Leadership at Loyola Medicine

Melissa Lukasick is regional chief financial officer at Loyola Medicine. She previously served as the regional vice president of finance operations at Loyola Medicine. She has been a valued member of the Loyola Medicine family for many years, serving in a variety of roles, including financial reporting and analysis, and has assumed increased leadership responsibility and scope.

Ms. Lukasick received her Bachelor of Science in accounting and management information systems from the University of Indianapolis. She went on to receive her Master of Business Administration from Northern Illinois University.

Chris M. Gonzalez, MD, MBA, FACS, is Chief Clinical Officer for the Trinity Health Illinois/Indiana Region, which includes Loyola Medicine and Saint Joseph Health System. In this role, he oversees clinical integration, quality and safety, graduate medical education, pharmacy services, and physician recruitment across the region.

A nationally recognized leader in urology, Dr. Gonzalez has more than two decades of experience in academic medicine and clinical leadership. He has held leadership roles at Loyola Medicine, Northwestern University, and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. He is a trustee and chair of the certifying exam committee for the American Board of Urology and has authored more than 160 publications. His focus remains on advancing clinical excellence and improving patient outcomes throughout the region.

Prior to serving at Loyola Medicine, Tim was the chief administrative officer (CAO) for the Rush University System for Health’s Heart & Vascular Institutes. As the CAO Tim was accountable and responsible for the system level executive leadership of heart and vascular strategy, program development, finances, and daily operations. Additionally, Tim served as the associate vice president (AVP) of nursing at Rush University Medical Center. Earlier in his career, Tim held leadership roles at both Advocate Aurora Health and the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System.

Tim holds national certification as a nurse executive (NEA-BC) and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). Tim has received the Chicago Health Executive Forum (ACHE Chapter) Early Career Healthcare Executive award, the Illinois Nurses Foundation Top 40 under 40 nurse leader award, and is a Chicago Crain's Notable LGBTQ Executive. Tim received a PhD in nursing sciences from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a BSN in nursing from Millikin University.

Jill Rappis is regional senior vice president and general counsel of Loyola Medicine and serves as secretary to the board of directors. Ms. Rappis previously served as associate general counsel of Loyola University Medical Center. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from the University of Kentucky and her Juris Doctor Degree from Marquette University Law School.

Elizabeth E. Early is president of Loyola University Medical Center and Gottlieb Memorial Hospital. An accomplished healthcare executive with 20 years of progressive leadership experience in health systems, Ms. Early previously held leadership positions with Amita Health, UChicago Medicine and Northwestern Medicine in Chicago.

Ms. Early has been recognized as a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Ohio University and went on to receive a Master of Health Administration from The Ohio State University.