Record #: R2021-964   
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Intro date: 9/14/2021 Current Controlling Legislative Body:
Final action: 9/14/2021
Title: Tribute to late Dr. Joanne C Smith
Sponsors: Burke, Edward M.
Attachments: 1. R2021-964.pdf
RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Dr. Joanne C. Smith, has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 60; and

WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of her passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Smith is survived by her husband, Rory Repicky, their children, Claire and Michael Repicky, and a large extended family, in which she was one of nine children; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Smith was born January 1, 1961 and was a long time resident of Hinsdale, Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Smith earned a Bachelors degree, cum laude, from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, an MD degree with Alpha Omega Alpha distinction from Michigan State University; and

WHEREAS, In 1988, Dr. Smith came to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago for her residency; and

WHEREAS, In 1992, Dr. Smith completed her residency and chief residency at Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine and later became a practicing physician at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, In 2006, a few years after earning her Masters degree from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, Dr. Smith was appointed President and CEO ofthe Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, The Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, formerly the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, opened on March 27,2017, which was set to become the No. 1 global leader in physical medicine and rehabilitation for adults and children with the most severe and complex conditions; and

WHEREAS, In 2018, Dr. Smith presented at the first-ever Wall Street Journal, Future of Everything Festival, which was an ideas exchange focused on innovations that are transforming the world; and

WHEREAS, In 2019 and 2021, Dr, Smith was recognized as one of Modern Healthcare's exclusive "Top 25 Women Leaders"; and

WHEREAS, In addition to her leadership at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, where she managed a team of more than 2,000 clinicians, scientists, and staff, she was a faculty member at the Northwestern Universit...

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