined Loyola University Hospital in April 2009. She is responsible for hospital operations management and financial performance. Most recently, she was chief operating officer for Barnes-Jewish Hospital, a member hospital of BJC Healthcare in St. Louis. Ms. O'Keefe has served in senior management roles at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Montefiore Medical Center, University of Maryland Medical System and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, a major teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Her experience also includes health-care consulting with Ernst & Young and service as an Examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Ms. O'Keefe began her career as a critical care nurse at Loyola University Medical Center. She holds a master of science degree in nursing from Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing and a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Northern Illinois University.
Thomas C. Origitano, MD, PhD, FACS, professor and chair, Department of Neurological Surgery, Loyola Stritch School of Medicine (Stritch); medical director, Neuroscience Service Line, and co-director, Center for Cranial Base Surgery, Loyola University Health System. Dr. Origitano directs neurosciences clinical care and clinical research efforts at Loyola. He earned his doctorate in neuro-biochemistry at Loyola University Chicago and his medical degree at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. He completed his neurological surgery residency at Loyola University Medical Center. During that time, he also trained at Queens Square in London and at Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan. Dr. Origitano is certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery. As director of neurosciences, he oversees the clinical operations of neurology, neurosurgery, otolaryngology and related support services as well as the neuro-intensive care unit. His clinical interests include cerebrovascular disease and adult hydrocephalus; surgical interests include cranial (skull) base, computer-assisted surgical therapeutics, minimally invasive endonasal, endoscopic skull base, pituitary and cervical spine. His current research interests include clinical outcomes, complication avoidance and interventions, intraoperative image-guided computer-assisted surgical therapeutics, venous thromboembolism avoidance and socioeconomic aspects of the delivery of neurosurgical care in the United States. Dr. Origitano is an active member of a dozen national/international neurosurgical societies. He has more than 100 peer reviewed publications and book chapters.
Daniel Post, senior vice president, Ambulatory Programs and interim chief operating officer, Loyola University Hospital. Mr. Post, who became senior vice president in 2008 is responsible for all ambulatory practice operations including more than 20 primary and specialty facilities. Additionally, he is responsible for radiation oncology, outpatient rehabilitation, occupational and employee health, outpatient radiology, outpatient psychiatry, satellite cancer centers. Mr. Post also leads a team of 17 specialty medical directors who are responsible for the medical leadership within all specialty ambulatory practices. Prior to this, he served Loyola in positions of increasing responsibility including vice president for ambulatory services, and administrative director, Primary Care and Occupational Medicine. Mr. Post also has served as a part-time faculty member at the College of DuPage, Triton College, Moraine Valley Community College and for the American Heart Association. He received his bachelor of science and master of business administration degrees from Loyola University Chicago; he is a cum laude graduate of Moraine Valley Community College (respiratory care). Mr. Post has held board positions on the Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation, Plymouth Place and the Perinatal Association of Illinois.
Charles E. Reiter III, Esq.,senior vice president, general counsel and secretary, Loyola University Health System (Loyola) and Loyola University Medical Center. Mr. Reiter is responsible for the legal affairs of the corporations. Mr. Reiter, who assumed his current position in 1997, also is responsible for government & community affairs and compliance/auditing for Loyola. Since receiving his Illinois attorney license, he has concentrated his practice of law in health-related areas including contracting, reimbursement and litigation. He served as outside counsel to Loyola University Chicago and Loyola University Medical Center from 1983 to his appointment in 1997. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Boston University and his juris doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law. He is admitted to practice in the Illinois state and federal courts. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State and Chicago Bar associations, American Health Lawyers Association, Appellate Lawyers Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and American Society of Corporate Secretaries.
Patrick J. Stiff, MD, ABIM, Coleman Professor of Oncology and director, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine and associate chair, Department of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine; director, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center and medical director, Cancer Service Line, Loyola University Health System. Dr. Stiff is responsible for oncology and hematology clinical services as well as related research within Loyola. He earned his medical degree from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. Dr. Stiff completed his residency training in general internal medicine at Cleveland Clinic Foundation and then a fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Stiff holds certifications in hematology, internal medicine and medical oncology from the American Board of Internal Medicine. Author of hundreds of abstracts and publications, Dr. Stiff's special interests include leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and ovarian cancer. He has developed a unique method of processing frozen umbilical cord blood for transplant that enables more stem cells to survive, thereby providing a leukemia or lymphoma cancer patient with a shorter time to recover after transplant. He also is the lead investigator for Loyola's cancer vaccine program for ovarian cancer.
David Wilber, MD, FAHA, FACC, George M. Eisenberg Professor of Medicine and director, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and director, Cardiovascular Institute. Dr. Wilber first joined Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in 1984 as an assistant professor. He left 10 years later to join University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine as a professor. He returned here in 2001 to head the Cardiovascular Institute, where he is directs educational efforts and cardiology clinical services. Dr. Wilber received his medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School and completed his residency in internal medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He completed his fellowship in cardiovascular disease at the University of Michigan Hospitals and a fellowship in clinical cardiac electrophysiology at Massachusetts General Hospital. His distinguished career as an internationally renowned expert in cardiac electrophysiology includes additional faculty positions with Harvard Medical School, the University of Michigan Medical School and Northwestern University Medical School.