Alumni Weekend 2025
Welcome back! Alumni Weekend is the cornerstone event for the Medical Alumni Association. Spend the weekend reconnecting with friends and classmates, participate in lectures and tours, explore the campus, and celebrate at class dinners. See you in Chicago!
Wonder who’s already registered? Check out the Alumni Weekend 2025 attendee list:
Attendee List
Please note: Advance registration is required. There is no on-site registration for Alumni Weekend. Registration closes Friday, April 18. You must register prior to Friday, April 18, to be included in any events.
Alumni Weekend 2025 Schedule
Meet in 303
Make the Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center (303 East Superior Street) your first stop on campus to pick up registration materials, then plan to return throughout each day to connect with classmates, enjoy refreshments, access Wi-Fi and more. Consider the Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center your Alumni Weekend and Reunion Class Headquarters.
Some events and lectures will overlap, so please plan accordingly.
Campus Map and the Surrounding Area
Please note: MD Alumni in reunion year (classes ending in 5s and 0s) and all MD Half Century Club members (alumni who graduated 50+ years ago) will receive a copy of the Alumni Weekend 2025 brochure in their mailboxes in January 2025.
Advance registration is required. There is no on-site registration for Alumni Weekend. Registration closes on Friday, April 18. You must register prior to Friday, April 18, to be included in any events.
For more information on which events have associated fees, please see the Alumni Weekend Brochure. Everyone is welcome at all Alumni Weekend events.
Once you register, your email confirmation will have the list of the events for which you have registered. You also will receive your personalized itinerary with location details at check-in.
**Indicates that this session has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit.
Schedule of Events
Thursday Events
4:30–6:00 p.m.
Alumni Weekend Early Arrival Welcome Reception
Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile
(633 North Saint Clair Street, Level Two Bar)
Please note: Advance registration is required for this and all Alumni Weekend events. The Welcome Reception is not check-in. Check-in opens Friday morning. If you requested Thursday parking during registration, we will have a parking pass available for you at this event.
Friday Events
8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Check-in
Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center
(303 East Superior Street)
8:30–9:45 a.m.
AW Forum:
Have Coffee and Conversations with the Half Century Club (HCC)
8:45–11:15 a.m.
Campus Tour:
Northwestern Memorial Hospital Tour
9:00–9:45 a.m.
AW Forums:
Using RNA and DNA as Drugs**
with Alfred L. George, Jr., MD
New Techniques and Technology to Improve the Diagnosis and Treatment of Prostate Cancer**
with Edward “Ted” Schaeffer, MD, PhD
9:00–10:30 a.m.
Campus Tour:
Northwestern Simulation Center Tour
9:15–11:00 a.m.
City Walking Tour
with Joseph Gugenheim, ’72 MD
10:00–10:45 a.m.
AW Forums:
The Contribution of Sleep Health to Chronic Disease**
with Mercedes Carnethon, PhD
Navigating the Medical School Admissions Process: What Makes a Great Candidate in Today’s Environment
with Roopal V. Kundu ’97, ’01 MD, ’02 GMER
11:00–11:45 a.m.
AW Forums:
Breaking Barriers: Navigating Health Equity across Medical School Eras
From Description and Discovery to Treatment and Prevention of Heart Disease**
with Clyde W. Yancy, MD, MSc
12:00–1:15 p.m.
Mentoring Lunch with Feinberg Students and Fellow Alumni
1:30–2:30 p.m.
Campus Tour:
Student-Led Medical Campus Tour for Alumni and Their Prospective Applicants
1:30–3:00 p.m.
Campus Tour:
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Tour
1:30–4:00 p.m.
City Tour:
Feinberg Founders: Historical Walking Tour of Graceland Cemetery
1:45–3:30 p.m.
Women in Medicine Tea at the Historic Drake Hotel
2:30–3:15 p.m.
AW Forum:
From Discovery to Delivery and the Evolution of Medicine**
with Susan E. Quaggin, MD
Northwestern Intersections LIVE!
Campus Tour:
Louis A. Simpson and Kimberly K. Querrey Biomedical Research Center Tour
3:30–4:30 p.m.
Check into Your Hotel
Please use this time to check into your hotel and get ready for the evening’s festivities beginning at 4:30 p.m. with Conversations with the Dean, immediately followed by Celebrate in Chicago!
4:30–8:00 p.m.
Conversations with the Dean and Celebrate in Chicago!
The official kickoff to Alumni Weekend. Join Eric G. Neilson, MD, vice president for Medical Affairs and Lewis Landsberg Dean, followed by our all-alumni reception and dinner, the Distinguished Alumni Award presentation, and reunion class salute.
Saturday Events
8:00–11:00 a.m.
Late Check-in
Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center
(303 East Superior Street)
8:00–9:00 a.m.
Fun Run/Walk
Lakefront
Pancakes and Perspectives Breakfast
Complimentary admission for alumni members of the class of 1975 celebrating their 50th reunion and all Half Century Club members
8:30–11:30 a.m.
Medical Alumni Association Board of Directors Annual Spring Meeting
By invitation. For more information, please call 312-503-8012.
9:00–9:45 a.m.
AW Forums:
Neural Mechanisms Underlying Motor Deficits Following a Unilateral Brain Injury: Implications for Innovative Rehabilitation Treatments**
with Julius P.A. Dewald, PT, PhD
The Rise and Fall of Chicago’s Lost Medical Schools
with Joseph Gugenheim, ’72 MD
10:00–11:15 a.m.
AW Forum:
Music and Medicine featuring the Northwestern Medical Orchestra**
with Borna Bonakdarpour, MD, and the Northwestern Medical Orchestra
10:00–11:30 a.m.
Campus Tour:
Anatomy Lab
12:00–1:30 p.m.
Commitment to Scholarships Luncheon
By invitation. For more information, please call 312-503-0754 or email Olympia Asimacopoulos at olympia1@northwestern.edu.
2:00–3:30 p.m.
Museum Tour:
Museum of Contemporary Art Docent Tour
2:30–4:00 p.m.
AW Forum:
Transforming Medicine: Physicians Leading Change across Healthcare
Museum Tour and City Sightseeing:
The Art Institute of Chicago Self-Guided Tour
360 Chicago and TILT
5:00–7:00 p.m.
The Founders Society Reception
By invitation. Please visit feinberg.northwestern.edu/tfs or call 312-503-3459 for more information on joining The Founders Society.
7:00–9:00 p.m.
Dinner locations near campus to be announced and determined by registration numbers. No on-site registration is available. Advance registration is required to participate.
Reunion Class and Half Century Club Dinners
(Visit the “Find Your Class Year” tab for more information.)
Physician Assistant (PA) Program Alumni Dinner
For details and pricing, please email paprogram@northwestern.edu.
Young Alumni Reunion Party at Timothy O’Toole’s (Classes of 2006–2024)
(Reunion Alumni: Visit the “Find Your Class Year” tab for more information.)
2025 Travel and Accommodations
Find everything you need to plan your trip. We’re excited to offer free on-campus parking and discounted room rates at nearby hotels.
Alumni Weekend 2025 Hotel Accommodations
Hotel rooms have been arranged at various local hotels at discounted rates. Please mention Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Alumni Weekend when you make your reservation and call early to ensure availability. Rates are guaranteed until April 3, 2025, or until the room blocks sell out. The rates shown below are per night.
Please note: Due to high demand, our initial discounted hotel block at the Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile sold out. A new block is now available at the rate of $239 per night.
Important Notice: Please note that the Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile hotel only accepts credit cards, debit cards and, where applicable, other contactless forms of payment. It is a cash-free environment.
Accessibility
Northwestern University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all events and programs. Accommodations such as sign language interpreters, accessible seating, lactation spaces, adjustments due to dietary needs, and presentation materials in alternate formats are provided upon request. Please contact Emma Wittkowski at medalum@northwestern.edu or 312.503.8012 by Friday, April 18, so that we may accommodate your request. Every reasonable effort will be made to implement accommodations in an effective and timely manner.
Parking
Complimentary parking for the weekend is available on campus in the garage at 222 East Huron Street, on the corner of East Huron Street and North Saint Clair Street (Huron Superior "Lot A" Parking Garage). You will need to pull a ticket for entry. If you request complimentary parking during registration, you will receive a parking pass at check-in (beginning on Friday morning, May 2).
Complimentary parking is available from 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, through 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 4.
NOTE: If you stay past the 12:00 p.m. validation time on Sunday, May 4, you will be responsible for any parking fee accrued past 12:00 p.m.
Please note: You may park in the garage prior to obtaining your parking pass at check-in. A parking pass is not required for entry into the garage. However, in order to take advantage of the complimentary parking and avoid parking charges, you will need the parking pass before exiting the parking garage.
Lyft Pass
Need a ride? We’ll give you a Lyft! Your Alumni Relations Team has your Lyft rides covered. Lyft Pass lets us cover all or a portion of the cost of your ride, so it’s easier for you to get from A to B. The Alumni Weekend Lyft Pass is good for $15 toward your rides.
In the itinerary packet that you’ll receive at check-in, you’ll find a flyer with a QR code and instructions to download your Lyft Pass.
To learn more about how to use or claim your Lyft Pass, please visit lyft.com/rider/lyftpass.
Please note: This offer is valid while supplies last. The Alumni Weekend Lyft Pass is available for $15 per person and valid only from Thursday, May 1, through Sunday, May 4. Each person is eligible for one $15 pass.
The pass will be available to download using the Lyft app. The Lyft app is available in the iTunes App Store and the Android Marketplace.
Find Your Class Year
MD Alumni:
Did you graduate with your MD degree in a year ending in a 5 or 0? If so, it’s your reunion year! Find class-specific info below to connect with friends, join your reunion class committee, and find out more about making your class gift.
Half Century Club Members (Alumni Past Their 50-Year Reunion):
We invite all members of our Half Century Club to join us for special programming throughout the weekend including a special Half Century Club dinner, the Pancakes and Perspectives breakfast, and many general interest forums featuring top faculty from Northwestern. For more information, visit the Alumni Weekend “Half Century Club Alumni” webpage below or call 312-503-8012.
Physician Assistant (PA) Program Alumni:
All PA alumni are invited to join this inclusive reunion celebration recognizing the classes of 2015 and 2020 on Saturday, May 3. The event fee includes a two-hour open bar and dinner. Visit the “Physician Assistant Alumni” Alumni Weekend webpage below for more information. For details and pricing, please email paprogram@northwestern.edu.
Come Back. Give Back.
Make a Gift
A gift in honor of your reunion supports scholarships, faculty recruitment, ground-breaking research, and unparalleled learning experiences. All gifts made from September 1, 2024, through August 31, 2025, to any area of the medical school count as a reunion gift and donors will be recognized on the Reunion Honor Roll.
Make your gift today to support the future of medicine:
Make a Reunion Gift
A Class Legacy
Reunion alumni are encouraged to support the legacy of their classes by giving to a class scholarship fund. The MD reunion classes of 1960, 1970, and 1975* have established endowed class funds at the medical school. For all other MD classes, we invite our alumni to support the legacy of their class by making a gift to anywhere at the medical school in honor of their reunion.
For our PA reunion alumni, please direct your reunion gift to your newly-endowed Physician Assistant Program Scholarship Endowed Fund.
Wherever you decide to give, a gift in honor of Reunion made to any area of the medical school will be celebrated on your Reunion Honor Roll. Please know gifts of $1000+ will qualify you for membership in The Founders Society. For Young Alumni giving levels and more information, please visit The Founders Society website.
*Not yet endowed, but every gift gets the class closer.
Impact
Each year, roughly 70% of our medical students receive scholarships. To support one of our top priorities and secure our place among the nation’s premier institutions, we endeavor to make a Northwestern medical education accessible to the very best students, regardless of their economic background. Your class scholarship will enable more students to reap the benefits of a Northwestern medical education without bearing a significant financial burden. Scholarships also help ensure that our community more accurately reflects the world at large—and that every student benefits from an environment rich with diverse perspectives.
Related Links:
Contact and FAQ
Alumni Weekend 2025 Frequently Asked Questions
Which classes are celebrating their reunions this year?
What are some of the main events that will take place during Alumni Weekend?
- Alumni Weekend forums from our stellar medical school faculty and campus tours.
- Friday evening’s Conversations with the Dean and Celebrate in Chicago, All Alumni Welcome Celebration—the kickoff to the weekend and a great place to start reconnecting with each other. Dress up or dress down.
- Pancakes and Perspectives Breakfast—complimentary admission for alumni members of the class of 1975 celebrating their 50th reunion and all Half Century Club members.
- The Commitment to Scholarship Luncheon on Saturday—celebrating alumni and friends who have demonstrated a commitment to our current and future medical students through the creation of scholarship funds. Meet the students who are supported by scholarships. By invitation only.
- The Founders Society Cocktail Reception on Saturday for leadership-level donors (donors who give $1000 or more each year). By invitation only.
- Reunion Class and Physician Assistant dinners on Saturday—the perfect finale to your weekend!
- Our Half Century Club (HCC) dinner where you can connect with fellow HCC alums.
Do I have to register in advance?
Yes, advance registration is required for all Alumni Weekend activities. There is no on-site registration for Alumni Weekend. Registration closes on Friday, April 18. You must register prior to Friday, April 18, to be included in any events.
How do I know who's coming from my class?
Starting January 6, when registration opens, you’ll be able to check out the Alumni Weekend Attendee List. The list is sortable by class year, making it easy to know who from your class is attending.
When and where is my class dinner?
The reunion class and Half Century Club dinners will be held on Saturday, May 3, from 7:00–9:00 p.m.
- The Half Century Club Dinner will be held at the Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile hotel.
- The 50-Year Reunion Dinner for the MD Class of 1975 will be held at The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago hotel.
- All other class dinner locations near campus to be announced and determined by registration numbers. Low registration numbers for a class may result in the class dinner being canceled, in which case you will be refunded.
Which option do I select for my class dinner when registering?
When Registering for the Saturday Evening Class Dinners:
- MD Reunion alumni from the classes of 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, and 2005 should select their class year dinner.
- Non-reunion Half Century Club Members should select the “Half Century Club Dinner (Non-Reunion Classes of 1974 and earlier)” option.
- MD Reunion alumni from the classes of 2010, 2015, and 2020 should select the “Young Alumni (2006-2024 Classes) Reunion Party at Timothy O’Toole’s” option.
- Non-reunion alumni in the classes of 2006–2024 should select the “Young Alumni (2006-2024 Classes) Reunion Party at Timothy O’Toole’s” option.
- Physician Assistant alumni should select the “Physician Assistant Dinner” option.
How do I make a gift in honor of my reunion? Will my name appear on the Reunion Honor Roll?
Many classes have chosen to generously endow a class scholarship in honor of their reunion. The legacy of these classes lives on in perpetuity at the medical school through current and future class scholars. Gifts of any size to class scholarships, or ANY area at the medical school, from September 1, 2024, through August 31, 2025, will be recognized as a reunion gift and secure your place on the 2025 Reunion Honor Roll. Gifts can be made online, over the phone, or as part of your Alumni Weekend registration. The 2025 Reunion Honor Roll will be posted in September 2025. For more information, please contact Katie Ferris, assistant director of Reunion and Leadership Giving, at katie.ferris@northwestern.edu or 312-503-0111.
My class is not celebrating a major reunion; will there still be things for me to do?
How can I change or add to my registration once it is submitted?
If something comes up, can I cancel and receive a refund?
If you use a Visa/MasterCard gift card for your registration fee, please keep the gift card until after Alumni Weekend should you need to cancel or be refunded for any reason.
How do I request accessibility accommodations?
Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
Do I need to print and bring my registration email with me?
Where is check-in located?
Where can I pick up my nametag and itinerary if I didn't make it to check-in?
Do I have to bring my nametag to every event?
Yes, please wear your nametag to every event. We will prepare one nametag for the weekend.
Can I get CME credit for attending Alumni Weekend programming?
How do I take advantage of validated campus parking?
Complimentary parking is available for the weekend. If you request complimentary parking during registration, you will receive a parking QR Code Validation with your registration materials in the Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center starting Friday morning, May 2.
You will need to first pull a ticket to enter the on-campus garage at 222 East Huron Street, on the corner of East Huron Street and North Saint Clair (Huron/Superior “Lot A” Parking Garage). Please note: You may park in the garage prior to obtaining your parking pass at check in. A parking pass is not required for entry into the garage.
The QR Code Validation for Alumni Weekend is valid from 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, through 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 4.
NOTE: If you stay past the 12:00 p.m. validation time on Sunday, May 4, you will be responsible for any parking fee accrued past 12:00 p.m.
The QR Code Validation is good for unlimited in/out privileges the entire weekend. Pull a new parking ticket upon every entry. The parking ticket must be used upon exiting, along with the QR Code Validation. Once the QR Code Validation is scanned and verified, the gate will open.
To see where to park, download the map.
Need a ride? We’ll give you a Lyft!
In the itinerary packet that you’ll receive at check-in, you’ll find a flyer with a QR code and instructions to download your Lyft Pass.
To learn more about how to use or claim your Lyft Pass, please visit lyft.com/rider/lyftpass.
Please note: This offer is valid while supplies last. The Alumni Weekend Lyft Pass is available for $15 per person and valid only from Thursday, May 1, through Sunday, May 4. Each person is eligible for one $15 pass.
The pass will be available to download using the Lyft app. The Lyft app is available in the iTunes App Store and the Android Marketplace.
What is the dress code for the weekend?
Will the bookstore be open?
Yes, the Abbott Hall bookstore will be open during Alumni Weekend. Bookstore Hours are:
- Thursday, May 1—10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Friday, May 2—10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Saturday, May 3—9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Be sure to visit the bookstore to pick up some medical school swag items and use your special 10% off coupon! Coupon available for pick up with your weekend itinerary at check-in, as well as at the Alumni Relations table in the Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center (303 East Superior Street) during Alumni Weekend check-in hours.
Will there be photos taken during Alumni Weekend?
Yes, photographers will be at most of our events. Please note, a class photo will be taken at each of the Saturday evening dinners. The select photographs will be available after Alumni Weekend, and all MD reunion classes will receive a copy of their class photo.
**This event is being digitally recorded and/or photographed. By attending, you acknowledge and agree to grant Northwestern University the right to digitally record, film, photograph, or capture your likeness in any media now available or hereafter developed and to distribute, broadcast, use, or otherwise disseminate such media in perpetuity without any further approval from you or any payment to you.**
Questions? Contact Us!
For general inquiries, please contact:
Medical Alumni Association
medalum@northwestern.edu
312-503-8012
For changes to your registration, cancellations, or refund requests, please contact:
Special Events Team
medalum-reunion@northwestern.edu
Please note: All requests must be received prior to Friday, April 18.
For questions about MD reunion and class funds, please contact:
Katie Ferris
Assistant Director, Reunions & Leadership Giving
katie.ferris@northwestern.edu
312-503-0111