2026, Issue II

we’d love to hear from you!

Share your important milestones with us.

Please share your recent news, accomplishments, and important milestones with us. Submit your updates and high-resolution photos via the linked form, and we will publish them in an upcoming issue of the magazine.

Send an update

Feinberg “study buddies” and friends Rachel Elwell, ’03 MD, ’06 GME; Jeannie Goodspeed, ’03 MD; and Nicole Nourmand, ’03 MD, make sure to stay connected by carving out time in their busy schedules to get together for mini-reunions. Recently, the trio met up in Palm Springs, California, and spent some quality time hiking, soaking up the sun, and basking in each other’s company. 

1960s

Stephen M. Soreff, ’69 MD, a retired psychiatrist, believes education is one of the key components of mental health. For over a decade since his retirement, he has been teaching a program at the University of New Hampshire in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. One of Soreff’s most popular classes, Madness and the Movies, presents films about mental illness and treatments followed by a discussion on the film. In that same program, Soreff has also taught a course on the history of psychiatry. 

1970s

James “Jimmy” A. Hill, ’71, ’74 MD, ’79 GME, longtime Medical Alumni Association (MAA) Board member and former MAA Board president, has been awarded the Northwestern Alumni Medal, the highest honor bestowed by the Northwestern Alumni Association. A distinguished orthopedic surgeon, educator, and dedicated Northwestern volunteer, Hill has served on the Feinberg faculty for more than four decades in numerous leadership roles, including chief of staff at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and as a member of the Northwestern Memorial Hospital Foundation Board of Directors. He also served as medical director of the Orthopaedic Education and Research Foundation and board examiner for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. Hill provided care as a physician for the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team and has been recognized for his commitment to service, including receiving the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boys & Girls Club of Chicago Icon Award. 

Leo A. Gordon,’73 MD, presented “America 250! – Medical Care During the Revolutionary War” to a packed auditorium on July 1 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Hosted by the Cedars-Sinai Center for Arts & Humanities in Medicine, the presentation explored life in colonial America, the state of medicine in the colonies, the health problems of military camp life, the treatment of battle injuries, and issues in the administration of the medical department. Gordon concluded the presentation with a summary of the advances in medicine resulting from the war. 

Peter McMenamin, ’79 BSPT, ’87 MSPT, DPT, associate chair for Strategic Partnerships in the Northwestern University Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences (NUPTHMS) and associate professor of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences at Feinberg, has been appointed as a trustee of the Foundation of Physical Therapy Research. McMenamin has been a strong advocate and supporter of the foundation since it was established in 1979, which is the same year he graduated from NUPTHMS.

Drew Senyei, ’79 MD, has been appointed to the board of trustees of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. Senyei is a physician, inventor, and venture capitalist with more than 30 years of experience in healthcare and emerging technology. He is the co-founder of Enterprise Partners Venture Capital, the founding investor of NuVasive, and a former executive chair of NeoSeq, Ltd. At Salk, Senyei will work alongside global business and nonprofit leaders to support foundational and innovative biological research. 

1980s

Sharonne Hayes, ’81 BSM, ’83 MD, was recognized for her achievements in women’s health with the Lila A. Wallis Lifetime Achievement Award for Advancing Women’s Health during the 111th Annual Meeting of the American Medical Women’s Association in San Francisco in March 2026. Hayes is a professor and the founder of the Women’s Heart Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Steve Greenberg, ’82 DDS, has launched the guess-the-gadget game show What the Heck Is That? across YouTube, TikTok, and the streaming platform DBTV. A longtime television tech and gadget reporter, Greenberg began his career as a television news reporter before transitioning to showcasing innovative products on air. In addition to hosting the show, he is the author of Gadget Nation: A Journey Through the Eccentric World of Invention and serves as the “Gadget Guy” on more than 40 TV stations nationwide.

Gabriel M. Kind, ’86 MD, ’94 GME, has been appointed to the editorial board of the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS), serving as associate editor. Kind, who is the president and co-owner of Kind-Chang Plastic Surgery, recently completed his term as chairman of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, where he served as director in 2019.

Lawrence Lenke, ’86 MD, an orthopedic spine surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and a pioneer in complex adult and pediatric spinal deformity surgery, was awarded the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Distinguished Medical Alumni Award at Alumni Weekend 2026. Created in 1998 by then-vice president and dean of the medical school Harvey Colten, this award is presented annually to recognize an alum whose outstanding professional achievements bring honor to the medical school and merit special recognition. Learn more about Lenke and his accomplishments on page 34.

1990s

William “Bill” Healey, ’93 MSPT, EdD, associate chair for Professional Education and professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences and professor of Medical Education at Feinberg, was named the recipient of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Acute Care President’s Award. This award recognizes his contributions and dedicated service to APTA and the  acute care community.

Mark Micek, ’93 MD, MPH, clinical professor of General Internal Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, has been named the recipient of the 2026 American College of Physicians–Wisconsin Chapter Helen Dickie Distinguished Internist of the Year Award.

Samuel Lin, ’94 BSM, ’97 MD, ’06 GME, has been named editor-in-chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Lin is associate professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, director of Aesthetic Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), chief of Plastic Surgery at BID–Needham Hospital, co-director of the Harvard Aesthetic and Reconstructive Fellowship, adjunct associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Tufts University, and program director of the BIDMC/Harvard Plastic Surgery Residency Programs.

Srinivas R. Kaza, ’91, ’95 MD, an ENT-otolaryngologist with two decades of clinical experience in ENT surgery, is incoming chair of the Practice Management Education Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS).

Paul Giboney, ’96 MD, has been named chief medical officer of the Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. Based in Los Angeles, Rancho is a long-standing leader in rehabilitation and neurorestoration. Prior to this appointment, Giboney was the associate chief medical officer for Los Angeles County Health Services.

Amish M. Shah, ’97, ’01 MD, won the Democratic primary for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, advancing his campaign for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. An emergency medicine physician and former member of the Arizona House of Representatives, Shah has dedicated his career to healthcare, public service, and community advocacy. During his time in the Arizona Legislature, he focused on issues surrounding education, support for small businesses, and improving public health and safety. Shah continues to bring his medical background and commitment to service to his work in public life.

Christopher R. Rehm, ’98 MD, has joined HCA Healthcare as chief medical officer of Enterprise Practice Operations for HCA Physician Services. In his new role, he will lead enterprise clinical strategies, strengthen physician leadership, and drive improvements in quality, access, and patient outcomes across one of the nation’s largest healthcare delivery systems.

Christian W. Cobaugh, ’99 MS, PhD, has been appointed chief executive officer of Alloy Genetic Medicines, a company focused on advancing nucleic acid–based therapies at the genetic level. With more than 15 years of leadership experience in genetic medicines, including serving as founding CEO of CDMO Vernal Biosciences and holding leadership roles at other pioneering biotechnology organizations, Cobaugh will lead the company’s efforts to develop next-generation RNA medicines. 

2000s

Melissa Simon, MD, MPH, ’06 GME, MBA, vice chair for Research in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the George H. Gardner, MD, Professor of Clinical Gynecology, and professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Feinberg, was presented with the 2026 Women in Science Award at the 111th Annual Meeting of the American Medical Women’s Association. Simon is also associate director of Community Outreach and Engagement at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. 

Kristian T. Schafernak, MD, ’07 ’08 GME, was named permanent chair of Pathology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Phoenix this past April, having served as interim chair since October 2024. Schafernak is also a professor of Child Health and Pathology and the clinical specialty adviser who is charged with guiding students wishing to pursue a career in pathology.

2010s

Kara Goldman, MD, ’12 GME, associate professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, has been appointed to the Equinox Women’s Health Advisory Board. The board has been convened to shape the company’s holistic approach to a high-performance lifestyle for women and provide clinical insight and expert perspective to inform Equinox’s approach to women’s health programming.

Jessica Cohen, ’16 DPT, has been named director of health and human performance for the Chicago Sky, returning to the organization for the 2026 season to support athlete health and performance initiatives.

2020s

Heather Cigas-Mazur, ’21 DPT, was selected as an APTA Leadership Scholar for 2026. The APTA Association Leadership Scholars Program invests in the future of the profession by cultivating emerging leaders and supporting APTA members as they prepare to advance the association’s vision.

Justin M. Dubin, MD, ’22 GME, has been named director of Men’s Sexual Health at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute.  In addition to his clinical work, he co-hosts the educational podcast Man Up — A Doctor’s Guide to Men’s Health and has been featured as a medical expert on several major media platforms.

Marissa Luck, MD, ’22 GME, has joined Pinnacle Fertility Oregon (formerly ORM Fertility) as a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist. Luck brings advanced clinical training and expertise in helping individuals and couples build their families. She previously served as an andrologist at the practice before returning to her new role, in which she will provide comprehensive, patient-centered fertility care.

Mason Myers, PT, DPT, ’25 PTR, 2025 graduate of the Northwestern University and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency program, was named the recipient of the 2026 APTA Outstanding Physical Therapist Resident Award.

Kelly Xie, ’26 DPT, was awarded the 2026 APTA Mary McMillan Scholarship Award. This prestigious award acknowledges and honors outstanding physical therapist and physical therapist assistant students who are nearing the completion of their respective programs of study and exhibit superior capabilities across several domains.