Physicians posing in front of a building
Four Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital physicians have been named inaugural recipients of the St. George Foundation Distinguished Physician Awards. This is a prestigious and rare honor as only 12 other Northwestern Medicine physicians hold the title of Distinguished Physician.

May 2024

CARDIOVASCULAR

FOUR LOCAL PHYSICIANS NAMED INAUGURAL RECIPIENTS OF THE ST. GEORGE FOUNDATION DISTINGUISHED PHYSICIAN AWARDS

​Featuring: ​Franjo Siric, MD, Kannan Mutharasan, MD, ​Drew Spencer, MD, ​ Timothy Kuzel, MD

Franjo Siric, MD, surgical director, Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute (BCVI) at Palos Hospital, received the Cardiac Surgery award. R. Kannan Mutharasan, MD, medical director, BCVI at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital, received the Cardiology award. Drew Spencer, MD, medical director of neurosurgery at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital, is the inaugural recipient in Neurosurgery. They join Timothy Kuzel, MD, medical director of the Northwestern Medicine St. George Cancer Institute, who was honored with the Oncology award last fall.

These awards recognize physicians who achieve the highest personal and professional achievements in their respective fields, as well as individuals who serve as role models for medical students, residents and attending physicians. The St. George Foundation is a private foundation dedicated to promoting the general health of the community in the southwest suburbs of Chicago.

“We believe that world-class care should be available close to where people live and that the continuum of disease prevention, early detection and expert treatment are all critical elements for the community,” said Terrence Moisan, MD, president of The St. George Foundation. “Our St. George directors proudly support these extremely talented recipients of the St. George Foundation Distinguished Physician honors.”

Dr. Siric is the newly appointed surgical director of BCVI at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital. In this role he will oversee the growth of cardiac surgical programs, including complex and minimally invasive procedures, and work together with Dr. Mutharasan to expand heart care to patients in the south and southwest suburbs of Chicago. 
​
Following his initial training and practice in his native Croatia, Dr. Siric completed advanced fellowships at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School and the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Siric joined Northwestern Medicine in November 2023 from the Christiana Care Health System in Delaware.

“We were fortunate to recruit Dr. Siric. His skillset will be of particular value given the complex cardiac pathology we see in Chicago’s south and southwest suburbs,” said Douglas R. Johnston, MD, chief, cardiac surgery at Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute. “The appointment of Dr. Siric solidifies Northwestern Medicine’s position as the leader in cardiac surgery throughout the Chicagoland area.” 

​​Dr. Mutharasan was promoted to medical director of BCVI in the south suburbs in 2021. Under his leadership, cardiology and vascular services at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital,  Northwestern Medicine Orland Park, and Northwestern Medicine Mokena have seen significant growth.  Since the merger of Palos Health with Northwestern Medicine in Fiscal Year 2020, new outpatient visits for cardiology, cardiac surgery, vascular surgery and the heart and lung clinic have seen an average annual growth rate of 65%. Total outpatient visits are expected to reach nearly 18,000 in FY24.

“Dr. Siric and Dr. Mutharasan represent the qualities we seek in physicians throughout the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute,” said Patrick M. McCarthy, MD, executive director, Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute. “Their significant accomplishments in the field of cardiology reflect the groundbreaking heart and vascular services we offer and the excellent results we obtain for our patients.”

A graduate of the Northwestern Medicine residency program, Dr. Spencer joined the Department of Neurosurgery in 2017 and was recruited in 2021 to lead the development of cranial and spinal neurosurgical services at Palos Hospital. His dedication to patient care and ability to partner across multiple teams has advanced neurosurgery and neurosciences services.

“Dr. Spencer upholds the inherent values of Northwestern Medicine’s Department of Neurosurgery. In this short time the program has risen to new heights, and he continues to lead institutional investments to pave the way for the future of neurosurgery in the south suburbs,” said Maciej Lesniak, MD, chair, Department of Neurological Surgery at Northwestern Medicine.

​Dr. Kuzel joined Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital in 2023 to lead oncology programs and the newly named Northwestern Medicine St. George Cancer Institute in Orland Park, Ill. He is overseeing the continued expansion of world-class clinical services for multispecialty cancer care while also promoting prevention, education and research. A long-term plan will create additional patient and clinical spaces in the south suburbs to provide residents the convenience of receiving the highest levels of care closer to home.

This article was originally published in the Northwestern University Medicine Newsroom on May 14, 2024. 
​
Franjo Siric, MD, surgical director, Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute (BCVI) at Palos Hospital
Kannan Mutharasan, MD, medical director, BCVI at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital
Drew Spencer, MD, medical director of neurosurgery at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital
 Timothy Kuzel, MD, medical director of the Northwestern Medicine St. George Cancer Institute

Refer a Patient

Northwestern Medicine welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with you in caring for your patients. ​

You May Also Like