Dr. Ruchika Goel honored with endowed chair in hematologic disorders
On an August evening at SIU School of Medicine, faculty, colleagues, students and friends gathered for a momentous occasion: the investiture of Dr. Ruchika Goel as the inaugural recipient of the O.H. Wesly Endowed Chair of Excellence in Hematologic Disorders. The event honored both Dr. Goel’s remarkable career as a physician-scientist and the enduring legacy of Dr. Osvaldo H. Wesly, whose generosity made the endowment possible.
Dr. Jerry Kruse, dean and provost of SIU Medicine, opened the ceremony by welcoming attendees and framing the day as a celebration of excellence in research, education and patient care. He spoke of Dr. Goel’s accomplishments in hematology and transfusion medicine, noting her ability to shape national guidelines, improve patient outcomes and inspire the next generation of physicians. He also acknowledged Dr. Wesly as a visionary whose career has been defined by clinical innovation, mentorship and humanity.
Dr. Aziz Khan, executive director of the Simmons Cancer Institute, provided a moving tribute to Dr. Wesly, highlighting his four decades of pioneering work in oncology and hematology. He traced Dr. Wesly’s journey from the Dominican Republic to collaborations with Nobel laureates, emphasizing his humility and dedication to patients. It was particularly fitting, Dr. Khan said, that the inaugural chair bearing Wesly’s name should go to Dr. Goel, whose own career embodies those same values of excellence and service.
Colleagues and leaders took turns sharing reflections on Dr. Goel’s contributions. Dr. John Flack, chair of the Department of Medicine, described her as “passionate, tenacious, and a phenomenal researcher,” praising both her scientific creativity and her collaborative spirit. He emphasized that she is “an all-star academician, teacher, administrator and creative scientist,” whose leadership strengthens SIU’s standing nationally and internationally.
Dr. Vidhya Prakash, chief medical officer at SIU Medicine, spoke with warmth about Dr. Goel’s humility and selflessness. She recounted how, during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Goel spearheaded the lifesaving convalescent plasma program for central and southern Illinois. Dr. Prakash called her a leader whose impact has been felt at the “local, regional, national and global levels,” and one who always views success as belonging to her colleagues and community, not herself.
Dr. Susan Hingle, associate dean for human and organizational potential, offered a powerful reflection on Dr. Goel’s character as a transformational leader. She praised her as someone who “leads not from ego or entitlement, but from deep conviction that medicine can be better, that systems can be more just, and that science and service belong together.” Dr. Hingle described her as a leader who creates movement, builds collaboration and uplifts others, noting her resilience and inclusive leadership.
Adding an external perspective, Dr. Cassandra Josephson of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital spoke of mentoring Dr. Goel over the past decade and watching her rise to international prominence. She called her “a rare talent, a brilliant physician-scientist whose intelligence is matched equally by her generosity of spirit.” Quoting colleagues worldwide, Josephson relayed that Dr. Goel is regarded as “a superstar in the field of hematology and transfusion medicine” and “a leader whose impact lasts a lifetime.”
The formal presentation of the medallion was led by Dr. Khan and Dr. Wesly himself, symbolizing the passing forward of a legacy of excellence. Dr. Goel, visibly moved, expressed gratitude to her mentors, colleagues, family and community. She spoke of her journey from medical school in India to Springfield, where she and her husband sought both an academic home and a nurturing community for their family. She dedicated the honor to those who had supported and inspired her.
Dr. Goel’s own words captured the essence of the day: “This recognition does not belong to me alone. It is shared by my mentors, collaborators and trainees who have shaped my journey. I accept this responsibility with humility and the promise to advance science, lift those around me and serve patients with integrity and passion.”
Both Dr. Goel and Dr. Wesly stand as exemplars of the values that the SIU School of Medicine seeks to uphold: dedication to patients, commitment to discovery and generosity of spirit. As Dr. Wesly has often said of himself, he is “simply someone who has worked hard and finds joy in that work.” Those words could also describe Dr. Goel, whose investiture marks not only a milestone in her career but also a bright promise for the future of hematology and medicine at SIU and beyond.
The ceremony closed with a festive reception in the Atrium at 825 North Rutledge and a sense of shared pride. It was an evening that honored legacy, celebrated excellence and looked forward to the discoveries and healing yet to come under the leadership of Dr. Ruchika Goel.
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