COVER STORY
MAY/JUNE 2025
The Evolution of Plastic Surgery
The Art and Innovation of Dr. Michael Byun By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff For decades, the evolution of plastic surgery has been shaped by idealized images of beauty relentlessly presented through media. This pursuit of seemingly unattainable facial perfection; a straighter nose, defined jawline, and youthful appearance, often drives patients to travel far to achieve…
Field of Dreams
Cooperstown marks milestone moments for youth baseball players Nicknamed “America’s Hometown,” Cooperstown is more than just a small village in Central New York: It’s a rite of passage for young baseball players across the country. Home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and one of the most prestigious youth tournaments in the sport, Cooperstown…
To-Dos
By Anna Hughes With summer break fast approaching, we’ve curated a list of local activities for the entire family to enjoy. Whether you’re looking for memorable musical performances or fun in the sun, we’ve got all that and more on this season’s selection of the best in the western suburbs. Cats Paramount Theatre Aurora April…
Springtime Selling in Chicagoland
BY CONTRIBUTING PARTNER MAINSTREET REALTORS As the ground thaws and Chicagoland’s yards begin to awaken, homeowners have a golden opportunity to transform their properties and capture the attention of potential buyers. Curb appeal isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a critical factor that can significantly impact your home’s marketability and final sale price, especially during the busy…
Looking SHARP(ie)
Downers Grove Co-Op wins state gymnastics title using a little ink BY JEFF VORVA The ink didn’t lie. Heading into the postseason, the Downers Grove co-op gymnastics athletes put Sharpie to arms and wrote a word that would inspire them. “The girls picked a focus word and wrote it on their arm, and that’s what…
Dr. Rachael Mahmood finishes her term as Illinois Teacher of the Year
BY VALERIE HARDY Dr. Rachael Mahmood grew up in Downers Grove with parents who were both physicians at Good Samaritan Hospital. “Being the child of two doctors, I felt like I had no choice but to become a doctor,” she said. In fact, back when Mahmood was a teenager, her father told her he would…
Downers Grove South freshman gets promoted to Eagle Scout
BY VALERIE HARDY When 15-year-old Millan Ananth set his sights on becoming an Eagle Scout, the highest rank within the Scouting America organization (formerly Boy Scouts of America), he knew exactly what he wanted to do as his service project: renovate the weight room at Lakeview Junior High School. Ananth, a 2024 Lakeview graduate, wanted…
SECURING THE AREA
Sergeant Robert Jacobs has served nearly three decades with the Downers Grove Police Department BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN There’s something about being from a place, especially if you choose to stay in that place and raise your family—just ask Sergeant Robert Jacobs of the Downers Grove Police Department (DGPD). After having grown up in town and…
Modern Medicine
From data to diagnosis, AI is augmenting medical professionals’ training and practice by VALERIE HARDY Medical training programs and practices in Illinois are on the cutting edge when it comes to considering how artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance patient care and physician functionality. For example, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Department of Bioengineering was…
The Evolution of Plastic Surgery
The Art and Innovation of Dr. Michael Byun By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff For decades, the evolution of plastic surgery has been shaped by idealized images of beauty relentlessly presented through media. This pursuit of seemingly unattainable facial perfection; a straighter nose, defined jawline, and youthful appearance, often drives patients to travel far to achieve…
From Caddying to College
Local students are awarded the prestigious Evans Scholarship By Valerie Hardy Three local high school seniors shot for the green and made it. In this case, “the green” is not on the golf course but rather refers to money, which Downers Grove’s Colin Finn and Elmhurst’s Chloe Cummins and Matthew Hamblin have much more of…
An Icy Miracle
45 years later, Jack O’Callahan remembers Team USA’s Olympic victory and one of sports’ biggest upsets By Maureen Callahan “Do you believe in miracles?!!” Anyone who watched Team USA beat Team USSR – the world’s best hockey team at the time- remembers Olympic commentator Al Michaels deliriously shouting this question to viewers from their tube…
Path to Healing
How live performances can help mental health By Laura Michaud & Melissa G. Wilson According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), approximately 1 in 5 adults live with a mental illness each year. The most common mental health conditions include anxiety disorders (31.6%), major depression (15.3%), substance use disorders (18.1%), and bipolar disorder…
A Night to Remember
A Sneak Peek at the Taste of Oak Brook 2025 By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff Oak Brook will come alive this summer with one of Chicagoland’s most anticipated events—the Taste of Oak Brook. On Thursday, July 3rd, 2025, thousands of people will gather to enjoy an unforgettable evening of food, music, and entertainment. With gates…
The 250th Anniversary of the United States Army
Over hill, over dale, as we hit the dusty trail, and those Caissons go rolling along… The United States Army, America’s oldest and largest branch of armed forces, will celebrate its 250th birthday this summer. On June 14, 1775, more than a year before the Declaration of Independence was signed, the Second Continental Congress approved…
Argonne X-rays Advance Disease Monitoring
Using the Advanced Photon Source, researchers are creating smart proteins to better monitor diseases like cancer and thyroid disorders. By Contributing Partner Argonne National Laboratory A team led by Nobel Prize winner David Baker used artificial intelligence and the Advanced Photon Source to design proteins that sense key molecules in the body. This work could…
