Stritch
Benefits from Kindness of Renowned Cardiologist and Professor Emeritus
 In
1974, Rolf Gunnar, MD, professor emeritus and
former chair of the Department of Medicine, Loyola
University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
(Stritch), created the Geoffrey Gunnar Memorial
Scholarship along with generous contributions
of family, friends, faculty and colleagues. Those
who gave to this endowed fund did so in memory
of Dr. Gunnar's recently deceased son, Geoffrey.
Dr. Gunnar further demonstrated his commitment
to medical education one year later by making
Stritch the beneficiary of an insurance policy
also directed to support the endowed scholarship
named in remembrance of his son. The current estimated
value of the scholarship endowment and the insurance
policy gift is a combined $490,000.
“Today,
the hospital is a national leader in many clinical
fields and Stritch continues to provide an innovative
curriculum, which attracts the brightest medical
students," Dr. Gunnar said. "It is an
honor to be connected to an organization that
impacts our community in so many positive ways.”
The
Geoffrey Gunner Memorial Scholarship is awarded
annually to a third-year Stritch student on the
basis of outstanding scholastic achievement and
a desire to further his or her education in a
specific area. Nominees are invited to submit
proposals describing how the scholarship would
allow them to enhance their education and training.
The
growth of the scholarship fund has led to the
review and modification of its guidelines in 1996
to permit the selection of both a winner and a
runner-up whenever more than one exceptional nominee
was identified and funding permitted. The winner
is recognized as the Geoffrey Gunnar Scholar and
the runner-up as the Gunnar Awardee. During the
graduation ceremony, a commemorative plaque is
presented to scholarship recipients. Forty-six
scholarships have been awarded since 1975.
Dr.
Gunnar’s connection to Loyola started in
1972 when he joined Loyola University Medical
Center as chief of the Division of Cardiology
and professor, Department of Medicine, Stritch.
He headed the Division of Cardiology for 10 years
and served as chair of medicine for nine years.
He retired from Loyola in 1991.
He
earned a baccalaureate degree from Northwestern
University and two advanced degrees from its medical
school: a masters of science in pathology and
a doctorate of medicine. Six months after he began
his residency at Cook County Hospital, he volunteered
to serve in the Korean War. Dr. Gunnar received
a Bronze Star for valor in recognition of his
service during the war.
He
has received numerous recognitions for his contributions
to cardiology from organizations including the
American College of Physicians. He has served
as a member and officer of many professional organizations
including the American Heart Association, the
Chicago Heart Association, and the American College
of Cardiology. He has edited two text books and
at least 244 professional articles.
Dr.
Gunnar currently serves on numerous boards including
the MacNeil Health Foundation; the St. Paul Church
Foundation of Illinois; and the BraveHearts Therapeutic
Riding and Educational Center, which uses therapeutic
horseback riding to help disabled children improve
their coordination, balance, strength, mobility
and build confidence.
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