Ralph P. Leischner, Jr., M.D.
Institute for Medical Education

The Ralph P. Leischner Jr., MD, Institute for Medical Education (Leischner Institute) was created in his memory through a $1.5 million gift from Stritch alumnus John York II, MD, (’74), his wife, Denise, and their family. Ralph P. Leischner Jr., MD, spent more than 30 years as a Stritch educator. An inspirational leader, he wove lessons regarding medical ethics, professionalism and spirituality into his teaching, in and out of the classroom. Dr. Leischner spearheaded the development of a new Stritch curriculum designed to better shape medical students into competent, compassionate and socially responsible physicians.

With generous funding from Dr. York, and with ongoing fund raising needed, the Leischner Institute has an essential mission continuing Ralph Leischner's vision of faculty directly involved in forming medical students into physicians with a strong sense of ethics and service, an excellent understanding of basic science, and a very hard work ethic focused on clinical excellence.

The Institute has been providing York Fellowships for junior faculty for three years to have protected time and work on educational research. These projects now include work on the electronic medical record as a teaching tool, training students in care of the underserved, and improving patient care by improved discharge planning. We also have worked to support more senior faculty in projects that will allow their teaching expertise to be shared with younger colleagues.

As part of the institute, the Ralph P. Leischner Jr., MD, Professor of Medical Education was created and Myles Sheehan, SJ, MD, has been appointed to the professorship and director of the Leischner Institute. Dr. Sheehan joined Stritch in 1995 as assistant professor of medicine and has been serving as Senior Associate Dean of Medical Education since 2000.