The Physician-Patient Relationship at its Very Best:The Investiture of Tanya Simuni, MD“The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” In quoting Ayn Rand, John A. Kessler, MD, Ken and Ruth Davee Professor of Stem Cell Biology, referenced the determination of Tanya Simuni, MD, during her September 28th investiture as the Arthur C. Nielsen, Jr. Research Professor of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders. Members of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine community, as well as friends and family of those being honored, gathered at the Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center to celebrate Dr. Simuni’s groundbreaking work in Parkinson’s disease and the tremendous generosity of Mr. Arthur C. Nielsen, Jr., chairman emeritus of the A. C. Nielsen Company.  | Drs. Simuni and Kessler (l to r) |  | Mr. Nielsen (c), his caregiver Joe, and Dr. Jameson (r) |
Guests gathered in the Baldwin Auditorium where J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD, vice president for medical affairs and Lewis Landsberg Dean kicked off the program with a description of professorships at the medical school. These prestigious titles not only acknowledge accomplishments, but do so in perpetuity. As such, physician-scientists who hold these positions are able to transform research and care for generations to come. Dr. Jameson then introduced Mr. Nielsen, the “incredibly accomplished, fascinating, renaissance person,” whose generous gift to the Feinberg School created this professorship. Mr. Nielsen’s inspiring remarks were laced with humor and lightness, causing tears to well in many eyes. Of his first encounter with Dr. Simuni—he said that he knew she was a remarkable woman from her grip. As Dr. Simuni’s patient, Mr. Nielsen received her advice and treatment, and marveled at her intelligence and grace in working with patients. In noting the large number of individuals waiting to see Dr. Simuni, Mr. Nielsen wondered how she would have time for research with so many people waiting for her advice. This thought led him to create the professorship—with more protected time, Mr. Nielsen hopes that Dr. Simuni can accelerate her work with Parkinson’s disease research. To extol Dr. Simuni, Dr. Kessler then took the podium. Dr. Kessler expressed his particular pride in the accomplishments of Dr. Simuni—his first recruit as chair of the department. Upon asking Dr. Simuni’s colleagues to describe her, they espoused she was focused, efficient, capable, fun, amazing, and even superwoman. Dr. Kessler opined that she possessed integrity, fairness, and humanity, qualities that extend beyond her extraordinary skill and drive to make her a joy to work with. “Dr. Simuni has transformed from a junior faculty member to a national figure who brings kudos to Northwestern.” In closing, Dr. Simuni rose to share her deep gratitude for the honor. She reminisced on her graduation from Leningrad Medical School 25 years prior, when she had no idea where life’s path would take her. Sharing a life lesson that “hard work and hard medicine do not preclude enjoying the trade,” she thanked her patients for their courage and trust, her mentors for teaching her “the science of the profession and the art of compassion,” and Mr. Nielsen—“I hope I achieve a fraction of what you have done.” She exclaimed her honor at being Mr. Nielsen’s physician, and in a touching conclusion, Dr. Simuni pledged: “I promise you that we will stand to the challenge and"—as Mr. Nielsen put it—“solve this darn problem.” By: Andrea Arntsen-Harris
Photo Credit: Nathan Mandell | 
