Nancy Shapiro, a clinical pharmacist at UI Health for more than 30 years, experienced a stroke near her office on the UI Health campus on July 9. Shapiro said she felt sudden weakness on her left side and collapsed to the floor. A co-worker found her and called 911, leading to her rapid transport to the UI Health Emergency Department.
UI Health is a certified Comprehensive Stroke Center that provides high-level care for stroke emergencies. After testing, Dr. Fernando Testai diagnosed Shapiro with a middle cerebral artery stroke and recommended neurosurgeons Dr. Gursant Atwal and Dr. Ali Alaraj perform a minimally invasive thrombectomy procedure.
Following surgery, Shapiro was recovering in the intensive care unit just four hours after symptoms began. Her medical team investigated potential causes since she did not have typical risk factors such as smoking or hypertension but noted that Tamoxifen—a medication she takes as a breast cancer survivor—can increase stroke risk.
Her care team worked with oncology specialists to find an alternative treatment option that would reduce future risk while keeping her cancer in remission. Shapiro’s experience highlights the importance of recognizing stroke symptoms quickly and receiving coordinated care.
“I had my stroke on a Wednesday, and I was able to work from home by the following Monday,” Shapiro said. “I understand everyone’s story is different, and I feel lucky to have had a positive one,” she added. “But I owe a lot of that to the knowledge, teamwork, and efficiency at UI Health.”
The University of Illinois Hospital Chicago works to promote health equity and social responsibility through its services and research according to its official website. The hospital features 451 beds along with more than 30 outpatient clinics and 11 community health centers as reported by its official website. It has earned Magnet Recognition for outstanding nursing practices according to its official website.
The University of Illinois Hospital Chicago serves as the clinical arm of the University of Illinois Chicago according to its official website, seeking to enhance overall health through top-tier clinical services, education, research, and community efforts as stated by its official website.
