Eight outstanding faculty members were honored at Rush University’s 2016 Faculty Recognition Reception. Each was given a Rush Faculty Excellence Award for their contributions to the personal and professional lives of countless patients, families, colleagues and trainees. Click an image for more information about each faculty member.
Leo Verhagen, MD, PhD
Excellence in Clinical Service
Professor, Department of Neurological Sciences
Director, Movement Disorder Surgery Program
“Dr. Verhagen is the main reason Rush University Medical Center has become widely recognized as a premier deep brain stimulation center in Chicago. His warmth and inclusiveness have extended to collaborations with colleagues at other universities.”
— Christopher Goetz, MD, Professor, Department of Neurological Sciences
Excellence in Clinical Service
Professor, Department of Neurological Sciences
Director, Movement Disorder Surgery Program
“Dr. Verhagen is the main reason Rush University Medical Center has become widely recognized as a premier deep brain stimulation center in Chicago. His warmth and inclusiveness have extended to collaborations with colleagues at other universities.”
— Christopher Goetz, MD, Professor, Department of Neurological Sciences
Sayona John, MD Excellence in Clinical Service
Associate Professor, Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University
Head, Section of Critical Care Neurology, Department of Neurological Sciences
“Dr. John is a brilliant and dedicated physician who has her patients’ best interest at heart, and she has the tenacity and fortitude necessary to get the job done. Clinically, she is conscientious and thoughtful, and is a fierce champion for her patients.”
— Vivien Lee, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Neurological Sciences
Associate Professor, Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University
Head, Section of Critical Care Neurology, Department of Neurological Sciences
“Dr. John is a brilliant and dedicated physician who has her patients’ best interest at heart, and she has the tenacity and fortitude necessary to get the job done. Clinically, she is conscientious and thoughtful, and is a fierce champion for her patients.”
— Vivien Lee, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Neurological Sciences
Mark H. Pollack, MD
Excellence in Research
Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry
Director, Road Home Program: The Center for Veterans and Their Families
“Dr. Pollack has created a supportive, vibrant environment for trainees, mentees and faculty to conduct high quality clinical research with potential to make a direct impact on patient well-being. He has taken extraordinary efforts to develop the next generation of psychiatric researchers.”
— Latha Soorya, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Excellence in Research
Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry
Director, Road Home Program: The Center for Veterans and Their Families
“Dr. Pollack has created a supportive, vibrant environment for trainees, mentees and faculty to conduct high quality clinical research with potential to make a direct impact on patient well-being. He has taken extraordinary efforts to develop the next generation of psychiatric researchers.”
— Latha Soorya, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Scott G. Hasler, MD
Excellence in Mentoring
Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
“It is his unique combination of humility, inquisitiveness and excitement that makes Dr. Hasler such a remarkable and noteworthy mentor. He assumes the role of mentor for truly selfless reasons, and he not only promotes success but finds joy in his mentees’ successes.”
— Manya J. Gupta, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Excellence in Mentoring
Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
“It is his unique combination of humility, inquisitiveness and excitement that makes Dr. Hasler such a remarkable and noteworthy mentor. He assumes the role of mentor for truly selfless reasons, and he not only promotes success but finds joy in his mentees’ successes.”
— Manya J. Gupta, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Jeffrey H. Kordower, PhD
Excellence in Research
Professor, Department of Neurological Sciences
Director, Research Center for Brain Repair
“Dr. Kordower is a basic scientist who has a real interest in seeing what happens on the clinical side. He takes bench-to-bedside neuroscience to a whole new level and one that is not often encountered.”
— Jennifer Goldman, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Neurological Sciences
Excellence in Research
Professor, Department of Neurological Sciences
Director, Research Center for Brain Repair
“Dr. Kordower is a basic scientist who has a real interest in seeing what happens on the clinical side. He takes bench-to-bedside neuroscience to a whole new level and one that is not often encountered.”
— Jennifer Goldman, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Neurological Sciences
Janet L. Engstrom, PhD
Excellence in Education
Professor, Department of Women, Children and Family Nursing
“Dr. Engstrom’s commitment to quality online learning compelled her to transform the most feared course by our students into a course that is constantly praised by students. Her courses are designed to be intuitive.”
— Wrenetha Julion PhD, MPH, RN, Professor and Chair, Department of Women, Children and Family Nursing
Excellence in Education
Professor, Department of Women, Children and Family Nursing
“Dr. Engstrom’s commitment to quality online learning compelled her to transform the most feared course by our students into a course that is constantly praised by students. Her courses are designed to be intuitive.”
— Wrenetha Julion PhD, MPH, RN, Professor and Chair, Department of Women, Children and Family Nursing
Niranjan Karnik, MD, PhD
Excellence in Community Service
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Medical Director, Road Home Program: The Center for Veterans and Their Families at Rush
“Dr. Karnik is a highly skilled and compassionate physician who has committed himself to the care of the underserved not only in our own community but across the country.”
— David Ansell, MD, MPH, Senior Vice President, System Integration
Excellence in Community Service
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Medical Director, Road Home Program: The Center for Veterans and Their Families at Rush
“Dr. Karnik is a highly skilled and compassionate physician who has committed himself to the care of the underserved not only in our own community but across the country.”
— David Ansell, MD, MPH, Senior Vice President, System Integration
Parameswaran Venugopal, MD
Excellence in Mentoring
Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Head, Section of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine
“Dr. Venugopal is always respectful and calm. He is very open to new ideas and innovation, and willing to add practical perspective through his experience in clinical work and research.”
— Agne Paner, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology
Excellence in Mentoring
Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Head, Section of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine
“Dr. Venugopal is always respectful and calm. He is very open to new ideas and innovation, and willing to add practical perspective through his experience in clinical work and research.”
— Agne Paner, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology