37. Dr. Michael Sughrue 38
Oklahoma City Neurosurgeon, Stephenson Cancer Center Dr. Michael Sughrue has one of the most complicated jobs in the medical profession – he focuses exclusively on adult brain tumors, many of which are deemed inoperable by other medical centers. Performing nearly 400 operations a year, Sughrue changes the lives of people who were once given bleak diagnoses. He was a founding member of the Comprehensive Brain Tumor Center at OU and now works as the director while also co-authoring textbooks and teaching classes on minimally invasive brain tumor surgery. Sughrue spends much of his off time learning more about the brain, but traveling is a personal passion he pursues. The one place he’s always wanted to visit? “North Korea – and I have!” Sughrue’s success is inspiring, but it wasn’t without hard work, determination and a bit of advice from his uncle: “Don’t ever let finances limit your path in life.”
Dr. Eva Sawheny,
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Edmond Pulmonary Critical Care Sleep Medicine Physician, Oklahoma Heart Hospital Along with moving across the pond from Hungary to continue her medical career, Dr. Eva Sawheny has won a slew of awards for her skills and compassion as a physician. Her normal day includes caring for patients in the ICU, providing consults and visiting with patients in the pulmonary and sleep medicine clinics. Although most people could see themselves in another career, that isn’t the case with Sawheny – since high school in Europe, Sawheny has “never looked at other career options.” She is also a proud mother of two. “I sincerely enjoy spending time with my family. They are the key to my success,” she says. “After a difficult day, having my two beautiful daughters, Kyra and Zoey, run and hug me as I walk through the door relieves me of all my stress for a moment.” If that wasn’t heartwarming enough, she also met her husband, Nitin, on their very first day of medical school.
38. David Rothbaum Jankowsky 38
Tulsa Founder, Francis Renewable Energy, LLC David Jankowsky has a passion for renewable energy, and strives to open up our state to that concept. He battles against several factors as he advocates for solar, geothermal and other off-grid technologies, but remains hopeful that progress will be made. “We at FRE love the challenge of creating a market and unlocking that potential, which we know will be transformative for the state of Oklahoma,” he says. Out of the office, Jankowsky is a frequent volunteer at Iron Gate, a food kitchen and pantry in Tulsa, and believes children should start charity work early. “There is no better education you can provide your kids than volunteering for those less fortunate,” he says. “Not only does it teach the value of hard work, but it broadens perspective.” Jankowsky believes “plain and simple hard work” led to his success – but other factors were at play, too. In fact, if his life were a movie, he says the title would be Lucky: The David Jankowsky Story - an Unauthorized Biopic by Judd Apatow.
39. Elizabeth “Bessy” Osburn 35
Tulsa Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Tulsa Regional Chamber Tulsa born and bred, Elizabeth Osburn is the voice of the business community at the Tulsa Regional Chamber. Bottom line: she makes sure policymakers hear the concerns of local businesses. She also manages the chamber’s two political action committees, along with maintaining relationships with elected officials on every level of government. Osburn deeply appreciates the respect her coworkers have for her two jobs – as a VP and a mother. “It’s a juggle to balance work and family, but I’m incredibly proud to be part of an organization that values and encourages working mothers,” she says. Osburn takes time out of her schedule to volunteer at St. John’s Episcopal, United Way, John 3:16 Mission and several other nonprofits. Lastly, she has a heritage not many would guess. “Don’t let the red hair fool you – I’m Cherokee Indian and my middle name is Ahnawake,” she says. “It means ‘bright eyes’ in Cherokee and was my grandmother’s name.”
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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2017