Latest news with #FranciscanPhysicianNetwork
Chicago Tribune
12-07-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Business news: Merrillville job fair, Purdue Northwest dean's list, new hospital leadership
Businesses will have more time to register as vendors for Merrillville's upcoming job fair, according to a release. Employers have until Tuesday to secure their vendor space for the job fair that's scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 30 at the Dean and Barbara White Community Center, 6600 Broadway in Merrillville. Interested businesses can visit for more information and to register, the release said. The Purdue University Northwest 2025 spring semester Dean's List recognizes 1,746 undergraduate students for their academic achievements. Qualifying students sustained an overall grade point average of at least 3.5 and a semester grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Students from 19 different states and international students from 34 different countries were recognized on the PNW 2025 spring semester Dean's List. For a full listing of recognized students, visit Franciscan Alliance recently welcomed several new leaders to key roles in its healthcare ministry following recent retirements, according to a release. The Mishawaka-based nonprofit Catholic healthcare ministry appointed the following four experienced healthcare professionals to senior vice president, vice president and chief medical officer positions: Dr. Gerald Maloney, chief medical officer Michael Englehart, senior vice president for Franciscan Physician Network/Specialty Physicians of Illinois LLC and Franciscan Post-Acute Services Dr. Joseph Schnecker, chief medical information officer Tim Murphy, vice president of strategy Maloney is taking on the Franciscan CMO position following decades at Geisenger Health in Danville, Pennsylvania, where he spent the last 19 years as a physician executive and his last eight as chief medical officer. Englehart assumes the senior vice president for Franciscan Physician Network/Specialty Physicians of Illinois LLC and Franciscan Post-Acute Services role after more than two decades in healthcare. Schnecker is taking on the position of Franciscan's CMIO from his current role as Franciscan's medical director of information services, which he has held since 2019. Murphy is assuming the role of vice president of strategy following his role as Franciscan's COO/CFO for Franciscan Physician Network, Specialty Physicians of Illinois LLC and Franciscan Post-Acute Services. Valparaiso Parks Department Recreation Superintendent Madison Bell recently achieved the National Parks and Recreation Association's Certified Park and Recreation Professional certification, a release said. The Certified Park and Recreation Professional certification is the national standard for all parks and recreation professionals who want to be at the forefront of their profession, the release said. Valparaiso University will launch its new major in religious studies, a program that encourages students to explore and engage with religion as a lived, cross-cultural and comparative discipline, according to a release. One of the primary goals of Valpo's religious studies program is to spark curiosity about global religious practices and equip students with the knowledge and experience to connect with their neighbors, both nearby and around the world, the release said. The religious studies program will work with other faith-based organizations on campus, including the University's Division of Calling and Spiritual Life and its Christian Formation and Leadership Program, the release said. Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Superior Construction Co. is expected to close U.S. 12 under Indiana 249 beginning on or after Monday, according to a release. U.S. 12 will first be closed in the eastbound direction for approximately three days, the release said. Traffic going eastbound on U.S. 12 will be diverted to southbound Ind. 249 and can use the official detour of U.S. 20 and Indiana 149. Traffic will have access to eastbound U.S. 12 from northbound Ind. 249. U.S. 12 will then be closed in the westbound direction for approximately three days on or after July 17, the release said. The official detour will follow Ind. 149 and U.S. 20. Westbound U.S. 12 will have access to northbound Ind. 249 (Port of Indiana) but not southbound Ind. 249. Dr. Jeremy Luedtke, a general surgeon, recently returned to Northwest Medical Group, according to a release. Luedkte practiced at the Northwest Medical Group in LaPorte for several years before relocating to Wisconsin and has now returned to the organization, the release said. He is accepting new patients at the Northwest Medical Group – General Surgery office located in the Medical Plaza at 85 E. U.S. 6, Suite 240, in Valparaiso. After completing his surgical critical care fellowship at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Luedtke served as a general surgeon and critical care physician at Prevea Allouez Health Center in Wisconsin, general and robotic surgeon at Northwest Health – La Porte, St. Clair Hospital in Wisconsin and general minimally invasive robotic surgeon, critical care intensivist and endoscopist at Surgical Associates of Neenah. Call 219-983-6240.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Business news: Soil Conservation Day and speed control pilot
Podiatrists Cynthia Grundy and Dominik Meyer are now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and are accepting patients in Valparaiso, according to a release. Both doctors completed medical school at Dr. William Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in North Chicago, Illinois. Grundy completed her residency at St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart while Meyer completed his residency at Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center in Chicago. Both are accepting new patients at Franciscan Physician Network Glendale Health Center, 1101 Glendale Blvd., Suite 101, in Valparaiso. Call 219-464-4100. After bad weather forced the cancellation of a household hazardous waste collection event in Lowell recently, organizers have set a new date, a release said. The Lowell Household Hazardous Waste Collection, sponsored by Lake County Solid Waste Management District, is set for 2-6 p.m. July 2 at the north parking lot of Lowell Middle School, 19250 Cline Ave. The free drive-up event is open to all Lake County residents, but proof of residency is required. The release said there is a 1,000-pound limit per household and that latex paint will not be accepted. Businesses, organizations and schools are not included. For information, call 219-853-2420. Dr. Saad Sikanderkhel, a cardiologist, has joined Northwest Medical Group in Valparaiso, a release said. With more than 20 years of experience in treating patients with heart conditions, Sikanderkhel is accepting patients at the Northwest Medical Group – Cardiology office at 85 E. U.S. 6, Suite 300, in Valparaiso. Sikanderkhel pursued his medical education at Khyber Medical University in Peshawar, Pakistan, and completed his residency at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, the release said. Call 219-983-6300. Purdue Extension, Soil and Water Conservation District, Indiana Farm Bureau, Shirley Heinze Land Trust, and Diverse Corn Belt Project are partnering to hold a Farmer-to-Farmer Conservation Commodity Field Day on from 8 a.m. to noon. Participants will tour farms in Lake and Porter Counties. There will be bus transportation and box lunches provided. Pickup will be at the Lake County Purdue Extension and Soil and Water Conservation District Office, located at 2291 N. Main St. in Crown Point. Topics to be covered are commodity conservation practices, adding a rotation (winter wheat), diversifying, and building market channels for diversified crops. Please register by July 1 at If you need accommodations to attend, please contact Rebecca Koetz at (219) 755-3240 or email busser@ by June 30. The Indiana Department of Transportation will expand its Safe Zones worksite speed control pilot on or after July 7 on Interstate 65 in Lake County, according to a release. Vehicles traveling 11 mph or more over the posted speed limit in the worksite between mile markers 235 and 239 near Lowell will receive a violation notice in the mail, the release said. The first violation results in a warning, followed by a $75 fine for second violations, and a $150 fine for third and subsequent violations. Safe Zones was authorized by the Indiana General Assembly during the 2023 legislative session and aims to protect the lives of motorists and road workers, the release said. In the first month of enforcement in the Clear Path work zone, more than 25,000 first-violation warnings were issued, the release said. To learn more about Indiana Safe Zones, including active locations and answers to frequently asked questions, visit Dr. Timothy Husted has joined Northwest Medical Group, bringing nearly four decades in general surgery to the hospital and its general surgery group, a release said. He joined the Northwest Medical Group – General Surgery offices at 85 E. U.S. 6, Suite 240, in Valparaiso. Call 219-983-6240. Before joining Northwest Medical Group, Husted served as chief of staff at Flower Memorial Hospital in Sylvania, Ohio, the release said. He completed his general surgery residency at Stamford Hospital in Connecticut.
Chicago Tribune
30-06-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Business news: Soil Conservation Day and speed control pilot
Podiatrists Cynthia Grundy and Dominik Meyer are now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and are accepting patients in Valparaiso, according to a release. Both doctors completed medical school at Dr. William Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in North Chicago, Illinois. Grundy completed her residency at St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart while Meyer completed his residency at Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center in Chicago. Both are accepting new patients at Franciscan Physician Network Glendale Health Center, 1101 Glendale Blvd., Suite 101, in Valparaiso. Call 219-464-4100. After bad weather forced the cancellation of a household hazardous waste collection event in Lowell recently, organizers have set a new date, a release said. The Lowell Household Hazardous Waste Collection, sponsored by Lake County Solid Waste Management District, is set for 2-6 p.m. July 2 at the north parking lot of Lowell Middle School, 19250 Cline Ave. The free drive-up event is open to all Lake County residents, but proof of residency is required. The release said there is a 1,000-pound limit per household and that latex paint will not be accepted. Businesses, organizations and schools are not included. For information, call 219-853-2420. Dr. Saad Sikanderkhel, a cardiologist, has joined Northwest Medical Group in Valparaiso, a release said. With more than 20 years of experience in treating patients with heart conditions, Sikanderkhel is accepting patients at the Northwest Medical Group – Cardiology office at 85 E. U.S. 6, Suite 300, in Valparaiso. Sikanderkhel pursued his medical education at Khyber Medical University in Peshawar, Pakistan, and completed his residency at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, the release said. Call 219-983-6300. Purdue Extension, Soil and Water Conservation District, Indiana Farm Bureau, Shirley Heinze Land Trust, and Diverse Corn Belt Project are partnering to hold a Farmer-to-Farmer Conservation Commodity Field Day on from 8 a.m. to noon. Participants will tour farms in Lake and Porter Counties. There will be bus transportation and box lunches provided. Pickup will be at the Lake County Purdue Extension and Soil and Water Conservation District Office, located at 2291 N. Main St. in Crown Point. Topics to be covered are commodity conservation practices, adding a rotation (winter wheat), diversifying, and building market channels for diversified crops. Please register by July 1 at If you need accommodations to attend, please contact Rebecca Koetz at (219) 755-3240 or email busser@ by June 30. The Indiana Department of Transportation will expand its Safe Zones worksite speed control pilot on or after July 7 on Interstate 65 in Lake County, according to a release. Vehicles traveling 11 mph or more over the posted speed limit in the worksite between mile markers 235 and 239 near Lowell will receive a violation notice in the mail, the release said. The first violation results in a warning, followed by a $75 fine for second violations, and a $150 fine for third and subsequent violations. Safe Zones was authorized by the Indiana General Assembly during the 2023 legislative session and aims to protect the lives of motorists and road workers, the release said. In the first month of enforcement in the Clear Path work zone, more than 25,000 first-violation warnings were issued, the release said. To learn more about Indiana Safe Zones, including active locations and answers to frequently asked questions, visit Dr. Timothy Husted has joined Northwest Medical Group, bringing nearly four decades in general surgery to the hospital and its general surgery group, a release said. He joined the Northwest Medical Group – General Surgery offices at 85 E. U.S. 6, Suite 240, in Valparaiso. Call 219-983-6240. Before joining Northwest Medical Group, Husted served as chief of staff at Flower Memorial Hospital in Sylvania, Ohio, the release said. He completed his general surgery residency at Stamford Hospital in Connecticut.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Business news: Valpo U's MBA program lauded
The practitioners with Crown Point OB/GYN are now part of Franciscan Physician Network and are accepting new patients, according to a release. The practice includes physicians and nurse practitioners including Dr. Nicole Cataldi, Dr. Mary Eileen McCormack and nurse practitioners Amy Marciniak and Abigail Reardon. Cataldi attended Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in Downers Grove, Illinois. McCormack also attended medical school at Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Marciniak earned her Master of Science degree in nursing from Purdue University Northwest in Hammond while Reardon earned her Master of Science degree in nursing from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Franciscan Physician Network Obstetrics and Gynecology is located at 800 W. Burrell Drive in Crown Point. Call 219-663-9913. Northwest Health has released its annual Community Benefit Report. The health system provided care to thousands of area residents in 2024, with 884,700 patient encounters across its network of physician offices and other outpatient sites of care, according to a release. In addition to delivering healthcare, Northwest Health's impact totaled an estimated $422,387,000 overall benefit for the region in 2024, the release said. Northwest Health's five emergency rooms provided care in more than 83,000 patient encounters each year, the release said, and provided $57 million in charity and uncompensated care and provided resources to help patients in need of secure medications and medical support devices, the release said. Northwest Health is one of the area's larger employers with a payroll of $284.7 million, the release said. In addition to supporting the local economy through jobs, Northwest Health paid $54.2 million in taxes in 2024, the release said. Dr. Lynn Vattathara, a family medicine physician, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting patients in Cedar Lake, according to a release. Vattathara attended medical school at St. George's University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. He completed his residency in family medicine at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira, New York, a release said. Vattathara's clinical interests include dermatology, nutrition and fitness, preventative medicine and public health, sports physicals and minor sports injury management. He is accepting new patients at the Cedar Lake Health Center, 6831 W. 133rd Ave. Call 219-374-5970. Valparaiso University's annual Valpo Day, a spirited celebration of the University's mission, that brings together supporters in a day of activities, competition and philanthropy, is planned for April 9, a release said. As VU's largest fundraising event of the year, Valpo Day highlights what it means to be a beacon of light in the community and a champion of the university's legacy, the release said. The university encourages community members to take part in the celebration by visiting the campus as well as sharing Valpo memories using in #ProudToBeValpo, visiting local businesses or making a gift to support university programs. To learn more, visit Valparaiso University has been honored as the top institution in the region for earning an MBA, receiving the 'Best University to Obtain an MBA' award from Northwest Indiana Business Magazine's 2025 Best of Business Awards, a release said. This recognition is based on reader survey responses evaluating the leading business schools across seven categories. The award is one of several acknowledgments Valpo's MBA program has earned for its excellence and impact. Valpo's MBA program prepares students for leadership with a values-driven approach, emphasizing ethical decision-making and global awareness. This 'triple-bottom line' perspective encourages graduates to consider social, environmental, and financial impacts in their careers, the release said. For more information about the Valpo MBA program, visit
Chicago Tribune
06-04-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Business news: Valpo U's MBA program lauded
Four join Franciscan Crown Point OB/GYN The practitioners with Crown Point OB/GYN are now part of Franciscan Physician Network and are accepting new patients, according to a release. The practice includes physicians and nurse practitioners including Dr. Nicole Cataldi, Dr. Mary Eileen McCormack and nurse practitioners Amy Marciniak and Abigail Reardon. Cataldi attended Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in Downers Grove, Illinois. McCormack also attended medical school at Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Marciniak earned her Master of Science degree in nursing from Purdue University Northwest in Hammond while Reardon earned her Master of Science degree in nursing from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Franciscan Physician Network Obstetrics and Gynecology is located at 800 W. Burrell Drive in Crown Point. Call 219-663-9913. Report: Northwest Health treated more than 884K patients in '24 Northwest Health has released its annual Community Benefit Report. The health system provided care to thousands of area residents in 2024, with 884,700 patient encounters across its network of physician offices and other outpatient sites of care, according to a release. In addition to delivering healthcare, Northwest Health's impact totaled an estimated $422,387,000 overall benefit for the region in 2024, the release said. Northwest Health's five emergency rooms provided care in more than 83,000 patient encounters each year, the release said, and provided $57 million in charity and uncompensated care and provided resources to help patients in need of secure medications and medical support devices, the release said. Northwest Health is one of the area's larger employers with a payroll of $284.7 million, the release said. In addition to supporting the local economy through jobs, Northwest Health paid $54.2 million in taxes in 2024, the release said. Physician joins Franciscan Health in Cedar Lake Dr. Lynn Vattathara, a family medicine physician, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting patients in Cedar Lake, according to a release. Vattathara attended medical school at St. George's University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. He completed his residency in family medicine at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira, New York, a release said. Vattathara's clinical interests include dermatology, nutrition and fitness, preventative medicine and public health, sports physicals and minor sports injury management. He is accepting new patients at the Cedar Lake Health Center, 6831 W. 133rd Ave. Call 219-374-5970. Valparaiso University to celebrate Valpo Day on April 9 Valparaiso University's annual Valpo Day, a spirited celebration of the University's mission, that brings together supporters in a day of activities, competition and philanthropy, is planned for April 9, a release said. As VU's largest fundraising event of the year, Valpo Day highlights what it means to be a beacon of light in the community and a champion of the university's legacy, the release said. The university encourages community members to take part in the celebration by visiting the campus as well as sharing Valpo memories using in #ProudToBeValpo, visiting local businesses or making a gift to support university programs. To learn more, visit Valparaiso University MBA program recognized Valparaiso University has been honored as the top institution in the region for earning an MBA, receiving the 'Best University to Obtain an MBA' award from Northwest Indiana Business Magazine's 2025 Best of Business Awards, a release said. This recognition is based on reader survey responses evaluating the leading business schools across seven categories. The award is one of several acknowledgments Valpo's MBA program has earned for its excellence and impact. Valpo's MBA program prepares students for leadership with a values-driven approach, emphasizing ethical decision-making and global awareness. This 'triple-bottom line' perspective encourages graduates to consider social, environmental, and financial impacts in their careers, the release said. For more information about the Valpo MBA program, visit
