Foundation Announces Scholarship Grant Awards
The DuPage Medical Society Foundation Board of Trustees announces the awarding of twenty-five student scholarships for 2025.Venkatsai “Shri” Bellala, Aurora, has been named the recipient of the prestigious James P. Campbell, MD, Memorial Scholarship for 2025. Shri holds an undergraduate degree in engineering and turned to medicine after dealing with his own chronic medical condition. He aims to combine his experiences in biomedical engineering with his medical training.
In his application, he wrote, "My pursuit of an MD is rooted in a deep commitment to integrating scientific exploration with compassionate medical care. As I continue my medical education, I will focus on honing my clinical skills and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams of clinicians and engineers to bring innovative breakthroughs to the bedside."
The James P. Campbell, MD, Memorial Scholarship was established in 1998 to honor the memory of a distinguished physician from DuPage County who dedicated 60 years to both medicine and advocacy for organized medicine. He served the DuPage County Medical Society (DCMS) and other branches of organized medicine in several capacities, most notably as the Society’s secretary-treasurer for 29 years. Recipients of the James P. Campbell, MD, Memorial Scholarship must demonstrate an outstanding academic background and exceptional potential for a future in medicine.
Sareena Shah, Bartlett, has been awarded the 2025 William B. Frymark, Sr., MD, Honorary Scholarship. Sareena is in the final year of a challenging six-year BA/MD program at the University of Missouri Kansas-City. She has served on the executive boards of several campus organizations, including the Anesthesiology Interest Group, her chosen specialty, Roo’s on Call (a volunteering group), and Kansas City Miracle Makers, a group that hosts an annual dance marathon for various charities.
Sareena stated, "I have a strong desire to continue using my role as a future physician to improve the communities around me. My work with nonprofit organizations has been particularly informative in helping me recognize that being a physician is a tremendous responsibility with the potential to do significant good."
The William B. Frymark, Sr., MD, Honorary Scholarship honors one of the Foundation’s founders, who was a dedicated supporter and steward of the organization for over half a century. Dr. Frymark served multiple terms as a trustee and president of the Foundation’s Board and held various leadership positions with the DuPage County Medical Society. Recipients of this scholarship are expected to demonstrate superior academic ability, a commitment to service, and significant potential as healthcare providers.
The other recipients of the DuPage County Medical Society Foundation’s 2025 scholarships are as follows:
Subul Ahmad, Aurora - Medicine
Rushika Amin, Hanover Park - Osteopathic Medicine
Kavya Anjur, Aurora - Medicine
Avian Askew, Naperville - Nursing
Brooke Bonta, Roselle - Osteopathic Medicine
Jaladhija Chalichama, Aurora - Medicine
Katy Flannery, Westmont - Osteopathic Medicine
Lashawnda Floyd, Addison - Nursing
Melissa Gibson, Glen Ellyn - Medicine
Christina Harvey, Wheaton - Speech-Language Pathology
Annaliesa Herbst, West Chicago - Nursing
Baasit Jamal, Aurora - Medicine
Susan Jeon, Lombard - Medicine
Yanal Kawaleet, Lombard - Medicine
Behrad Khamissi, Winfield - Dentistry
Robert Luca, Burr Ridge - Medicine
Mira Malavia, Aurora - Medicine
Hamid Mohiuddin, Lombard - Medicine
Jacquelyn Nguyen, Carol Stream - Medicine
Natalia Nikolic, Oak Brook - Osteopathic Medicine
Julie Paska, Roselle - Medicine/Master of Public Health
Vir Patel, Woodridge - Medicine
Ann Seward, Wheaton - Nursing
“Once again, we had an outstanding group of student applicants,” said Foundation president Lanny F. Wilson, MD. “In honoring our generous donors, the Foundation takes the evaluation of each candidate seriously based on both need and merit. In this way, we aim to manage our philanthropic resources wisely as we support future health professionals and the care of health in America.”
Each year, the DuPage Medical Society Foundation awards local students 100 percent of the funds received from contributors. With this year’s grants included, the Foundation has awarded over $546,050 in student scholarships.