Northern Region Honoree

OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth Medical Center, Center for Health Streator

Nominated by Kelly Anderson and Mona Rabago

Dorothy “Dodi” Callister has been a physical therapist since 1982. She received her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from University of Illinois at Chicago in 1982 and her Master of Health Science degree with emphasis on adult and pediatric neurology from University of Indianapolis in 1992.

Dodi worked as a staff physical therapist with special interest in neurology at Riverside Hospital in Kankakee, Illinois from 1992 to 1996. She became the Rehabilitation Director at Gibson City Hospital as she continued to see patients as well as started their wound care team. She returned to Riverside Hospital and started a rehabilitation multidisciplinary team of 21 members as the Rehabilitation Coordinator and Head of Physical Therapy until 2017.

In September 2017, Dodi started working at OSF Center for Health – Streator as a staff Physical Therapist. She has tremendous experience and knowledge with the complex geriatric population and with patients who have had amputations. The OSF Center for Health in Streator is fortunate to have her extensive expertise on the rehabilitation team.

Very active in her local community, Dodi started Eleanor’s Closet in order to help individuals who have barriers in getting assistive devices and equipment along with mobility devices such as floor bikes. Her goal is to keep people as mobile as possible and keep them in their home and community as long as they can by removing some of the financial burden.

Dodi also sits on the Brain Injury Clubhouse Board in Streator and is active in her church, St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Streator. She is President of the Streator Leading Ladies which provides educational scholarships to women. Dodi is a true ambassador for the OSF HealthCare Ministry.

Western Region Nominee

Occupational Health Physician, OSF HealthCare St. Mary Medical Center

Nominated by Greg Kneer, Pam Bloomfield, Patty Gustafson and Stephanie Hilten

From the very beginning of his time with OSF in 1994, Dr. Ayers has always been a true servant leader, living the Sisters’ Mission and collaborating with the OSF HealthCare Foundation. Dr. Ayers is always thinking about how philanthropy and innovation can further the OSF Mission. When there is a question or situation at hand, his solution always involves “how we can work on it together?” and often times, he leads the way with a philanthropic gift, setting the example for his peers and other Mission Partners.

Dr. Ayers has purchased books and trained all of the OSF OnCall Urgent Care providers for Occupational Health services. He continues to support his fellow Mission Partners through updates and additional training as needed, as well as onboarding new Mission Partners. He has served as the Easter Bunny for OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois, bringing smiles and joy and children and their families.

One of the most remarkable partnerships between Dr. Ayers and the OSF Foundation has been through Dr. Ayers’ passion of recruiting and maintaining physicians in rural communities. A few years ago, he established a fund to send local junior high students to JUMP for the summer programs. That fund gained local support from many individuals and helped expose students not only to the healthcare field, but OSF HealthCare.

Dr. Ayers’ talents are not limited within the walls of OSF HealthCare. He takes his talents on the road to help those in need, always with the Sisters’ Mission in mind. Dr. Ayers is passionate about helping athletes at local schools and colleges, including Knox College. He also goes above and beyond when it comes to COVID-19 education for Mission Partners and local communities.

Dr. Ayers is family-oriented and loves spending time with his wife, Chris, their four children and numerous grandchildren. Philanthropy is always his mindset; focusing on working together to find a solution so our community is stronger and healthier.

Metro Region Honoree

Nursing Manager, OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center

Nominated by AJ Querciagrossa, Kathleen Kinsella and Sarah Danahy

Mary Grimm has been a Mission Partner at OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center for 39 years. In those years, she has championed a philanthropic spirit and demonstrated a remarkable commitment to serving with the greatest care and love. Mary has made a tremendous impact through her philanthropic service not only at OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center, but in many ways throughout the community.

Mary is the first to raise her hand and offer help at a number of community and OSF Foundation events. On a given weekend, you may find her representing OSF and offering first aid assistance in the medical tent at the Beverly Area Planning Association’s Ridge Run, providing free health screenings with Catholic Charities for those without access to healthcare, or offering her insights to students considering nursing as a career.

Along with leading Mission Partner Giving at Little Company of Mary Medical Center for over 30 years, Mary has long coordinated a community outreach effort that enlists our Mission Partners to serve community members in need of extra support. Catholic Charities of Chicago offers Tuesday Night Supper in locations throughout Chicagoland for families and individuals that can benefit from a nutritious, hot meal in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. Since 2008, Mary has coordinated rotating teams of 10-20 Mission Partners, typically by department or unit, to volunteer for Tuesday Night Supper at St. Christopher Parish in Midlothian.

Mary also demonstrates her commitment to serving with the greatest care and love through her work to provide perinatal loss support. Mary partnered with OSF Little Company of Mary Pastoral Care to create the Cherished Angel Perinatal Loss Support Group to provide compassionate guidance and resources to support grieving parents.

Outside of OSF, Mary volunteers each summer at a week-long Catholic baseball camp for school-aged kids. The camp not only teaches the specifics of baseball, but teaches campers to practice and live their Catholic faith on and off the field.

Mary loves being a nurse of 46 years and states “There is something special about the work that we do here in Evergreen Park and the Mission Partners that we work alongside. I have always felt drawn to supporting our Mission to serve our community by following the spirit of our Foundress, Venerable Mary Potter, and now, also the spirit of Mother M. Frances Krasse, O.S.F.”

Central Region Nominee

Radiation Oncologist and Medical Director Radiation Therapy and Oncology Service Line Director, OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center

Nominated by Ryan Luginbuhl

Dr. James McGee started the Radiation Oncology Service at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in 1989. Working within the OSF HealthCare System, Dr. McGee initiated the efforts that lead to the development of the Community Cancer Center in Normal, Illinois, and helped OSF Saint Anthony in Rockford obtain a CON for a cancer center including a radiation oncology service. An early adopter of radiosurgery, Dr. McGee worked with neurosurgery to develop the Gamma Knife Center at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center.

Currently serving as Medical Director of Radiation Therapy and Oncology Service Line Director at OSF Saint Francis, Dr. McGee has chaired the OSF Saint Francis Cancer Committee since 1989 and has steadily promoted and insured the implementation of multidisciplinary tumor boards for the major disease processes. This has led to the formation of multi-disciplinary clinics and numerous initiatives in cancer patient care and cancer control activities.

Dr. McGee chairs the radiation oncology committee of the Heartland NCORP Clinical Research Group as well as a Professor of Radiology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and an Affiliate Professor of Radiation Oncology at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine.

Active professionally and personally in Peoria and many Illinois communities, Dr. McGee has been instrumental in raising millions of dollars in support of the new OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute, which will serve all patients regardless of ability to pay. Dr. McGee has dedicated his life and career to care for cancer patients. He is a true servant leader, living the Sisters’ Mission in all he does.

Eastern Region Honoree

Vice President of Ancillary and Support Services, OSF HealthCare Sacred Heart Medical Center

Nominated by Brad Solberg and Debbie Michfelder

Jennifer Compton joined OSF HealthCare in February 2018 when OSF acquired the Danville hospital. Jennifer has been with the organization and its prior ownership since 1988 and will begin her 33rd year of service in December 2021.

Jennifer exemplifies the definition of philanthropy: the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by generous donations and/or service. Whenever there is an activity or fundraiser, Jennifer demonstrates great generosity through her numerous gifts to OSF Sacred Heart and OSF Heart of Mary, and is always willing to be on the frontline to volunteer to promote the success of these fundraisers (along with her husband Tim).

Jennifer genuinely cares for her community and makes the time to get involved. She is a current member of the local “Step Up” program, which is a group comprised of community advocates who focus on drug prevention, mental health and parenting, and family assistance. Jennifer is also chair of the OSF Sacred Heart ethics committee and serves on the Vermilion Advantage Board in Danville.

Through her encouraging attitude and commitment, Jennifer has been an influential leader in both informing of and promoting OSF HealthCare to our community in various events and activities she is involved with or attends. She not only personally understands the value OSF has had in her community, she makes sure others know about OSF as well.

It’s a common occurrence to see Jennifer “show up” in so many ways that demonstrate her love for others – lending a helping hand in times of need, giving praise to Mission Partners who have gone above and beyond, or providing an open-door for advice or pep talks. Jennifer’s dedication to accomplish the Sisters’ Mission at OSF is found in the multiple little things that are inherent in her nature: humility, gratitude and hope, and honor of God.