Four physicians from Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital have been recognized as the inaugural recipients of the St. George Foundation Distinguished Physician Awards. This esteemed honor has only been bestowed upon 12 other Northwestern Medicine physicians.
The recipients include Franjo Siric, MD, surgical director at Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute (BCVI) at Palos Hospital, who received the Cardiac Surgery award; R. Kannan Mutharasan, MD, medical director at BCVI at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital, who received the Cardiology award; and Drew Spencer, MD, medical director of neurosurgery at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital, who is the inaugural recipient in Neurosurgery. Timothy Kuzel, MD, medical director of the Northwestern Medicine St. George Cancer Institute was honored with the Oncology award last fall.
These awards acknowledge physicians who have achieved significant personal and professional accomplishments in their respective fields and who serve as role models for medical students, residents and attending physicians. The St. George Foundation is a private foundation committed to promoting community health in Chicago's southwest suburbs.
Terrence Moisan, MD, president of The St. George Foundation stated: “We believe that world-class care should be available close to where people live and that the continuum of disease prevention, early detection and expert treatment are all critical elements for the community.” He further expressed his pride in supporting these talented recipients of the St. George Foundation Distinguished Physician honors.
Dr. Siric recently assumed his role as surgical director of BCVI at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital where he will oversee cardiac surgical programs' growth and work alongside Dr. Mutharasan to expand heart care to patients in Chicago's south and southwest suburbs.
Douglas R. Johnston, MD, chief of cardiac surgery at Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute commented on Dr. Siric's appointment: “We were fortunate to recruit Dr. Siric... The appointment of Dr. Siric solidifies Northwestern Medicine’s position as the leader in cardiac surgery throughout the Chicagoland area.”
Dr. Mutharasan, who was promoted to medical director of BCVI in 2021, has overseen significant growth in cardiology and vascular services at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital.
Patrick M. McCarthy, MD, executive director at Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute praised both Dr. Siric and Dr. Mutharasan: “Their significant accomplishments in the field of cardiology reflect the groundbreaking heart and vascular services we offer and the excellent results we obtain for our patients.”
Dr. Spencer joined the Department of Neurosurgery in 2017 and was recruited to lead cranial and spinal neurosurgical services at Palos Hospital in 2021.
Maciej Lesniak, MD, chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery at Northwestern Medicine commended Dr. Spencer: “In this short time the program has risen to new heights, and he continues to lead institutional investments to pave the way for the future of neurosurgery in the south suburbs.”
Finally, Dr. Kuzel joined Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital in 2023 to lead oncology programs at the newly named Northwestern Medicine St. George Cancer Institute in Orland Park, Ill., where he is overseeing clinical services expansion for multispecialty cancer care while also promoting prevention, education and research.
