Thomas Jude Esposito MD, MPH

Born August 22, 1955 in New Rochelle, New York to Thomas A. and Marie (Montagnese) Esposito; he married Julia Austin on June 15, 2003 in Big Sky, Montana.

He is survived by his loving wife, Julie; his cousins, Kelli (Keith) Ferguson and their children, Sammi, Emma and Molli Ferguson; Holly (Rick) Grant and their daughter, Lucy Grant; Kevin (Kristine) Heslin and their children, Colton and Katelyn Heslin; his mother-in-law, Sug Austin; sisters-in-law, Jane Austin and Susan (Tom) Frederick; brother-in-law, Andy Austin (fiancée, Jae Yang); and nephew, Nic (Kelcee) Frederick and their children, Ford Austin Frederick and Cleo Lynn Frederick.

He was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law, Gail Austin; nephew, Thomas Frederick; and Aunt and Uncle, Joanne and Kevin Heslin.

Dr. Esposito received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Boston College (‘77) after graduating from Stepinac High School in White Plains, NY (’73.) He then earned his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington D.C. (’81) and a Masters degree in Public Health from the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine in Seattle, Washington (’91.) He did his surgical training at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Following his residency, Dr. Esposito completed fellowships in Critical Care and Traumatology at the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems in Baltimore, MD (’86 to ’88) and in Injury Prevention at Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center in Seattle, WA (’88 to ‘90.)

A Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, Dr. Esposito also held a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Surgical Critical Care. He was a member, advisor and consultant to numerous organizations, societies and boards in his field of expertise.

He was a recipient of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Public Service Award in 1993, the Florida Committee on Trauma, David Kreis Visiting Trauma Professor Award in 2005, ATLS Instructor of the Year award Chicago Committee on Trauma 2009, and Second Burlington Northern Visiting Lecturer in Trauma University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in 1994.

Dr. Esposito has lectured both nationally and internationally and has presented his research at numerous professional meetings and educational panels.

Dr. Esposito was active in many trauma related studies and projects. He was the recipient of over $2,000,000 in federal and private grants to conduct these activities. He published seminal work in the area of the trauma surgical workforce, Acute Surgery Care and Trauma Systems. He had nearly 400 trauma and acute care surgery related publications and presentations to his credit.

Dr. Esposito was a Professor and Director of the Division of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care and Burns in the Department of Surgery at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, IL for over 20 years.

Most recently, in 2015 he was appointed Medical Director of Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine at UnityPoint Health and then served as a surgical intensivist at OSF Healthcare, both in Peoria.

In reflection, Dr. Esposito said he would like to be remembered that he helped a few people live, he helped a few people laugh and he helped a few people learn.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at the Paul V. Galvin Memorial Chapel at 2160 South 1st Ave. in Maywood, Illinois to be followed by a 4:00 PM Celebration of Life in the Loyola Stritch School of Medicine Atrium at the same address.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma at AAST.org, the St. Francis Bread for the Poor in New York at StFrancisBreadline.org or the Prostate Cancer Foundation at PCF.org.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria. Condolences and memories may be shared through Woolsey-Wilton.com