Erica Van Zuidam, a second-year occupational therapy student, is this year’s winner of the Eugene J-MA Thonar PhD Award, honoring those at Rush University Medical Center who have turned a disability into a possibility, both professionally and personally.

“It is my pleasure to present Erica with this award,” said Dr. Larry Goodman, CEO of Rush University Medical Center, who presented the award to Van Zuidam on Tuesday, November 16.  “As both student and teacher, with an indomitable spirit, she represents everything this award stands for.”

Van Zuidam, who lost four limbs because of a severe case of bacterial meningitis while she was an undergraduate at the University of Illinois in 2005, is enrolled in the master’s program in occupational therapy at Rush University. According to her instructors, she has excelled in her classes with creativity, ingenuity and humor.  She brings lectures alive by sharing her experiences and making fellow students feel comfortable asking questions about disabilities.

In her spare time, Van Zuidam counsels other young people who have lost limbs, serving as a model of strength and achievement. She leads the “children’s church” in her home town of Beecher ; runs 5K races with the Bladerunners; works out; and swims. She loves shoes and is hoping one day to design shoes and clothes for amputees.

“When so much has been taken from her, this remarkable woman manages to give her spirit and energy to everyone around her, said Paula Jo Belice, assistant professor in Rush’s Department of Occupational Therapy and Van Zuidam’s adviser. “We should feel honored she decided to pursue her degree at Rush. She is deserving of the award not only for her contributions here, but for her dedication to helping other young women amputees.”

Now in its 17th year, the Thonar award was created in honor of Eugene Thonar, PhD, a member of the Diversity Leadership Group and the George W. Stuppy, MD, Professor of Arthritis, Section of Rheumatology.  It is given each year to a person in the Rush community—a staff member, faculty, student or volunteer—who has made outstanding contributions to Rush and enabled the institution to further its commitment of offering opportunities to individuals who are determined to turn a disability into a possibility.