Five Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumni are considered among the best and brightest business leaders in the St. Louis community. Munier El-Beck, MD BS 00, Ryan Freeman BS 01, Travis Liebig BS 02 MS 08, Tolga Tanriseven MS 03, and Scott Thoma BS 98 MS 00 were named to the St. Louis Business Journals 40 Under 40 Class of 2015.

The SIUE alums were among more than 750 nominees vying for a spot on the competitive list. When considering the multitude of candidates, the Business Journal indicates it looked mainly for statistical value that each nominee added to his or her company or organization.

El-Beck is the medical director of both the Hospitalist Program and the Observation Unit at St. Anthonys Medical Center in St. Louis. After receiving his bachelors in biological sciences and chemistry from SIUE, El-Beck went on to complete medical school at Ross University, School of Medicine in Roseau, Dominica.

I am humbled and honored to receive such recognition, El-Beck said. I want to be sure to thank the amazing people who I am fortunate enough to work for, and with, whose efforts I feel this honor also represents.

El-Beck has helped develop and maintain the day-to-day operations of a group of board certified physicians practicing hospital medicine at St. Anthonys Medical Center. His leadership also aided in the development of a short-stay observation unit.

The unit is designed to evaluate and manage patients who require a more extended period of observation than the emergency department can provide, but are not quite sick enough to require an official hospitalization, El-Beck explained.

El-Beck credits SIUE with laying the foundation for his current professional career.

My degree was always recognized and highly regarded at every stage of my professional growth, from medical school, all the way to my current position, El-Beck said. The curriculum I went through provided a solid background in the sciences, and also in areas such as business and information technology that continue to serve me today.

Freeman was surprised to learn he had been nominated for the 40 Under 40 list. Made apparent by his nomination letter, Freemans brother and colleague, Reed Freeman, also an SIUE alum, believed Ryan was deserving of this accolade due to his accomplishments in the construction industry.

I was both surprised and proud to have been selected from what I am sure was a very accomplished group of individuals, said Freeman.

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SIUE grads listed among 40 Under 40