Winter - Spring 2012 - Rosalind Franklin University

Each year, the University receives almost 10,000 applications for
less than 800 admission slots. In some instances, students who
have the drive and the aptitude to pursue a career in health care
face difficult financial decisions as they try to balance existing
student loans with other life circumstances. Giving these students
the opportunities they deserve is critical, and as part of the University
centennial celebration, Rosalind Franklin is embarking on a five-year,
$5 million campaign to increase support for scholarships. Students
with the talent and compassion to make a difference in the world
of health care tomorrow need our commitment today.
We are pleased to announce that the University has received a lead
gift of $1 million from the Dr. Scholl Foundation toward this effort.
The Foundation, established by Dr. William M. Scholl in 1947, is a
private, independent grant-making foundation for charitable purposes,
and for many years has been extremely generous to Scholl College
and Rosalind Franklin University. The Foundation’s gift will provide
scholarships for the students in our colleges for the next several
years. With this gift, the Dr. Scholl Foundation is challenging our
supporters, alumni, faculty, staff and friends to donate an additional
$250,000 during the 2012 Centennial Year. Alumni donations made
towards the challenge will be utilized by the college from which the
Chicago Medical School
College of Health Professions
College of Pharmacy
Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine
School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
University Receives Lead Gift for Centennial Scholarship Campaign
Winter - Spring 2012
“We know that scholarships
transform the student
experience and provide
opportunities for students
with the aptitude and
the desire to pursue a
career in health care.
Raising additional funds
for scholarships will help
the University to remain
competitive with peer
institutions, to attract and
retain the highest caliber of
students, and to maintain a
diverse student body.”
- Dr. K. Michael Welch,
President and CEO
alumnus graduated, and the sooner we can meet the challenge, the
sooner our students will benefit.
In addition to the generous support of the Dr. Scholl Foundation, the
University Board of Trustees, President Welch, the deans, members
of the President’s Cabinet and other donors have already made
commitments to the campaign.
“We know that scholarships transform the student experience and
provide opportunities for students with the aptitude and the desire
to pursue a career in health care. Raising additional funds for
scholarships will help the University to remain competitive with
peer institutions, to attract and retain the highest caliber of students,
and to maintain a diverse student body,” said Dr. K. Michael Welch,
President and CEO.
Rosalind Franklin University has experienced tremendous growth in
enrollment over the past five years, and has expanded its health
sciences education to five graduate-level colleges and schools.
To learn more about the scholarship campaign and the students who
have already benefited from donor generosity, please visit
www.rosalindfranklin.edu/centennial.aspx.

President’s Message
There are times in all our
busy lives when it feels
right to pause and reflect
on the past. At a university
such as ours, milestone
anniversaries often inspire
such rumination. We give
ourselves permission on
such occasions to think
about our history, the
accomplishments and
visionary ideas of those
who went before us, and the
legacy we are privileged and
challenged to continue.
Such is the case this year as
K. Michael Welch, MB, ChB, FRCP Rosalind Franklin University
of Medicine and Science
proudly celebrates its
centennial. It’s difficult now to even imagine what our world was
like in 1912. It was the year of the Titanic disaster. We had yet
to fight World War I. And, in medicine, noted Chicago physician
Dr. James B. Herrick published the first account of a heart attack in
a living patient.
A century ago, the opportunities for aspiring medical professionals
were quite different, too. When the Chicago Medical School opened
its doors, it welcomed young people whose race, gender, religion or
cultural background had all but disqualified them from admission to
many other universities. Just blocks away, the visionary Dr. William
M. Scholl founded one of the nation’s first schools devoted to the
emerging specialty of podiatric medicine. The proud histories of these
founding colleges have inspired the creation of the College of Health
Professions, the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and
the new College of Pharmacy.
Lisa Zenni Joins the University’s Board of Trustees
Lisa Zenni, member of the
Board of Trustees
Recently, Lisa W. Zenni, a Lake Bluff
resident who is active in a variety of
community and philanthropic causes,
joined the University’s Board of
Trustees. She comes to us with an
admirable history of service to our
community.
Currently, Mrs. Zenni is a member of
the Board of Trustees of the Allendale
Association, a private, not-for-profit
organization located in Lake Villa,
Illinois, that provides social services
and advocates for troubled children,
youth and their families. She is a
member of the Allendale Shelter Club, which provides fundraising
support to Allendale Association and through its efforts has become
the Association’s largest donor, and is actively involved in the strategy
and the management of the school.
“I am proud that the legacy of
opportunity that began in 1912
continues today. And I know you
join me in acknowledging the
importance of this support and the
impact it can have.”
- Dr. K. Michael Welch,
President and CEO
Thankfully, the obstacles to a medical or health care education faced
by young people a century ago have all but disappeared. Today,
the challenges are largely financial. But in keeping with our longstanding
commitment to remove barriers, and in celebration of our
centennial, the University is responding. In this issue of Helix, you
will read about a generous lead gift of $1 million from the Dr. Scholl
Foundation, along with additional campaign gifts from our Board of
Trustees and from individual members of our University leadership,
which will be used to provide critical support to our students as we
begin our second century.
I am proud that the legacy of opportunity that began in 1912 continues
today. And I know you join me in acknowledging the importance of
this support and the impact it can have.
K. Michael Welch, MB, ChB, FRCP,
President and CEO
Mrs. Zenni’s other charitable causes include the Equestrian
Connection, a therapeutic riding center located in Lake Forest, Illinois,
that provides critical programs for individuals with special needs.
Additionally, Mrs. Zenni was a longtime member of the Parent Board
of the Lake Forest Country Day School, and was the recipient of the
Bondy Hodgkins Award in 2007 for outstanding accomplishment
and service.
She and her husband have supported numerous children’s causes
and have provided scholarships for local high school and college
students in Lebanon. Mrs. Zenni was a founding supporter of
Millennium Park in downtown Chicago.
Prior to being involved in philanthropy and community service,
Mrs. Zenni was employed by Merrill, Lynch & Co. Inc. at the Chicago
Board of Trade.
Michelle Hastings, PhD
2 3
Linda Dove of Dove’s Photography
Molecular Genetics and the RNA Biology Lab
As a molecular biologist, Michelle Hastings, PhD, studies the
mechanisms of basic biological processes in cells and applies her
findings to understand how these mechanisms are affected in disease.
Specifically, she studies how aberrant RNAs cause disease and how
the production of these RNAs can be corrected to treat disease. By
examining how pre-mRNA splicing is altered in diseased cells, she
can shed more light on conditions such as spinal muscular atrophy,
Alzheimer’s disease and Usher syndrome.
Recently, her lab has made significant findings in type 1 Usher
syndrome, a congenital disease characterized by hearing loss or
deafness, progressive loss of vision and severe balance issues. Usher
“Studying this mutation gives us an avenue
to look at other forms of deafness. It helps
us understand how hearing develops and
importantly, demonstrates that deafness
can be cured.”
- Michelle Hastings, PhD
College and School News
syndrome is thought to be responsible for three to six percent of all
childhood deafness and approximately 50 percent of deaf-blindness
in adults. Dr. Hastings and her colleagues have developed a treatment
approach that corrects deafness and balance problems in an animal
model of the disease. This is the first demonstration that hearing
and balance can be rescued at the molecular level in animals that
are born deaf.
“Studying this mutation gives us an avenue to look at other forms
of deafness,” explained Dr. Hastings. “It helps us understand how
hearing develops and importantly, demonstrates that deafness can
be cured.”
Dr. Hastings has received funding from the Hearing Health Foundation,
Midwest Eye-Banks and The National Organization For Hearing
Research Foundation to advance these therapeutic approaches.
As part of our strategic recruitment of young scientists, Dr. Hastings
came to the University in the fall of 2007 after completing a
postdoctoral fellowship at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (New York)
and later becoming a senior fellow. Currently, she is an assistant
professor in the department of cell biology and anatomy at the
Chicago Medical School.

College and School News
Chicago Medical School Joins Effort to Address Military and Veteran Health Needs CMS Dean Honored with IAFP President’s Award
In January, the Chicago Medical School
(CMS) joined national leaders in health care,
government and education in Richmond,
Virginia, to express support for the Joining
Forces initiative announced by the White
House. Joining Forces is a comprehensive
national effort to mobilize all sectors of
society, including health care, to give service
members and their families opportunities and
resources to succeed.
As part of this initiative, CMS
joined the Association of
American Medical Colleges
(AAMC) and the American
Association of Colleges
of Osteopathic Medicine
(AACOM) that pledged to align
their missions in education,
research and clinical care
to better train future physicians to care for
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and
traumatic brain injuries (TBI), as well as
share best practices. To date, approximately
130 medical schools across the nation have
signed on to this initiative.
In a news release issued by the White House,
First Lady Michelle Obama said, “I’m inspired
to see our nation’s medical schools step up to
address this pressing need for our veterans
and military families. By directing some of
our brightest minds, our most cutting-edge
research and our finest teaching institutions
toward our military families, they’re
ensuring that those who have served our
country receive the first-rate care that they
have earned.”
“We’re proud to be one of the initiative’s early adopters.
Given that we are the academic arm of the Captain
James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, our
University has a very close relationship with military
families. Every day, our students and clinicians see
patients with an array of needs and only through
continued collaboration can we offer the best care.”
- Dr. Russell Robertson, Dean of the Chicago Medical School
CMS was one of the first medical schools to
express its commitment to work with the
AAMC and the Obama administration to
ensure that students are trained to meet
the specific needs of active service members,
veterans and their families.
“We’re proud to be one of the initiative’s
early adopters. Given that we are the
Students working with Dr. Raul Gazmuri at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center
academic arm of the Captain James A. Lovell
Federal Health Care Center, our University
has a very close relationship with military
families. Every day, our students and
clinicians see patients with an array of needs
and only through continued collaboration
can we offer the best care,” said Dr. Russell
Robertson, Dean of the Chicago Medical
School.
An educational affiliation was
established between the two
institutions in 1974.
“As the nation’s first federal
health care center – which
combines the personnel and
resources from the Departments
of Veterans Affairs and Defense
– we could not be more pleased
to take another groundbreaking
step with our educational partner Rosalind
Franklin University of Medicine and Science,”
said Patrick L. Sullivan, Captain James A.
Lovell Federal Health Care Center Director.
“Our relationship and shared passion of
Readying Warriors and Caring for Heroes
makes this a perfect location to begin the
Joining Forces initiative.”
Dean Russell Robertson, MD
RFUMS Research Updates
Russell Robertson, MD, Dean of the Chicago Medical
School, was one of three people honored by the Illinois
Academy of Family Physicians (IAFP) for outstanding
contributions to the health of the state. Dr. Robertson
received the President’s Award from David J. Hagan,
MD, IAFP president, during the annual awards banquet
at the Marriott Oak Brook Hotel.
Dr. Robertson is a national thought leader in the area
of medical education. He was one of 17 physicians
nationwide appointed to the Council on Graduate
Medical Education by the U.S. Secretary of Health
and Human Services in 2003. Now chair of the Council
since 2008, Dr. Robertson and his fellow members
advise Congress and the Department of Health and
Human Services on issues related to physician supply
and distribution. In this capacity, he has been invited
to serve on a number of national and international
workforce bodies. He has been Dean of the Chicago
Medical School since January 2011.
Awardees Announced for the First Annual RFUMS Interdisciplinary
Pilot Grant Program
The RFUMS Interdisciplinary Pilot Grant Program, which fosters collaborative research
among members of the University, announced that it will fund three projects:
• Drs. Stephanie Wu and Dan Peterson for their project entitled:
“Stem Cell Recruitment in Wound Healing”
• Drs. Janice Urban and Marc Glucksman for their project entitled:
“Regulation of Neuropeptides in the Mammalian Reproductive Endocrinome”
• Drs. Bill Frost and Beth Stutzmann for their project entitled:
“Identifying the Origin of Hippocampal Network Dysfunction During Progression
of AD Pathology”
The applications were reviewed by an expanded RFUMS Research Review Committee
consisting of 11 members from the University research community.
Extramural Funding
During the period August 2011 - February 2012, RFUMS researchers received 12 extramural
awards totaling $3.9 million, an extraordinary accomplishment during the present difficult
funding environment.
Noted Publication
The work of Virginie Bottero, PhD, Research Assistant Professor in the Department of
Microbiology and Immunology at the Chicago Medical School, has been cited by the
National Cancer Institute’s snapshots on Kaposi’s Sarcoma under the heading of “Selected
Advances in Kaposi Sarcoma Research.” Her studies showed in a cell model that a natural
plant compound called celastrol may have therapeutic activity against KSHV.
College and School News
Recent CMS Updates
The Liaison Committee on Medical Education
(LCME) visited the Chicago Medical School
(CMS) last year for accreditation review
and was impressed with many aspects
of the medical school. CMS remains fully
accredited and the school will be revisited by
the LCME Secretariat to assess the progress
it has made in light of new administrative
changes by the new dean and its enhanced
relationship with Advocate Lutheran General
Hospital/Advocate Lutheran General
Children’s Hospital.
Lutheran General Hospital is a 638-bed
teaching, research and regional referral
hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. It is part of
Advocate Health Care, the largest health
care provider in Illinois.
“Partnering with Chicago Medical School as
we celebrate our 40th year as a research
hospital makes this partnership even more
meaningful,” said Anthony Armada, FACHE,
president of Lutheran General Hospital. “Our
goal as a teaching hospital is to provide
outstanding clinical and learning experiences
that result in lifelong relationships.”
Last fall, CMS designated Lutheran General
Hospital as the principal teaching hospital for
the medical school, in addition to its longstanding
partnerships with other regional
medical centers. Many of Lutheran General
Hospital’s clinical department chairs also
were appointed to serve as academic chairs
at the school.
“Chicago Medical School students come to
Lutheran General Hospital with excellent
skills and a strong desire to collaborate on
patient care teams,” says Michael McKenna,
vice president of medical management at
Lutheran General Hospital. “This partnership
brings additional opportunities for us to learn
from each other and improve care.”
4 5

College and School News
The Next Generation of Researchers The Next Generation of Researchers
Mallory Havens
Angela Bruno and Mallory Havens have a lot in common: they are
both recent recipients of competitive National Research Service
Awards (NSRAs) from the National Institutes of Health indicating
their outstanding research; both arrived at the School of Graduate and
Postdoctoral Studies in 2008; and both want to uncover better tools
and information that advance medical therapies. But their differences
are what define their research. While Angela works with organisms,
Mallory works at the molecular level. Their research approaches are
dissimilar but complementary, each offering an important perspective
to scientific investigation.
After attending Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, Mallory joined
the pharmaceutical industry and found that she wanted to work on
gene expression, an opportunity afforded to her when she arrived at
Rosalind Franklin. Currently, Mallory works in Dr. Michelle Hastings’
research group and investigates spinal muscular atrophy (SMA),
a degenerative disease that is a leading genetic cause of infant
mortality and for which there is no cure. Her research focuses on
correcting the molecular defect that causes SMA and applying her
discoveries to the development of potential therapies for the children
afflicted by this disease, many of whom don’t see a second birthday.
Since arriving at Rosalind Franklin, Mallory has been leaving her mark
in the world of science. She was awarded an NRSA pre-doctoral
fellowship, and her work on miRNAs was accepted in Nucleic Acids
Research where she coined a term, “simtron,” to describe splicingindependent
mirtron-like miRNAs.
(Continued from page 6)
Despite the long hours and the complexity
of the experiments, it’s all worth it to her.
“Through research, I can help masses, not
just one person at a time,” she shared.
Angela Bruno has a similar view of research.
To her, it’s a way of helping medical teams,
who ultimately help patients like her mom
who was living with a neurodegenerative
disease. The frustration that doctors could
do little to improve her condition inspired
Angela to pursue a life in research.
She graduated from the University of Illinois
at Chicago where she worked at UIC’s
department of physics, always interested
in organizing principles, but she needed
to balance her intellectual needs and the
desire to find treatments. Angela had been
an outspoken champion for the elderly, a
supporter of charitable endeavors and
always civic-minded, but she wanted more.
Impressed by the quality of research and the
core facilities at Rosalind Franklin, she joined
the University and currently works in Dr.
William Frost’s laboratory investigating how
networks of neurons perform their functions
and analyzing how a simpler model like the
marine mollusk can help us understand
Alzheimer’s disease. Her findings have been
published in Neurobiology of Aging, American
Journal of Pathology and Neuroscience, to
College and School News
name a few. Her research and collaborations
span the globe, working with physicists at
the University of Michigan, computational
scientists in England and colleagues at the
University of California in San Diego.
As Mallory and Angela test theories and gain
insight in their respective areas of study,
each helps the medical community get one
step closer to better therapies. As Mallory
shared, “Researchers are like coal miners.
We mine the coal that will power everything
that happens at the surface.”
6 7
Angela Bruno

Special Centennial Section – 100 Years of Life in Discovery
Dance for Diabetes Kicks Off Centennial Year An Historic Image, 60 Years Later
Save the Date – Centennial Weekend 2012
More than 520 students, faculty,
administration, staff and alumni
were in attendance to celebrate
the 25th anniversary of Dance for
Diabetes on January 14 at the
Drake Hotel in Chicago. The night
included a reception and silent
auction, three-course dinner and
live auction. The guests were
entertained by RFUMS’ own
Pacemakers a cappella group.
The evening raised more than
$28,000, with approximately
$21,000 benefiting the American
Diabetes Association and $7,000
benefiting the new RFUMS
Students Dedicated to Diabetes
Research and Education Initiative.
The University recognizes the
efforts of the students who
organized this event, the kickoff
for the University’s centennial year,
which attracted a record number of
guests and funds raised.
We’re planning exciting things for the University’s Centennial Weekend during our anniversary year. Save the date – September 7-9,
2012! And don’t forget to update your alumni records so we can stay in touch. Just visit us at www.rosalindfranklin.edu and click on
the Alumni tab. You can also email us at alumniaffairs@rosalindfranklin.edu or call us at 847-578-3200.
Share Your Memories
As we approach our centennial celebration in 2012,
we’re asking our alumni to help document the
University’s impact on medical education, health
sciences and the more than 17,000 students who
have graduated from RFUMS over the years. By
contributing your photos, program books or other
memorabilia from your student experience to the
University Archives, you will help build the collective
memory of our institution to share with fellow
alumni and future generations of students. For
more information, please contact alumniaffairs@
rosalindfranklin.edu or call 847-578-8417.
In May 1952, Dr. Rosalind Franklin captured Photograph 51 of the B form of DNA while
at King’s College in London. It is this photograph, acquired through 100 hours of X-ray
exposure from an instrument that Dr. Franklin herself refined, that revealed the structure
of DNA and the key to understanding how the blueprint of all life is passed down from
generation to generation. Never before had X-ray crystallography been put to such deft
or momentous use.
The discovery of the structure of DNA was the single most important advance of modern
biology. Decoding the structure of DNA put us on a path to understanding the human
genome. Quite simply, it changed the future of health care forever. James Watson and
Francis Crick, working at Cambridge University, used Photograph 51 as the basis for
their famous model of DNA.
Dr. Franklin went on to perform exceptional research at Birkbeck College. She died in
1958 of ovarian cancer, at age 37, without ever knowing the true magnitude of her
contribution to the science of life.
During the 60th anniversary of that life-changing photograph and the University’s
centennial year, we honor her dedication to science and her enduring legacy.
400 People, 16 Minutes, 1 Photo
Join the Centennial Celebration
Special Centennial Section – 100 Years of Life in Discovery
The B form of Dr. Rosalind Franklin’s
Photo 51. Nature, Volume 171: 740-41
© 1953 Macmillan Publishers Ltd
On a rare perfect fall day in North Chicago, almost 400 faculty, staff and students
gathered on the front lawn to outline the number “100.” With detailed, advanced
planning by the Facilities Department and counsel from our friends at Naval Station
Great Lakes, the area was outlined and University members were directed to their
correct positions. In 16 minutes, everyone was in place and the photo was snapped.
You can download “Photo 100” at www.rosalindfranklin.edu/centennial.aspx.
No matter where you are, you can now follow the University’s centennial celebration at www.facebook.com/rfums. You can share
your memories, reconnect with classmates and get the details you need for upcoming events.
Check www.rosalindfranklin.edu/centennial.aspx for the University’s centennial video, to download “Photo 100” or to find out
more about ways you can support the University’s next 100 years.
8 9

College and School News College and School News
Intervention Strategies in Social Medicine
Ateequr Rahman, PhD, MBA, RPh
In November 2011, Ateequr Rahman, PhD, MBA, RPh, joined the
College of Pharmacy as associate professor of pharmacy practice,
bringing with him his passion for providing quality care to the
medically underserved, and enhancing the public health perspective
of the college’s curriculum. Dr. Rahman has worked extensively on
rural health issues and has studied how the underserved population
is affected by health disparities, focusing on the socioeconomic
conditions that impact access to care.
Dr. Rahman earned his PhD in pharmacy administration with a focus
on pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research from the University
of Louisiana at Monroe. Previously, he had obtained a master’s
degree in business administration with a focus on health economics
from Northeast Louisiana University. Rosalind Franklin University
presented unique opportunities for him – the chance to be part
of a new college, grow along with it and help shape its future.
Looking at Research in a Different Way
When Robert Joseph, DPM, PhD,
accepted the position of chair of the
podiatric medicine and radiology
department at the Dr. William M.
Scholl college of Podiatric Medicine,
it was a homecoming for him. Dr.
Joseph is one of the first recipients
of the College’s DPM/PhD dual degree,
a highly competitive program that
led him to opportunities in private
practice, translational research
Robert Joseph and academia.
DPM, PhD ’03
As an undergraduate at Washington
University in St. Louis, Missouri, he became a licensed emergency
medical technician and witnessed as a woman was being informed her
foot would require amputation due to diabetes-related complications.
He also knew he could make a difference in Lake
County, Illinois, a diverse community with marked
health disparities and where his research experience
translated well.
His research in the areas of diabetes management
and fall prevention has looked at how infrastructure
affects access to services and influences the
health of a community. By designing appropriate
intervention strategies, nurses and case managers
are able to educate patients on simple but important
things, such as using the right test strips with
glucometers, and are able to fall-proof homes
by customizing bathrooms or recommending the
installation of carpeting to provide more traction.
“The intervention strategies have a measurable
effect on patient health and outcomes,” Dr. Rahman
said. “You can never assume that everyone has the
same basic understanding of the little things they
can do to help manage their conditions and improve
their health.”
Dr. Rahman’s passion for pharmacists’ unique abilities to impact
patient health is evident. “Whether it’s by counseling patients on
their medication therapy or teaching them how to use a medical
device, our students must always remain cognizant that they are in
a position to empower patients to be their own advocate.”
Since joining Rosalind Franklin University, Dr. Rahman has sought
out various organizations that offer care to low-income residents and
has discussed the potential of developing partnerships. Dr. Rahman
will also play a critical role in pharmacy student development by
lending his expertise in support of student organizations. Specifically,
the college is in the process of starting a student club, made
possible thanks to a generous gift from Walgreens, which will
celebrate diversity in pharmacy, both from the perspective of student
development and community outreach.
The experience had a lasting effect on Dr. Joseph, but it was not
until enrolling at Scholl College that he began to appreciate the
importance of podiatric medicine in treating and preventing diabetic
foot complications. As a Schweitzer Urban Fellow, he stressed
the importance of diabetic foot health education and developed a
collaborative grassroots diabetes education program in the Chinese
community. His work received the Steven W. Toth Distinguished
Service Award of the American Public Health Association and it
was later published in Health Communication.
Through these experiences, he developed an interest in what he
calls, “practical academics in a multicultural and multidisciplinary
world.” He regularly integrates interprofessionalism to the most
difficult obstacles he faces, whether it is surgery, translational
research or teaching. While at the University of Dayton, he developed
a course that brought together engineering and biology PhD students
to develop their appreciation and proficiency in interprofessional
Leading the College of Health Professions
Marking its 40th anniversary since graduating
its first class, the College of Health Professions
represents a spectrum of specialties and its
alumni have settled in just about every corner
of the country. Wherever they are, they bring
with them the skills, commitment and focus
on quality that was fostered in the college’s
classrooms and clinical settings. They also
bring valuable experience as members of
a team.
That is a source of pride for Wendy Rheault,
PT, MA, PhD, Dean of the College of Health
Professions and Vice President of Academic
Affairs for Rosalind Franklin University of
Medicine and Science. “Our graduates are
outstanding ambassadors for their respective
clinical specialties and for the values we
cultivate at Rosalind Franklin University,” she
said. “Chief among these is our commitment
to interprofessional education. Our
Looking at Research in a Different Way
(Continued from page 10)
problem solving as they tackled clinical case
studies unrelated to their PhD expertise. He
not only emphasizes team building in the
classroom but he also distinguishes himself
as a researcher who forms interprofessional
teams, analyzes their strengths and develops
projects that best leverage the team’s
combined talents. In the simplest sense, he
compares his approach to research as betting
on the jockey, rather than the horse, in a race.
graduates, along with their fellow graduates
from Chicago Medical School, the Dr. William
M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, the
School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
and now our new College of Pharmacy, leave
our campus with a distinct advantage. The
collaboration and spirit of teamwork needed
to meet the evolving needs of our patients is
a hallmark of a Rosalind Franklin education.”
Dr. Rheault brings practical experience, along
with visionary administrative leadership, to
this role. A native of Canada, she studied
physical therapy at Queen’s University and
practiced in Toronto, later receiving a master
of arts in curriculum and instruction, and
a PhD in educational measurement and
statistics from the University of Chicago.
Last fall, Dr. Rheault was inducted as a fellow
in the Association of Schools of Allied Health
Professions.
It’s no surprise that Rosalind Franklin
University’s interprofessionalism is what
most attracted Dr. Joseph to return to
his alma mater. “Supporting and growing
interprofessional teams is where I feel I can
make the most difference. Our integrated
campus and culture provides infrastructure
and symmetry where there are no limits
to interprofessional opportunity,” said
Dr. Joseph.
Dean Wendy Rheault, PT, MA, PhD
(pictured centered left)
“My background as a physical therapist gave
me a great early perspective on the
importance of teamwork,” she said. “Physical
therapists are accustomed to working with
other therapists, along with a patient’s
physician, in executing the care plan that
will help result in optimum function. The
value of interprofessional education was
very evident to me from the start.
“Our story continues to be written,” Dr.
Rheault said. “The scope of programs offered
by the college must be responsive to the
needs of patients and the emergence of
‘new’ specialties. Just as interprofessional
education is central to our university culture,
so is our responsibility to embrace emerging
health care professions and provide the
educational resources students need,” she
shared.
He will be active in Scholl College’s Center
for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research
(CLEAR), as well as the Scholl Foot and Ankle
Center. Prior to joining Scholl College, Dr.
Joseph was an assistant professor at the
Ohio University College of Osteopathic
Medicine, adjunct faculty member of the
biology department at the University of
Dayton and a clinical research associate of
the Tissue Regeneration and Engineering
Center at Dayton.
10 11

Alumni News
Amol Saxena, DPM ’88, Honored by Alumni Association Upcoming Events
Amol Saxena, DPM ’88, and his family
Recent Alumni Gatherings
Approximately 140 alumni and friends of the Department of Physical
Therapy attended a PT/DPT Alumni Centennial Reception on February 10
celebrating 40 years of Physical Therapy at RFUMS. Members of the Class
of 1972, graduates throughout the last four decades, current and former
faculty, friends and current students gathered at the Hilton Chicago in
conjunction with the APTA Combined Sections Meeting.
As a graduate of the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric
Medicine, Amol Saxena, DPM ’88, has experienced a rewarding and
notable career, specializing in sports medicine and foot and ankle
surgery. He has been a consultant to USA Track and Field, treating
Olympians, Olympic trials qualifiers, and collegiate and professional
athletes. He has also served as the chief of the podiatry section of
Stanford University Hospital in Stanford, California, is recognized
for pioneering several surgical techniques, and is a fellow of the
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
In April 2012, Dr. Saxena was the recipient of the Honor Medallion
and selected as the 2012 Alumnus of the Year by the Alumni
Association of the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine.
He was honored during the 29th Annual Scholl College Scholarship
Benefit and Alumni Reception at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago.
“There is no doubt that Dr. Saxena has distinguished himself as an
accomplished podiatric physician and leader in our profession,” said
Scholl College Dean Nancy L. Parsley. “He represents a model of
excellence for all Scholl College alumni.”
Dr. Saxena is currently affiliated with the Palo Alto Medical Foundation
and recently published a new book, International Advances in Foot
and Ankle Surgery. He and his family reside in Palo Alto, California.
On February 25, alumnus Clayton Berger, MD ’84, and his wife, Randy,
hosted a Chicago Medical School alumni reception at their home in Fort
Lauderdale, Florida. From left to right: President Michael Welch, Randy
Berger, Clayton Berger and Dean Russell Robertson.
■ May 2012
10 – Thursday
Opening Reception for Views from the Past and
Present: The Buildings of RFUMS Exhibit, Thru Aug.3,
Noon–1:00 p.m., Feet First Exhibition, RFUMS
18 – Friday
College of Pharmacy Wine Tasting Scholarship
Benefit, 6:30–9:30 p.m., RFUMS
29 – Tuesday
AAPA 40 th Annual Physician Assistant
Conference, Toronto, Ontario
31 – Thursday
Awards Ceremony, 3:00 p.m., Crystal
Gardens at Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
Commencement Reception, 4:30 p.m.,
Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
■ June 2012
1 – Friday
Commencement, 10:00 a.m.,
Chicago Opera House, Chicago, IL
23 – Saturday
CMS New York Area Alumni Centennial Reception, 1–4 p.m.,
Home of Evelyn and Jan Dauer, MD ’83, Lloyd Harbor, NY
■ July 2012
14 – Saturday
CMS Los Angeles Area Alumni Centennial
Reception, home of David Feinberg, MD ’89 and
AndreaTizes Feinberg, MD ’90, Beverly Hills, CA
■ August 2012
1 – Wednesday
Kids 1 st Health Fair, 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.,
Miguel Juarez Middle School, Waukegan, IL
17 – Friday
APMA Scholl College Alumni Reception, Marriott
Wardman Park, 6:00–8:00 p.m., Washington, DC
30 – Thursday
Opening Reception for A Century of Service Exhibit, LRC
Learning Commons and IPEC, 3:00–5:00 p.m., RFUMS
■ September 2012
Findings Showcased at All School Research Consortium
7-8 – Friday-Saturday
RFUMS Centennial Celebration Weekend
The All School Research Consortium (ASRC) is a University-wide,
student-run event, highlighting student research.
12 13
Events

University News University News
Goal-Setter: Scholl Student Continues Legacy of Inspiration
Our Future Direction
In March 2012, the University introduced its 2012-2015 Strategic Plan which champions eight priorities with
interprofessionalism and educational excellence as a common thread, demonstrating our continued commitment
to the values that distinguish our institution. The plan represents a year of effort from a team comprised of
40 members of the University faculty, staff, and student bodies, in collaboration with the RFUMS Board of
Trustees, its alumni, the internal University community and its external community partners.
Strategic planning and the successful execution of these plans have given Rosalind Franklin University a stable
platform from which we have built our future. The preceding two plans (2004-2006 and 2007-2011) provided a
crucial roadmap for change and progress. We accomplished a remarkable proportion of more than 85 percent
of the planned goals.
The new strategic plan has been the most extensively discussed, most heavily data-driven and most inclusive
to date, with the involvement of a wide spectrum of University members. The efforts to gather and disseminate
data, formulate common conclusions, commit plans to paper, again have proven powerful in developing a
common investment, shared accountability and excitement within the University community.
The plan gives assurance to our community and professional partners that Rosalind Franklin University knows
itself, knows its goals and has the skills and confidence to accomplish them.
Helping Tomorrow’s Students Today
Jessica Richason’s parents always stressed the importance of faith, hard work and service.
“They were also great motivators,” she says. Now a third-year student at the Dr. William M.
Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, Jessica recalls how her parents raising their four children
in Denver, Colorado, thought successful role models were important. “My dad used to drive
me by the home of a well-respected African-American surgeon and say, ‘See, Jessica, that
could be you someday.’”
Motivation, along with her academic success and career ambitions, eventually led Jessica to
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she received her bachelor of science degree from Southern
University. She then went to the DeBakey Institute at Texas A&M University in College Station,
where she conducted graduate biomedical engineering research on the Pallid bat wing. “I got
a taste of research, which I liked, and firmed up my resolve to pursue health care.”
Her objectives next took Jessica to the University of Memphis, where she received a master’s
in health administration. “While I was in Memphis, I also shadowed and assisted some
physicians in the hopes of solidifying my plans to go to medical school,” she says. “It was in
this environment that I decided that podiatric medicine was the best fit. I applied to Scholl and
was thrilled to be accepted.”
Jessica adds that in her first year at Scholl, she embraced the chance to be involved in the
community. “Volunteering at events including the Kids Ist Health Fair, Chicago Marathon, Avon
Breast Cancer Walk and Midwest Podiatry Conference deepened my passion for my chosen
profession,” she says.
The commitment and hard work that has fueled Jessica’s educational path earned her the
Geppner-Turnbow Minority Scholarship, an award given to a student who reflects the values and
ideals of the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine. “The financial support helps,
and the award reminds me of the goals I have set for myself once I complete my education,”
she says. “I hope to one day work in a hospital setting, using all of my experience and education
to improve care for patients.”
Jessica also understands the influence she may have. “I am proud of the choices I have made
and hope to give back, to inspire others like myself to set a goal and work hard to reach it.
Maybe someday a child will look at Dr. Jessica Richason and think, ‘That could be me.’”
Whether you are an alumnus, represent a corporation or foundation, or are a friend of
the University, now is your opportunity to make a lasting impact. Every year, our desire
to help fund students’ educations exceeds our ability to provide scholarships and the
support they need. Together, we can make a big difference.
We offer a variety of giving options to best suit you:
• Annual fund
• Commemorative bricks and benches
• Named scholarships
• Planned and estate gifts
• Stock gifts
• Trusts and grants
Give today at www.rosalindfranklin.edu. For more information, please contact us at
847-578-8340 or advancement@rosalindfranklin.edu.
Helix is the official semiannual
newsletter of Rosalind Franklin
University of Medicine and Science,
produced by the Office of Marketing
and Communications. Please
contact Lee Concha, Executive
Director, at 847-578-8848 or
lee.concha@rosalindfranklin.edu
with any feedback.
14 15

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