Downers Grove Magazine Issues
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…
Read MoreDowners 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…
Read MoreSECURING 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…
Read MoreModern 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…
Read MoreThe 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…
Read MoreFrom 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…
Read MoreAn 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…
Read MorePath 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…
Read MoreA 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…
Read MoreThe 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…
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