RIC History

In 1954 the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) was founded by Dr. Paul B. Magnuson in a renovated warehouse on Ohio Street. Dr. Magnuson was a renowned orthopedic surgeon who became a devoted and passionate advocate for people with disabilities as the result of witnessing the personal tragedies of World War II while serving as the medical director for the Veterans Administration.

Carrying on Magnuson's legacy, Dr. Henry B. Betts came to RIC in 1963 and was directly responsible for advancing the medical mission of the Institute, construction of RIC's Flagship Hospital, direction of Institute research along with training education and advocacy for those with disabilities.

Since RIC's humble beginning it has grown to become the recognized leading provider of physical medicine and rehabilitation services. In fact, every year since 1991, U.S.News & World Report has ranked RIC as the "#1 Rehabilitation Hospital in America."

RIC's success is the direct result of the genorosity and passionate work of many exceptional people. Below is a historical overview of the leaders who played an instrumental role in helping RIC become recognized as the best in transforming medicine and transforming lives.

RIC Leadership: A Historical Review

Founding Committee

Paul B. Magnuson, MD, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
Bertha Evans Brown, Philanthropist
Willis Gale, Commonwealth Edison
Howard K. Hurwith, First Commercial Bank
John L. McCaffrey, International Harvester
Max McGraw, McGraw Electric Company
Albert Peake, Standard Oil of Indiana
John G. Searle, G.D. Searle & Co.
Mrs. Raymond F. Tartiere, Benjamin J. Rosenthal Foundation
Gen. Robert E. Wood, Sears, Roebuck & Co.
Herbert P. Zimmerman, R.R. Donnelley & Sons

Board of Directors - Presidents/ Chairmen

1955-1957: Paul B. Magnuson, MD, President
1957-1959: Kent Chandler, President
1959-1969: John W. Evers, President
1969-1974: Wesley M. Dixon, Jr., Chairman
1974-1978: Gordon H. Smith, Chairman
1978-1982: James F. Bere, Chairman
1982-1983: Charles H. Barrow, Chairman
1983-1986: Gordon H. Smith, Chairman
1986-1991: J. Douglas Gray, Chairman
1991-1998: Stuart L. Scott, Chairman
1998-2001: Ella D. Strubel, Chair
2001-2006: King W. Harris, Chairman
2006-Present: Mike Keiser, Chairman
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RIC Presidents

1965-1974: James O. Heyworth
1975-1983: Hunt Hamill
1983-1986: Edward M. Stein, Jr.
1986-1997 Henry B. Betts, MD
1997-2006 Wayne M. Lerner, DPH
2006-Present: Joanne C. Smith, MD

Medical Leadership

1954-1956: Ben L. Boyton, MD
1956-1958: Joseph Chivers, MD
1958-1961: Bernard J. Michela, MD
1961-1965: Robert G. Addison, MD
1965-1994: Henry B. Betts, MD
1994-Present: Elliot J. Roth, MD

RIC Foundation Chairmen / Presidents

1984-1997: Wesley M. Dixon, Jr., Chairman
1997-2004: Henry B. Betts , Chairman
1997-2004: Theodore D. Tieken, Jr., President

Women's Board Presidents

1960-1961: Mrs. Charles E. Wuerpel
1961-1962: Mrs. Robert A. Brown
1962-1964: Mrs. Joseph Christensen
1964-1966: Mrs. Gaylord Donnelley
1966-1968: Mrs. Russell Kelley, Jr.
1968-1970: Mrs. Eugene P. Thomas
1970-1970: Mrs. Conway H. Olmstead
1970-1972: Mrs. Mary Louise Wolkonsky
1972-1974: Mrs. Edwin L. Brashears
1974-1976: Mrs. Frank W. Yarline
1976-1978: Mrs. Lester Armour
1978-1980: Mrs. James J. Glasser
1980-1982: Mrs. Richard P. Strubel
1982-1984: Mrs. Robert Crown
1984-1986: Mrs. Paul D. Johns
1986-1988: Mrs. Livingston Fairbank, Jr.
1988-1990: Mrs. E. David Coolidge III
1990-1992: Mrs. Richard Samuels
1992-1994: Mrs. Rodney L. Goldstein
1994-1996: Mrs. Thomas Keim
1996-1998: Mrs. Brian C. Jerome
1998-2000: Mrs. Richard J. Almedia
2000-2002: Mrs. Laurence O. Booth
2002-2004: Mary K. Arnberg
2004-2006: Leslie Kennedy
2006-Present: Marilynn Thoma
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Associate Board Presidents

1990-1992: John W. Grinney
1992-1994: Christine S. Pratt
1994-1996: Daniel D. Dolan, Jr.
1996-1998: Cynthia A. Moran
1998-2001: Samuel P. Chapman
2001-2003: Suzette Bross Bulley
2003-2005: Susan Barclay
2005-2006: Laura Davis
2006-2007: David Hoese
2007-Present: Jennifer Lane Landolt

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