Investiture Honors Jessica Hanks, MD, with Jim and Katie Owens Professorship
The Peoria regional campus celebrated the investiture of Jessica Hanks, MD, as the inaugural recipient of the Jim and Katie Owens Professorship for Teaching Excellence in Medical Education. The ceremony was held December 2, 2024, at the Peoria Marriott Pere Marquette.
Dr. Hanks serves as associate dean for academic affairs and head of the Department of Health Sciences Education and Pathology. She also holds the academic title of associate clinical professor internal medicine and pediatrics.
“To our broader community, this is what excellence looks like,” said UIC Chancellor Marie Lynn Miranda. “It’s found in visionary philanthropists like Jim and Katie Owens, who make bold advancement possible. It’s found in brilliant educators like Dr. Hanks, who inspire students and push for excellence in everything they do, and it’s found in the relationships that advance the University of Illinois College of Medicine’s mission to provide the broadest access possible to the highest levels of education, research and clinical care.”
Executive Dean Mark Rosenblatt shared, “This new professorship honors outstanding teaching and will have a profound and lasting impact on the education of future medical professionals. It’s a testament to Jim and Katie’s belief in the power of education to transform lives.”
In her tribute remarks, Regional Dean Meenakshy Aiyer noted that Jim and Katie Owens hold a deep belief in the power of education. “They understand the strength of a community lies not just in its businesses or infrastructure but in the quality of care and education it provides. And through their incredible generosity, they have directly shaped the future of medical education in Peoria,” Aiyer said.
She also expressed the appropriateness of Hanks being the inaugural recipient. “Dr. Hanks is an exceptional leader in medical education, a compassionate clinician, and a mentor who is deeply committed to the success and wellbeing of her students. Her dedication to education and mentorship makes her the perfect fit for this high honor.”
A professorship is a special gift made by donors to elevate opportunities in academic medicine. Professorships provide financial support to faculty for advancing their work in teaching and mentoring, scholarship and/or research and discovery. Professorships are endowments that also honor the legacy and/or career of its namesake.