National University of Health Sciences (NUHS) received the “Good Neighbor” award from the Village of Lombard, home of NUHS’ main campus since 1963. The Mayor of Lombard, William “Bill” Mueller, presented the award to university officials at a board of trustee’s meeting on March 4th, in honor of NUHS’ contribution of its campus and volunteer efforts in a full-scale disaster drill last September.

NUHS donated the use of its 35-acre campus for the staging of a mock tornado event that tested the disaster-readiness of multiple local, county and state government agencies, hospitals and emergency response teams, as well as the university’s own emergency readiness. Dozens of faculty and students at NUHS served as volunteers during the event, including those who portrayed injury victims. Two houses on the NUHS campus, which were scheduled for later demolition, were also used during the drill as scenes for storm damage and fire, so that emergency crews could address realistic crisis scenarios.

“We’re proud of this honor given by the village and will continue to work together with local government agencies to create a safer community,” says NUHS President James F. Winterstein.