Joseph El-Houjairy, M.D. and Josua Leonard, M.D. have been named the 2026 Little Company of Mary (LCM) Outstanding Physician Award recipients at Deconess Memorial Medical Center. This award is named in honor of the Little Company of Mary Sisters – USA, the founders of Deconess Memorial. The LCM Award is given annually to a physician on Deaconess Memorial’s active medical staff who has been nominated through a hospital- and community-wide nomination process with the recipient being chosen by a selection committee from a group of finalists. The award is based on outstanding performance reflecting Deaconess Memorial’s mission statement and core values of Respect for Human Dignity, Compassionate Caring, Stewardship, Quality and Justice. The nominees for this year’s award included Aaron Blair, M.D.; Brian Blessinger, M.D.; Joseph El-Houjairy, M.D.; Joshua Leonard, M.D.; Kevin Lusk, M.D.; Erin Marchand, M.D.; Gary Riddle, M.D.; Cassie Robertson, D.O.; and Kyle Schroering, D.O.
Nomination forms for Dr. El-Houjairy describe him as a provider who takes his time educating, comforting, and providing hope in healing to everyone he sees. “Dr. Joe demonstrates the true definition of excellence by the amount of time he spends with each and every patient.” “Dr. Joe makes sure everyone is made to feel important.” “He always takes into consideration what the patient’s wishes are for their healthcare goals.”
Dr. El-Houjairy earned his medical degree at Kursk State Medical University in Russia. He completed a general surgery residency at the American University of Beirut and a residency in internal medical at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati where he also served as Chief Resident. Dr. El-Houjairy serves as a hospitalist at Deaconess Memorial, overseeing the medical care of inpatients.
Nomination forms for Dr. Leonard describe him as kind and caring by his patients. “He has taken on additional procedures to assist providers and patients to allow them to remain here and expedite their potential to initiate treatment sooner.” “He often comes to the hospital after office hours in order to perform needed procedures so patients do not require transfer or longer wait.” “He is a very busy and productive physician but does so out of his commitment to provide the best and most comprehensive care close to patients’ homes.”
Dr. Leonard received his medical degree from Southern Illinois University in Springfield and completed a residency in internal medicine at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he also completed a cardiology and interventional cardiology fellowship. Dr. Leonard provides cardiology services at Deaconess Clinic Heart and Vascular – Jasper, located at 440 Scott Rolen Drive in Jasper, Indiana.
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