Southeastern Community College Alumni Association | Distinguished Alumnus Award 2008
Dr. Paula Willoughby DeJesus graduated from Southeastern Community College in 1977 with an Associate Degree Nursing and completed a Bachelors Degree in Nursing from Marycrest College in 1979 as a member of the Delta Epsilon Sigma Honor Society. She earned a degree as Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Des Moines University in 1990, receiving the Physiology/Pharmacology Discipline Award. She was the founder of the Student Chapter (1988) and the Resident Chapter (1990) of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians. She began her Emergency Medicine Residency in 1990 at Midwestern University, served as the Chief Resident in 1993 and completed in 1994 as the Resident of the Year. Dr. Willoughby DeJesus earned a Fellowship in Emergency Medical Services and a Masters of Health Professions Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1996. During her career she received the Resident Research Award in 1992 and 1993 from the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians and served as its president from 2004-2006. In 1995, she received the EMS Fellow of the Year from the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. She was the recipient of the American Heart Association’s Best Practice Award for her work in resuscitation of cardiac arrest victims in 2000. The Illinois College of Emergency Physicians awarded her their Meritorious Service Award in 2004. In 2007 the Continuing Education Coordinating Board for Emergency Medical Services presented her with the Janet Head Founder’s Award. Her research has been widely published and she is an accomplished educational presenter.
From 1996 to present, Dr. Willoughby DeJesus has served as the Assistant Commissioner, Medical Administration and Regulatory Compliance at the Chicago Fire Department. She also practices clinically as an attending physician at University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Emergency Medicine, teaching emergency medicine residents.
Dr. Willoughby DeJesus on education: “Education takes the tools of who we are and builds the person we become. It is the passion within us that sees the learning opportunities and uncovers our vision of the future.”
On SCC Faculty: “Marjory Leonard, RN, gave her students the understanding of ethical medical practice by her example and by her expectation of professional behavior.”
