In honor of Women’s History Month the Loyola University Archives and Special Collections has created an exhibit featuring materials from the Helen E. Gorecki, M.D. Papers. The exhibit is located in the display case near the reference desk on the first floor of Cudahy Library.

Dr. Helen E. Gorecki was born on January 12, 1895, in Chicago. She attended grammar school and high school in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and went on to attend Loyola University. Following graduation from Loyola’s Bennett Medical College in 1917, where she was the salutatorian of her class, she practiced internal medicine at Women’s Medical College Hospital in Philadelphia and was a gynecology resident at St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh. In 1951, Gorecki was appointed to the staff of Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago and provided services for the Infant Welfare Association.

In 1924, Dr. Gorecki married Michael J. Rudnik, an executive officer of the 41st Ward Republicans and vice president of the Chicago Sanitary District board. She continued to use her maiden name for her medical practice, but used her married name after she retired.

Dr. Helen E. Gorecki was a member of the American Medical Association, Chicago Medical Society, and Illinois State Medical Society. She was also a member of the Irving Park Women’s Club and the Polish Arts Club.