Class Year: 1979
Outstanding Alumni Award Winner 2009
Holly Humphrey ’79, M.D., has achieved national recognition as a leader in the field of medical education and serves as dean for medical education at The University of Chicago. She oversees the education of students in the Pritzker School of Medicine and residents and fellows in graduate programs at The University Medical Center.
A Trustee of North Central College, Crain’s Chicago Business featured her in 2009 as one of its “Women to Watch.” Under her leadership, the Pritzker School of Medicine has soared in its selectivity as reported by U.S. News & World Report, rising from 41st to third, compared to all medical schools nationally. She has also increased the percentage of under-represented minority students in each medical school class.
Holly’s expertise is widely sought and she has served as a visiting professor at Harvard University, Johns Hopkins, The University of Pennsylvania, Washington University and Georgetown University. She has won numerous teaching awards, including the Hilger Perry Jenkins Teaching Award at The University of Chicago, and been honored 17 times by graduating students as one of their favorite faculty teachers.
After graduating summa cum laude from North Central, Holly earned her M.D. with honors from The University of Chicago. She continued there in an internal medicine residency, followed by a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine. She served as chief medical resident before joining the faculty as an assistant professor in 1989, thus beginning a 14-year appointment as director of the internal medicine residency program. She moved to the dean’s office in 2003.
She has authored more than 60 publications and has served as chair of the American Board of Internal Medicine and as president of the Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine. Her career achievements led to her becoming the first clinician educator faculty member to earn tenure at The University of Chicago.
Holly is married to Duane Follman ’79, a cardiologist practicing in Hinsdale, Ill.
