Jesuit Fr. Jack O'Callaghan was awarded the first annual AMDG Award by Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. The award recognizes someone whose life and work is unmistakably "for the greater glory of God," the motto of the Society of Jesus. Father O'Callaghan, who joined Stritch in 1995, assists with spiritual direction, celebrates Mass, and collaborates with the Health Sciences Division University Ministry on a number of projects. Before coming to Loyola, he held Jesuit administrative posts in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Rome. 

"Gratitude is what I feel — for my family and friends, for the Society of Jesus, which has been my second family for 67 years now, for Loyola. . .and of course most of all for God, who has overseen everything all these years," said Fr. O'Callaghan.

Father O'Callaghan received his award at the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine 66th Annual Awards Dinner on November 19 at the Hilton in downtown Chicago.

Fr. Jack O'Callaghan, SJ, the first recipient of the AMDG Award, with Dr. Linda Brubaker, dean of Stritch School of Medicine

The longest-running black tie gala in Chicago, the event celebrates Stritch's commitment to educating the next generation of physicians and continues to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for medical student scholarships. In addition to Fr. O'Callaghan, 14 young adults who are members of the Stritch Junior Service League were honored, as was Dr. Patrick Stiff, director of Loyola Medicine's Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center.

"Stritch Dinner supports the training of Stritch medical students — our future physicians," said Linda Brubaker, MD, MS, dean and chief diversity officer of Stritch. "Most medical students graduate with significant financial debt. This debt load impacts their career choices. It makes it especially difficult to help those whose medical needs would otherwise be overlooked.

Click here to view photos from the event.   

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