Three Beacon Health System professionals named to South Bend Chamber’s 40 Under 40 list
At Beacon Health System, we pride ourselves on the work our team does in and outside our walls.
This year, three of our team members have been honored by the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce as part of the 15th annual Michiana 40 Under 40 for their career achievements and their contributions to the community.
Rodrigo M. Correa
Age: 38
Birthplace: Brazil
Residence: Niles
Education: Doctor of Physical Therapy, Andrews University
Employer: Beacon Health System – Memorial Hospital
Title: Director, inpatient therapy services, inpatient rehab, sterile processing, speech diagnostics
Who or what inspires you? My faith in God is where my inspiration begins, followed by my wonderful, hardworking wife and three daughters. As a family, we are inspired when we find ourselves out in nature, hiking, swimming at the beach, or having a picnic in a park.
Best advice you’ve ever received? “Today, choose to start.” Don’t allow the possibility of failure, the nay-sayers, obstacles or even your own insecurities prevent you from beginning your journey. Choose today who you will be and once the choice is made, take action with conviction and faith.
What is something people don’t know about you? In high school, I was voted most likely to be on Broadway.
How do you like to start your day? Prayer with focus on gratitude and thinking about my loved ones.
What problem are you trying to solve? How to mobilize and empower people to realize and achieve their fullest potential.
Marion Mahone, M.D., MPA
Age: 36
Birthplace: Detroit
Residence: South Bend
Education: Indiana University South Bend, University of Michigan Medical School, Harvard University
Employer: Beacon Health System
Title: Faculty hospitalist, Memorial Family Medicine Residency
Who or what inspires you? My maternal grandmother. I unfortunately didn’t know her that well; she died when I was 15 and she suffered from Alzheimer’s long before that. However, I’ve been able to learn more about her and her ability to climb the education and the employment ladder as a Black woman in segregated Alabama. She had a really amazing life story and I want to keep that family grind going.
Best advice you’ve ever received? Never be afraid to ask questions.
What is something people don’t know about you? When I was a kid, I was a semi-decent singer, and got to sing at the White House once with a choir.
How do you like to start your day? I typically listen to news radio and then play at least one or two ’80s or ’90s dance songs to dance a little while making coffee.
What problem are you trying to solve? Inequity and discrimination in the health care setting — relating both to patient care, and to recruitment of healthcare practitioners.
Nikhil Patankar, MD, MBA
Age: 39
Birthplace: Mumbai, India
Residence: South Bend
Education: Grant Medical College, Mumbai, India; Pediatric residency: B.J. Wadia Hospital for Children, Mumbai, India; Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship: Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, N.Y.; MBA: University at Buffalo
Employer: Beacon Medical Group, Beacon Health System
Title: Pediatric intensivist and director of quality for the pediatric intensive care unit
Who inspires you? First, my wife. She has helped me rediscover myself and always brings out the best in me. She is my strongest advocate and my biggest critic and always encourages me to go the extra mile.
Second, my patients. I am a pediatric intensive care physician and I care for very sick children on a daily basis. Children are resilient and tenacious. They have the power of innocence. They are mentally strong and don’t ever give up.
Best advice you’ve ever received? It is important to know when to speak up, but it is even more important to know when to hold back and listen.
What is something people don’t know about you? Unlike many, I learned to drive a car at the age of 29. I never knew I would enjoy driving so much. I especially find long drives liberating to the extent that I now have driven in almost 30 of the 50 states in America.
How do you like to start your day? My work is shift-based, so the days I’m not on call, I start my day with a hot cup of coffee and getting my son ready for his daycare. My on-call days start even before I know it!
What problem are you trying to solve? I represent Beacon Children’s Hospital in the Improving Pediatric Sepsis Outcomes (IPSO) Collaborative through the Children’s Hospital Association. Sepsis is a condition caused by an overwhelming bodily response to an infection and is a leading cause of deaths in children and adults. Children are at particular risk for dying due to sepsis as often the signs can be subtle and be missed until it has progressed extensively and caused cardiovascular collapse. Timely intervention can improve outcomes in sepsis and prevent deaths. At Beacon Children’s, we have implemented standardized and streamlined processes to improve prompt recognition and management of sepsis in children.
I am also working on several projects to improve medication safety at Beacon Children’s Hospital and Beacon Health System as a part of our Zero Harm Initiative.
