When Dr. Robert Maher served as principal of Briarcliff High School, he could not have known that his idea to create a Hall of Distinguished Alumni would endure for decades and grow to honor so many remarkable graduates.
According to Dr. Maher, the idea for the Hall of Distinguished Alumni was inspired by several students. One of them—Mary Alice Ackerman, a member of the Class of 1997—was recently honored as one of this year’s Distinguished Alumni.
“It is no exaggeration to say that when I met Mary Alice for the first time, she was one of my motivations for creating the Hall of Distinguished Alumni,” Dr. Maher said. “I knew that someday, when we created the hall and maintained it, she would be up on it.”
A dedicated leader and standout athlete at Briarcliff High School, Mary Alice excelled as a three-sport varsity captain, earning All-League and All-Section honors in field hockey, basketball and softball. Her influence extended beyond athletics, as she played a pivotal role in Briarcliff’s Student Leadership program, organizing fundraising initiatives for numerous charitable causes.
Initially pursuing a career in sports management, Mary Alice was drawn to a deeper calling—saving lives. She earned degrees in Nursing and Health Sciences from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the University of Illinois, launching a distinguished career in transplant surgery. As a Nurse Practitioner specializing in cardiac and transplant care, she played a critical role at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and USC Medical Center before being named the leader of the Heart and Lung Transplant Department at Keck Medicine of USC. In this role, she directed one of the nation’s top transplant programs, advancing patient care and pioneering innovations in mechanical circulatory support.
Mary Alice’s rise in a field traditionally dominated by physicians is a testament to her perseverance and expertise. Her journey—from the playing fields of Briarcliff to the forefront of transplant medicine—serves as an enduring inspiration.
Ackerman returned to Briarcliff recently for Alumni Career Day, where she joined 27 fellow alumni in speaking with juniors and seniors. She expressed her gratitude to the committee for selecting her as a Distinguished Alumna and thanked her wife and son for their support. She shared that, in many ways, her success began at Briarcliff.
“Being in the district, I was able to build a foundation that would weather any storm,” she said. “I had formed relationshipswith friends and friends’ parents and also formed teacher relationships. This foundation helped me be successful.”
She pointed to Dr. Robert Maher, who was in the audience.
“Dr. Maher became a lifelong friend of mine, a mentor, a leaderand someone who was always my number one fan in my successes, but who also helped me rise up from my failures,” she said.
Ackerman shared with the audience three things that helped her reach success.
“Whether in relationships or in my career, the following helped me succeed,” she said. “One: hard work and dedication will take you far – success does not happen overnight. Two: leadership matters. It is not about title, but rather about stepping up when it’s needed and helping people up along the way. Three: community is everything, whether it’s a team, a school, a workplace or a group chat that keeps you safe. The people around you make all the difference.”
She encouraged students to stay focused on the goal and shared that those lessons have impacted her in her current career.
“They carried me from the basketball court to the classroom to the operating room. And now to helping people live with heart failure, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in healthcare,” she said. “My teenage self would be shocked at seeing my career. Honestly, I’m a little shocked, but this all goes back to the foundation you build of the people you surround yourself with at BHS and as you leave the school to go do great things.”
After her talk, Ackerman and her guests visited the Hall of Distinguished Alumni to unveil her photo. Dr. Maher—who later stepped down as principal and was succeeded by Dr. Jim Kaishian, then the middle school principal—was delighted to see the hall now filled with photographs of distinguished graduates from across the years.
“I was blown away seeing it,” he said. “I can’t thank Dr. Kaishian and Ms. Blank enough for continuing this tradition.”
The following is a Q & A we held with Ms. Ackerman:
Q: What are some memorable moments from BHS?
A: Being a three-sport varsity athlete from eighth grade through senior year, which felt legendary at the time.
–Breaking the Women’s Basketball scoring record that had stood for ages.
–Winning the conference championship in basketball, possibly for the first time in school history—or at least the first time in a very long time. Either way, we made history (or almost did).
–The tiny size of the school system meant that teachers and coaches actually knew us. Really knew us. Back then, I didn’t always love how small it was, but looking back, it gave me a real sense of security and belonging.
–Watching football games on the hill on Saturday afternoons. It was less about the game and more about the snacks and socializing.
–Our school trip to Spain sophomore year.
Q: Do you remember any funny incidents from your time at school?
A: I definitely laughed a lot. Most of it was the kind of everyday silliness shared with friends and teammates. The kind of stuff that wouldn’t make sense to anyone else but had us in tears at the time – classic “you had to be there” type of moments.
Q: What did you learn during your time at school that helped prepare you for your career?
A: I learned that hard work and dedication can take you far.
I was consistently encouraged to be a leader, whether in sports or in the classroom. That support helped shape my ability to step up and take initiative, which has stayed with me throughout my career.
I learned that being part of a community is important, no matter what you’re doing. That sense of connection and support has continued to shape how I approach both my personal and professional life.
Q: Are there any memorable teachers or coaches who influenced you?
A: There are several individuals who had a lasting impact on me during my time at school.
Teachers: (Retired principal) Ms. Debbie French, Mr. AnthonyMuranelli, and Mr. Jerry Porter.
Coaches: Sharon Hughto and Don Hamlin, who was one of the most influential people in my life. He coached me from secondgrade all the way through my senior year of high school. He taught me how to be a well-rounded student, athlete and person. Although we haven’t kept in touch over the years, I often think about all that he gave me and the impact he had on my life.
Mentors: Dr. Robert Maher was equally as influential as Coach Don Hamlin in helping to build a strong foundation for me as an athlete, student and person, and in preparing me for success in real life. There were many students and teachers who needed his attention, but he always had all the time in the world when I needed it. Dr. Maher and I have remained in touch over the years, and he continues to be a close friend and mentor to this day.
Q: Would you like to share anything else from your time at Briarcliff?
A: Mary Carmody – now Mary Yulo – was a memorable teacher for me while I attended Todd elementary school.
While attending Todd elementary school, I formed a bond with four people who remain some of my closest friends to this day. These friendships have played a significant role in my life, and I truly cherish them. There’s something incredibly special about friendships that begin at such a young age and continue to grow as we do. They’re unlike any other. There is a depth and familiarity that comes from someone who’s seen the inside of your childhood home—who’s been there through the early chapters of your story.
