Kimberly joined UIC in 2012 as an Assistant Residency Coordinator. In 2014 she was promoted to Residency Coordinator and became the anchor of our program. “Her positive attitude, grace, and unwavering faith raised our program, and many residents, through difficult times. She became the mother of 60 residents every year. This meant boundless love, a listening ear, sage advice, and countless sacrifices for every one of us. She had a way of making each person feel special and always had a hug to give. She was the heart and soul of the UIC Emergency Medicine Residency Program.” – Dr. Brad Bunney EM Residency Director.

Dr. Tamara O’Neal graduated from UIC College of Medicine in 2014 and our residency program in 2017. Before attending UIC College of Medicine, Dr. O’Neal was a MEDPREP student from 2007-09 at Southern Illinois University. Her cohort there described her as “beloved for her smile, kindness, and generosity of spirit. She had a passion for helping her community and wanted to be a physician to help the people of Chicago, particularly the south side. Her love for her community was evident in all she took on in life.” Tamara’s father shared, “She was a go-getter. She was self-driven, high energy, loved her family. She loved God. She loved helping people.” At her passing, she was working as an emergency room physician at Mercy Hospital, doing what she loved – helping others.

To honor Dr. O’Neal, several of her UIC classmates created a scholarship fund in Dr. O’Neal’s name to help make education more affordable for University of Illinois students. Please consider donating to the UIC Tamara E. O’Neal Scholarship Quasi-Endowment Fund  or, contribute to the Tamara O’Neal MD Social Emergency Medicine Legacy Fund. You can donate to either of these funds by going to the giving page.

Dr. Patricia Lee graduated from our residency program in 1993. She was hired first as an attending physician in the Masonic emergency department; she was then promoted to Operations Director and Vice-Chair at Illinois Masonic Hospital in 2001, just eight years after completing her residency. In 2009, she advanced to Chair of the emergency department, a position held by few women across the country. We remember Dr. Lee as an outstanding clinician, mentor, and leader within our residency program and throughout the Chicagoland medical field. The mantra “What would Pat Lee do?” remains a standard query when ER docs face challenging clinical dilemmas.

Please consider donating to the Dr. Patricia Lee Legacy Award Fund to endow an annual residency award; endowment ensures that we will be able to honor Dr. Lee’s memory in the years to come. Funds will be awarded to the graduating senior resident that best exemplifies the true character and outstanding compassion embodied in Pat’s career.

Dr. Leah Anne Davis, beloved daughter, sister, and friend, was a shining star in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago. A third-year resident, Leah was passionate about Pediatric Emergency Medicine, continually striving to become a better physician and advocate. She had an inquisitive mind and always asked “why?” and “how?” She was known for calming her patients in times of high stress with her compassion and cheery demeanor. Her smile, warmth, and authenticity made her a friend to all she met and an even better physician. She had a way of putting a smile on everyone’s face. We miss Leah deeply.

Please consider donating to the UIC Leah Anne Davis Emergency Medicine Memorial Fund  to support the UIC Department of Emergency Medicine residency wellness programs and activities, including the annual pediatric emergency medicine conference. Donations can be made on the giving page.

Dr. Derek Piper graduated from our dual Internal Medicine/Emergency Medicine (IM/EM) program in 2004. An excerpt from his obituary printed in the Miami Herald on January 11, 2006, follows. “Derek Dauphinot Piper, MD, man of adventure, science, and generosity; died at 36. His death followed a recent diagnosis of a brain tumor. His fervor for adventure and history led him to travel to the remote corners of the planet. As an avid sailor, he circumnavigated the globe aboard Pipe Dream IX, along with his father. As a mountaineer, he summited Kilimanjaro, Tarija, Huayna Potosi and Parinacota. Most recently, he was training for his conquest of Aconcagua-the highest peak outside of the Himalayas mountain range. He attended Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business and Tulane University’s School of Medicine, followed by his medical residency at University of Illinois at Chicago. He was board certified in both Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine. Within medicine, his passion was medical relief work, which he pursued in both Central America and Southeast Asia.”

Please consider donating to the Derek Piper Endowment Fund, a scholarship supporting our residency’s senior international emergency medicine elective. This fund was established to tribute Derek Piper’s (IM/EM’ 04) passion for world travel and medical relief work and will allow our residents to experience an international medical rotation and its career-changing effects. You can donate to this fun by going to the giving page.

Memorial funds have been created in dedication to those we have lost. Each fund supports a wide range of residency programs and activities. Your generosity is gratefully appreciated.

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