Manajyoti Yadav, Age 39
Associate Professor, University of Illinois College of Medicine-Peoria; Staff physician, OSF St. Francis Medical Center
“Dr. Manajyoti Yadav stands as an outstanding educator and esteemed physician leader within the Peoria community, showcasing an impressive 11-year tenure of service,” said his nominator. “In his capacity as an associate professor of clinical medicine and a dedicated teaching hospitalist, he provides his expertise to the comprehensive care of patients with a variety of complex medical issues at OSF St. Francis Medical Center. Concurrently, he plays a key role in the education of medical students and residents from the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria (UICOMP).”
Among his awards, the American College of Physicians (ACP) Laureate award, bestowed upon him in 2021 by the Illinois Southern chapter, stands out. It is the highest award given by the ACP at the chapter level. This year, Dr. Yadav won the UICOMP Outstanding Teaching Award. He also was chosen by the graduating class of 2023 medical students as the recipient of the prestigious Golden Apple award, an accolade reserved for one faculty member for outstanding teaching and mentorship.
Outside of work, Dr. Yadav is spearheading a state-level effort to guide physicians trained outside the U.S. to better navigate the health care landscape. In Peoria, he collaborates with the Center for Prevention of Abuse to help medical students identify and address adult abuse. He also serves on the editorial board for an international medical journal. Finally, he is a site investigator for a National Institutes of Health trial researching treatments for Long COVID Syndrome.
Childhood ambition: “I was fascinated by my father’s military uniform and wanted to serve in the military, like him.”
Hobbies: “I enjoy running half-marathons (with aspirations to get to full marathons), biking, hiking, and playing cricket.”
Biggest challenge: “I started medical school as a teenager. To be 1,400 miles and many cultures away from home, having to learn a new language and get accustomed to a different culture, on top of the usual demands of a medical school, presented some challenges for me to conquer.”
Book recommendation: “Ghost Boy by Martin Pistorius.”
