'An example to all of us': Northwestern Medicine Glenview Outpatient Center honors staff member

Northwestern Medicine Glenview Outpatient staff gathered late last month to honor the winner and nominees for the third annual Dr. Michael Schafer Award. This prestigious honor is given to a staff member who exemplifies the Northwestern Medicine Patients First mission and consistently goes above and beyond to deliver the highest level of patient care. Of the six nominees, this year's winner is Khyla Tatak, an operations coordinator in the internal medicine department.

"To be mentioned and likened to Dr. Schafer is such an honor within itself," said Tatak. "I am sharing this with my fellow nominees, team members and patients. They are my guiding force to providing better patient and staff experiences. I will continue to do my part to make my patients, my Northwestern Medicine employees, and family proud."

Dr. Schafer was the face of Orthopaedic Surgery at Northwestern Medicine, serving as the chair and residency program director for 32 years. Throughout his career, he educated and supported many respected orthopaedic surgeons, physical therapists and athletic trainers practicing across the country. Dr. Schafer was beloved by his patients and colleagues at the Glenview Outpatient Center and consistently provided Patient First care with the highest level of dedication and integrity.

"Khyla is an example to all of us on how to care for patients and each other," says Dr. Colleen Nugent, an internal medicine physician at Glenview Outpatient Center. "She not only makes our office a better place, she makes the world a better place. I am truly grateful for her presence, hard work, intelligence and compassion."

"When I thought about how to honor Dr. Schafer's memory, it made sense to do so by recognizing a member of our Glenview family that displayed the same Patients First attitude," said Micah J. Eimer, medical director at the Northwestern Medicine Glenview Outpatient Center. "Too often we wait until people are gone to vocalize that they are appreciated, and we wanted to make sure that doesn't happen. We appreciate all that Khyla does for the staff and patients here each and every day."