Lead On, Compassionately

These Chicago-based Alumni Emphasize Empathy in Health Care

By Texas Christian University

December 12^th, 2023

As cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence continue to revolutionize industries worldwide, one essential element of health care remains uniquely human: compassion. Studies show that expressing empathy has a direct and undeniable impact on health outcomes because it builds trust and reduces patients’ anxiety, among numerous other benefits.

Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals who establish genuine connections benefit not only their patients, but the greater good.

That’s why TCU puts empathy at the heart of health care education in our Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine, Pre-Health Professions Institute in the College of Science & Engineering and Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences.

Meet four Chicago-based health care professionals who exemplify what it means to Lead On, compassionately.

HORNED FROGS IN HEALTH CARE

DR. MCKENNA CHALMAN ’19 (M.D. ’23)

Chalman is a TCU alumna twice over. After earning a bachelor’s degree from the TCU Pre-Health Professions Institute, she earned her medical degree from the Burnett School of Medicine as part of the inaugural class. Now, Chalman is a general surgery resident at Chicago’s Rush University, where she will determine a specialty.

“If you lead with empathy and compassion and build relationships with your patients and your colleagues, that’s the foundation for trust,” says Chalman.

EMMA JOY ’21, RN

Joy earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the TCU Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences. She cares for premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

“My studies at TCU helped to make me into the nurse that I am today,” Joy says. “It’s so important when you’re taking care of patients to focus on communication and compassion.”

DR. COURTNEY SULLIVAN ’17

Sullivan is an obstetrics and gynecology resident at the University of Chicago Medicine. After graduating as an Honors Laureate with university honors from TCU’s Pre-Health Professions Institute, Sullivan earned her medical degree from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

“Medicine is more than just the diagnosis,” says Sullivan. “It’s also talking people through their experience. It’s what we’re here for.”

DR. BRANDON ZSIGRAY ’14

Zsigray is a neurosurgery resident at Loyola Medicine. After graduating as an Honors Laureate with departmental honors from TCU’s Pre-Health Professions Institute, he earned his medical degree from the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.

“Technology and advancements are reshaping the way that doctors practice. It’s now more important than ever to connect with people on an individual basis,” says Zsigray.

“Medicine is more than just the diagnosis.”

FROM COWTOWN TO CHI-TOWN

To celebrate the university’s 150th anniversary in 2023, TCU recognized alumni leaders and their impact through a series of murals in select locations across the country. Chicago’s mural honored Chalman, Joy, Sullivan and Zsigray for their contributions to compassionate health care. Located at 1920 N. Western Ave. near the Western station on the CTA Blue Line, the mural was viewable during June 2023.

Other Lead On murals include:

New York City — John Devereaux ’12
Los Angeles — Katherine Beattie ’08
Nashville — Desmond Bane ’20
Fort Worth

Mock-up of TCU’s Chicago mural, featuring (from left) Emma Joy, Brandon Zsigray, McKenna Chalman and Courtney Sullivan.

THE CHICAGO CELEBRATION

Area alumni and TCU leaders gathered in Chicago on Thursday, June 22, 2023, to celebrate Chalman, Joy, Sullivan and Zsigray as part of TCU’s 150th events.

A LEADER IN HEALTH CARE

TCU’s health care programs combine rigorous curricula and state-of-the-art research with the benefits of a liberal arts education. Teaching compassion is woven into TCU’s connection culture—an ethos rooted in serving and including others to build bonds.

ANNE BURNETT MARION SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

The Burnett School of Medicine is the first medical school in the United States to embed communication curriculum in all four years of training. The school, which graduated its inaugural class in spring 2023, educates tomorrow’s doctors as Empathetic Scholars® in The Compassionate Practice®, an innovative curriculum that connects listening and understanding.

PRE-HEALTH PROFESSIONS INSTITUTE

The Pre-Health Professions Institute in the College of Science & Engineering guides students on a focused track to a health care career. Most students major in biology, chemistry or neuroscience, and undergraduates frequently conduct research alongside faculty as part of TCU’s teacher-scholar model.

HARRIS COLLEGE OF NURSING & HEALTH SCIENCES

The Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences is committed to transforming global health with courses taught by leading faculty, an emphasis on clinical skills and mentored research opportunities. U.S. News & World Report ranked the undergraduate nursing program and graduate speech-language pathology program in the top 100 nationwide and the doctor of nursing-anesthesia (CRNA) and doctor of nursing practice program in the top 50.

By The Numbers

100% residency match rate (Burnett School of Medicine, Class of 2023)

80% medical school acceptance rate—double the national average (Pre-Health Professions Institute)

Over 95% of students are employed upon graduation (Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences)

Impacting the Future

The Burnett School of Medicine is the only medical school in the country with a program like “Future Accelerators in Medicine and Beyond,” an intensive course that helps aspiring doctors predict advances in science and use emerging technology to improve health outcomes for patients.