More Than 60 Years of SLU Connections

Julie Echsner Gahimer, H.S.D., (DCHS ’81) Reflects on Her Family's History at Saint Louis University

Dr. Julie Echsner Gahimer (DCHS ’81) attributes her career as a physical therapist and college professor to her family’s three-generation tradition at Saint Louis University.

After her father, the late Herman Echsner, M.D., (MED ’52) graduated from the School of Medicine in 1952, the family’s academic journey continued with Gahimer and her siblings: Stephen Echsner (LAW ’80), the late Chris Echsner (A&S ’78, LAW ’83) and the late Karen Kemp (GRAD ED ’73), followed by Julie’s daughter, Lauren Gahimer Reyes (VSN ’15) and her niece, Alexandra Echsner Rasmussen (A&S ’12). 

Gahimer serves as a professor in the Doctor of Health Sciences Program within the Department of Interprofessional Health and Aging Studies and the Krannert School of Physical Therapy at the University of Indianapolis.

She recently reflected on her SLU experience and her family’s 63-year Billiken connection through the Oral History Project. 

What does your family’s history at SLU mean to you personally and professionally?

Supported by my family’s longstanding SLU legacy, the formative experiences I gained at SLU left an indelible impression, one that has influenced and inspired my work as a professor at the University of Indianapolis for the past 40 years. 

One of my greatest joys has been sharing my SLU story with my daughter, Lauren, who earned a bachelor’s in nursing in 2015 and also studied abroad at SLU-Madrid. Visiting her there offered me the special opportunity to return to campus as a guest lecturer.

What is your greatest takeaway from your time at Saint Louis University?

As an undergraduate student, I had the privilege of serving as an Oriflamme leader, welcoming new students to campus and supporting them during their adjustment to life at the University. I remain grateful for the example set by my own Oriflamme leader, the late Andy Norton (A&S ’78), whose warmth and guidance shaped my earliest impressions of SLU.

How did your degree from SLU influence your career?

As an aspiring physical therapist, I was delighted to discover that Saint Louis University offered one of only a few entry-level bachelor’s programs in the nation at the time. My academic experience was enriched by exceptional faculty members, including Dr. Ethel Frese, Mary Christman and the late Dr. Cheryl Cavallo, whose teaching left a lasting impact on my professional journey. 

My years at Saint Louis University instilled in me a deep and enduring affection for the institution and its mission. The faculty and staff not only shaped my academic development but also modeled the values of excellence, service and care that have guided my own career in higher education.

Learn more about the Saint Louis University Oral History Project.