Our Story
Our Story
Founded with a purpose
The Parkinson School owes its existence to the vision, spirit, and support of two dedicated Loyola University Chicago alumni: the late Robert (Bob) L. Parkinson Jr. (BBA ’73, MBA ’75) and his wife, Elizabeth (Betty) Parkinson (BS ’75).
The Parkinsons embraced Loyola’s mission to seek God in all things and to work toward expanding knowledge in the service of humanity through learning, justice, and faith. The couple’s significant support of Loyola transformed many areas of the University and their firm belief in access to quality health care as a fundamental human right spurred the launch of the Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health in 2019.
Through the harmonization of pre-existing programs from Loyola’s Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing and the Stritch School of Medicine, we started with eight legacy programs in 2019. Over the last five years, we have doubled the number of programs offered and our enrollment has surged 55 percent. In that same time, we have expanded our research portfolio, created dynamic events, and established community partnerships to elevate our impact, enhance the education of our students, and honor the Jesuit commitment to social justice.
Over the last five years, we have doubled the number of programs offered and our enrollment has surged 55 percent.
1540
St. Ignatius of Loyola founded the Society of Jesus, whose mission is Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam—to the greater glory of God. Making education more accessible and the founding of colleges becomes a major expression of this idea.
1870
Loyola University Chicago is founded.
1920
The Loyola School of Medicine is established. Today’s Parkinson programs in public health, medical laboratory sciences, and health informatics emerged from the School of Medicine.
1935
Loyola University Chicago launched the first collegiate nursing program in Illinois. Today’s Parkinson programs in dietetics, exercise sciences, and healthcare administration emerged from the School of Nursing.
1973
Bob Parkinson receives his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Loyola’s Quinlan School of Business.
1975
Betty McCormack earns a Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola’s College of Arts and Sciences. Meanwhile, Bob Parkinson receives his second degree from the Quinlan School of Business—an MBA.
1976
Bob Parkinson and Betty McCormack marry. The couple later welcome four children: Matthew, Robert L. III, Erin, and Rebecca.
2002
Following a distinguished career in business, including stints as the chairman and CEO of Baxter as well as the president of Abbott Laboratories, Bob Parkinson is named dean of the Quinlan School of Business. He holds the role for two years.
2011
The Parkinsons pledge $5 million to the Quinlan School of Business.
2013
Bob Parkinson is appointed chairman of the Loyola University Chicago Board of Trustees.
2017
Loyola launches the $25 million endowed Center for Health Outcomes and Informatics Research (CHOIR) to educate and engage faculty, health care professionals, and students in the fundamentals of health outcomes research and data-driven health care delivery and outcomes.
2018
Loyola joins the Institute for Translational Medicine (ITM), a $50 million National Institutes of Health-supported Clinical and Translational Science Award program designed to accelerate the translation of biomedical innovation to practice across the Chicago area. The ITM is a partnership between the University of Chicago and Rush in collaboration with Loyola, Advocate Aurora Health, the Illinois Institute of Technology, and Endeavor Health.
The Parkinsons commit $20 million to scholarships, innovation, and strategic initiatives to establish the Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health at Loyola.
Betty and I are confident that others will support this school which is so vital to improving health care locally and throughout the world.
– BOB PARKINSON
2019
The Parkinson School welcomes its first students—258 undergraduate majors and 130 graduate students—as the 2019-2020 academic year gets underway.
Bob Parkinson passes away on December 19 at the age of 68.
2020
Loyola Stands Against Gun Violence, an interdepartmental committee founded in 2017, hosts its inaugural Community Advocacy and Violence Prevention Summit to spotlight gun violence prevention efforts.
The now University-wide summit has been hosted annually by the Parkinson School since 2021 as part of National Public Health Week.
Public health expert Dr. Elaine Morrato begins her tenure as founding dean of the Parkinson School just weeks before the World Health Organization (WHO) declares COVID-19 a pandemic.
The COVID Equity Response Collaborative: Loyola (CERCL) forms within a month of WHO’s pandemic declaration. CERCL’s immediate response to the pandemic includes providing testing and contact tracing to vulnerable communities across Cook County’s near western suburbs.
The Parkinson School introduces the Center for Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CHIE) as a central hub for purpose-driven research and education aimed at reducing health inequities and improving health care delivery for all.
2021
The Parkinson School recognizes its inaugural cohort of Robert and Betty Parkinson Social Justice Scholars.
Betty Parkinson is elected to the Loyola University Chicago Board of Trustees.
The Parkinson School launches its Master in Healthcare Administration degree program.
CHIE teams with MATTER, a Chicago-based health care incubator, to launch the Loyola Chicago Health Equity Quest. This annual national innovation forum seeks to spur entrepreneurial activity at the intersection of health equity and complex health problems. Topics have included addressing the societal effects of the pandemic, tackling the health effects of rapid climate change, and creating more sustainable health care delivery.
2022
The ITM is awarded $53 million in renewed funding from the National Institutes of Health to promote multidisciplinary team science and engage institutional and community partners in the design and implementation of health research for advancing health equity in Chicagoland.
2023
CHOIR introduces Salon: Data Science for Social Thinkers, an annual event promoting informatics and data-driven research through a human-centered lens.
With 370 undergraduates and 152 graduate students, total enrollment at the Parkinson School crosses 500.1
2024
The Parkinson School celebrates its five-year anniversary. The theme for the yearlong celebration is “Reimagining the future of health, today.”
1Parkinson Family Stewardship Report pages 1-5.pdf
1540
St. Ignatius of Loyola founded the Society of Jesus, whose mission is Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam—to the greater glory of God. Making education more accessible and the founding of colleges becomes a major expression of this idea.
1870
Loyola University Chicago is founded.
1920
The Loyola School of Medicine is established. Today’s Parkinson programs in public health, medical laboratory sciences, and health informatics emerged from the School of Medicine.
1935
Loyola University Chicago launched the first collegiate nursing program in Illinois. Today’s Parkinson programs in dietetics, exercise sciences, and healthcare administration emerged from the School of Nursing.
1973
Bob Parkinson receives his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Loyola’s Quinlan School of Business.
1975
Betty McCormack earns a Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola’s College of Arts and Sciences. Meanwhile, Bob Parkinson receives his second degree from the Quinlan School of Business—an MBA.
1976
Bob Parkinson and Betty McCormack marry. The couple later welcome four children: Matthew, Robert L. III, Erin, and Rebecca.
2002
Following a distinguished career in business, including stints as the chairman and CEO of Baxter as well as the president of Abbott Laboratories, Bob Parkinson is named dean of the Quinlan School of Business. He holds the role for two years.
2011
The Parkinsons pledge $5 million to the Quinlan School of Business.
2013
Bob Parkinson is appointed chairman of the Loyola University Chicago Board of Trustees.
2017
Loyola launches the $25 million endowed Center for Health Outcomes and Informatics Research (CHOIR) to educate and engage faculty, health care professionals, and students in the fundamentals of health outcomes research and data-driven health care delivery and outcomes.
2018
Loyola joins the Institute for Translational Medicine (ITM), a $50 million National Institutes of Health-supported Clinical and Translational Science Award program designed to accelerate the translation of biomedical innovation to practice across the Chicago area. The ITM is a partnership between the University of Chicago and Rush in collaboration with Loyola, Advocate Aurora Health, the Illinois Institute of Technology, and Endeavor Health.
The Parkinsons commit $20 million to scholarships, innovation, and strategic initiatives to establish the Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health at Loyola.
Betty and I are confident that others will support this school which is so vital to improving health care locally and throughout the world.
– BOB PARKINSON
2019
The Parkinson School welcomes its first students—258 undergraduate majors and 130 graduate students—as the 2019-2020 academic year gets underway.
Bob Parkinson passes away on December 19 at the age of 68.
2020
Loyola Stands Against Gun Violence, an interdepartmental committee founded in 2017, hosts its inaugural Community Advocacy and Violence Prevention Summit to spotlight gun violence prevention efforts.
The now University-wide summit has been hosted annually by the Parkinson School since 2021 as part of National Public Health Week.
Public health expert Dr. Elaine Morrato begins her tenure as founding dean of the Parkinson School just weeks before the World Health Organization (WHO) declares COVID-19 a pandemic.
The COVID Equity Response Collaborative: Loyola (CERCL) forms within a month of WHO’s pandemic declaration. CERCL’s immediate response to the pandemic includes providing testing and contact tracing to vulnerable communities across Cook County’s near western suburbs.
The Parkinson School introduces the Center for Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CHIE) as a central hub for purpose-driven research and education aimed at reducing health inequities and improving health care delivery for all.
2021
The Parkinson School recognizes its inaugural cohort of Robert and Betty Parkinson Social Justice Scholars.
Betty Parkinson is elected to the Loyola University Chicago Board of Trustees.
The Parkinson School launches its Master in Healthcare Administration degree program.
CHIE teams with MATTER, a Chicago-based health care incubator, to launch the Loyola Chicago Health Equity Quest. This annual national innovation forum seeks to spur entrepreneurial activity at the intersection of health equity and complex health problems. Topics have included addressing the societal effects of the pandemic, tackling the health effects of rapid climate change, and creating more sustainable health care delivery.
2022
The ITM is awarded $53 million in renewed funding from the National Institutes of Health to promote multidisciplinary team science and engage institutional and community partners in the design and implementation of health research for advancing health equity in Chicagoland.
2023
CHOIR introduces Salon: Data Science for Social Thinkers, an annual event promoting informatics and data-driven research through a human-centered lens.
With 370 undergraduates and 152 graduate students, total enrollment at the Parkinson School crosses 500.1
2024
The Parkinson School celebrates its five-year anniversary. The theme for the yearlong celebration is “Reimagining the future of health, today.”