Humanitarian Award Winners

Humanitarian Award Winners

Photo: (Left to right) Larry Johnson, M.D.; Stewart Odell, M.D.; Catherine McNeill, M.D.; Nancy Taft, M.D.; Warren Beeh, M.D.

Larry Johnson, M.D.
 Dr. Johnson has led the St. Patrick Church Respect Life Committee in St Charles since its inception many years ago. As chairman, he has overseen the "Baby Bottle Boomerang" fundraiser at St. Pat's with all proceeds going to the Fox Valley Pregnancy Center in South Elgin, which helps unwed moms-to-be during and following their pregnancies. Dr. Johnson attended Rush Medical College at Rush University in Chicago, Illinois. His internship and residency were completed at the University of Iowa and later his fellowship at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Johnson joined the Delnor medical staff in 1979.

Stewart Odell, M.D.
Dr. Odell was honored for his unyielding commitment to missionary work, beginning in 1980 with trips to the SaKao refugee camp on the Thailand-Cambodian border. After that, he made yearly trips to Central America. Currently, he is president of the Luke Society and travels twice yearly to Honduras, along with Peru and Kenya to provide medical care. He has also run a clinic in West Chicago. He has continually helped those who cannot afford medical care and has devoted years to mission and humanitarian work. Dr. Odell is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology. He attended the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago and completed his internship and residency at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center also in Chicago, Illinois. He joined the Delnor medical staff in 1971.

Catherine McNeill, M.D.
Dr. McNeill has been an integral part of Delnor's Vaccines for Children Clinic, which provides free vaccines to children in the community. Since its inception in November 2009, the clinic has served over 160 children and continues to grow every month. This clinic would not exist without the services of Dr. McNeill. Delnor sought to develop the vaccine clinic after the Kane County Health Department had to cease offering clinics in the community. As part of Delnor's community benefits programming, the Vaccine Clinic became a priority program and Dr. McNeill graciously volunteered to take on the role of overseeing the clinic and providing her time and expertise. Dr. McNeill is board certified in pediatrics. She attended medical school at the University of Iowa and completed her internship and residency at the University of Chicago. Dr. McNeill joined the Delnor medical staff in 2006.

Nancy Taft, M.D.
Dr. Taft took a military leave of absence to serve in Afghanistan from October 1, 2009 to February 15, 2010, and risked her life in modern warfare to treat, comfort and save the lives of service men and women who are sacrificing their health and lives for our country. A successful surgeon who had just completed her fellowship training, Dr. Taft put her career on hold to serve a higher cause. As just one example of the difference she and others like her made, Dr. Taft came to the aid of a CIA agent injured in Afghanistan who would have otherwise lost his leg, if not for her determination and surgical skill. Dr. Taft is board certified in general surgery and fellowship trained in breast surgical oncology. She attended Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois and did her internship and residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her fellowship training was completed at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Taft joined the Delnor medical staff in 2009.

 Warren Beeh, M.D.