Eleni Garbes doesn't necessarily mean to "shock and awe" her colleagues when she comes to work every day as director of research facilities at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. However, her desire to do the best she can—and then some—does leave her colleagues awestruck and inspired them to nominate her as Employee of the Year. On May 3 at the University's annual staff recognition luncheon in the elegant Crystal Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Chicago, her colleagues' words of praise proved persuasive. From among more than 1,500 eligible staff members and research associates at the Feinberg School alone, Garbes was singled out as the Chicago campus Employee of the Year.

Several other Feinberg School members, nominated by their peers, were also recognized at the special event for their willingness to go above and beyond others in job performance, teamwork, professionalism, and customer service. Andrena Logan, research administrator, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Biological Chemistry (MPBC), was an Employee of the Year award finalist. Ann Ross, director of communications, Office of Medical Development, and Rodney Greene, research laboratory manager, Department of Medicine, were among the Chicago campus employees nominated for the award. view full story>

Children's Memorial to Move to Chicago Campus

After reviewing various sites in Chicago, the board of directors of Children's Memorial Hospital (CMH) voted unanimously on April 4 to begin planning for an $800 million replacement hospital in the Streeterville area. This would place the Feinberg School of Medicine and CMH, its primary pediatric teaching hospital (affiliated since 1946), in close proximity on Northwestern University's Chicago campus.

The new hospital will be located between Chicago Avenue and Superior Street, just west of Northwestern Memorial Hospital's new Prentice Women's Hospital, which is due to open in fall 2007. This adjacency would improve transitional care for patients with congenital problems or children with chronic illnesses.

Groundbreaking is expected in 2008; the new hospital would open in 2012 with 275 private single-bed rooms, eventually expanding to 343. This would enable CMH to treat 12,000 or more patients annually, compared with 9,000 at present.

Located in the Lincoln Park area since its founding in 1882, CMH is home to nearly 500 faculty members in the Feinberg School's Department of Pediatrics and serves as the training base for 83 pediatrics residents and fellows. All medical students at the Feinberg School (170 per class) complete their pediatrics rotations at CMH.