Local physician dances with Chicago celebrities for charity

Above / Northwestern Medicine Physician Christopher George recently laced up his dancing shoes to raise funds for breast cancer research. (Photo courtesy Northwestern Medicine)

Spending each day providing patient care and running the Northwestern Medicine cancer centers in the western and southern suburbs keeps Christopher George, MD, of Naperville extremely busy.

However, when he was approached by Leonidas C. Platanias, MD, PhD, director of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern University, to consider participating as a “corporate superstar” for the local Chicago Dancing competition called “Arthur Murray Presents Dancing with Chicago Celebrities” to raise funds for breast cancer research, he didn’t miss a step. Although he’d never laced up any dancing shoes, he was up for the challenge and agreed to represent Northwestern Medicine.

The annual sold-out event is held at Navy Pier to raise funds for local charities.

“I was definitely out of my comfort zone, that’s for sure,” said the Naperville resident who moved here in 2002. “If I was going to try this, I was going to go all in.”

Dr. George practiced at The Arthur Murray studio at 2811 Patriots Lane in Naperville where the organization provided eight dance lessons with a professional dance partner, Diamond. Dr. George, however, requested extra lessons after work so he could be fully prepared for the performance.

“My dance instructor was so positive and encouraging,” said Dr. George. “She had to ‘water down’ some of the routine for me which helped a lot, and I ended up feeling like I really knew each dance.”

After months of preparation, on March 8, 2024, he felt ready and performed the West Coast Swing and Cha-Cha in front of more than 700 people, including local celebrities and athletes, which helped raise funds benefitting the Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center and other Chicago charities.

There were 10 corporate dance couples competing in the event. While another Corporate Superstar contestant won the competition, Dr. George was grateful for the opportunity to represent Northwestern Medicine and felt good about trying something new and different.

Dr. George hopes to see another Northwestern Medicine member compete next year and hopes to encourage others to try new things when the opportunity arises.

“I was honored to play a part in raising funds for breast cancer research and support services, and learning a new skill at the same time,” said the father of four. “It was a wonderful experience and felt good to try something new. I am looking forward to next year’s event, where it might be Northwestern Medicine’s time to win that trophy.”

For more information, about Dancing With Chicago Celebrities – The Stars, Celebrity Dance Off (amdwcc.org), click here.

For more information about Northwestern Medicine, visit  www.nm.org.