The Heart of Community: Honoring the Henry A. Hartman MD Atrium in Medical Education

The space in our medical school that now bears the name *Henry A. Hartman, MD Atrium* has long served as a central heartbeat, a gathering place for students, faculty, and staff. This special space is much more than an architectural feature; it’s the soul of the medical school and a sanctuary where students and staff come together to share, learn, and grow in their journeys.

Medical school can often be an isolating experience for students who are already some of the brightest minds and hardest workers around. Between the rigorous study and demanding schedule, it’s easy to feel lost within the individual pursuit of knowledge. However, as emphasized by Dr. Hartman and others, community is essential to a well-rounded education in medicine. "You don’t want people just out there by themselves; you want to build a community and have people interact with each other at all times," he shared. The atrium, with its bright and open design, stands as a perfect space for such interaction.

For many, the atrium has provided memorable experiences from the very start of their journey. One student reflected on their first day at the medical school, recalling a vivid memory of stepping into the atrium during an interview. They were immediately struck by the flood of natural light and the sense of warmth it brought. It was in that moment, amidst the nerves and excitement, that they felt they had found a place to belong.

Faculty members, too, share a deep appreciation for this architectural gem. One described their initial impressions upon being shown around the Health Sciences Campus, expressing awe at the intentionality behind the atrium’s design. “I remember wondering who had designed the atrium and how intuitive it was to make sure there was sunlight and that different offices looked out onto the atrium,” they recalled, highlighting the atrium’s role as the visual and social core of the campus.

This space truly embodies Winston Churchill’s 1941 sentiment that, "We shape our buildings, and afterwards, our buildings shape us." Like Churchill’s vision for the House of Commons, which was to be rebuilt just as it was after the bombing, the atrium has been a guiding light that fosters community and growth. Whether students are celebrating milestones, engaging in professional development activities, or simply taking a break from the rigors of medical training, they find themselves gravitating toward the atrium. This space allows them to come together, to commiserate, and to grow not just as future doctors but as people bonded by shared experiences.

Medicine is fundamentally about teamwork, and those first bonds of friendship and collaboration begin in informal settings like the atrium, away from the high-pressure hospital floors. The atrium is a place to nurture relationships, develop teamwork, and create a lasting sense of family and connection to the institution.

One faculty member, whose office overlooks the atrium, has witnessed firsthand how this space brings the campus to life. They described their daily view as one filled with movement and connection, capturing how central the atrium is to campus life. “It connects us as one community, one student body, as one unit working together.”

The atrium at *Stritch School of Medicine* is more than a building; it’s a place where students grow, foster spirituality, and experience the call to medicine as a true vocation—a call to serve others, to engage with the world, and to respond to a higher purpose. As the community gathers to honor Dr. Hartman, it’s with deep gratitude for his continued impact on education, spirituality, and the sense of belonging that defines the Stritch experience. The *Henry A. Hartman MD Atrium* stands as a testament to this commitment, reminding us of the heart and soul of medical education.