A full circle moment for Bonow '69

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Robert Bonow '69 has long been an avid fan of Lehigh men's basketball. Bonow played for the team from 1966 to 1969 and tries his best to attend at least one game in person each season. However, this year's season opener will have even greater significance for him.

After graduating from Lehigh with an engineering degree, Bonow made a significant change and attended medical school. He currently works as the Max and Lilly Goldberg Distinguished Professor of Cardiology at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University and is considered one of the most renowned cardiologists in the world.

“About three-quarters of the way through college, I was wondering where this was going to go…at some point I started thinking about other careers,” Bonow said of his engineering education. “I wanted to find something that was meaningful to me and had a direct impact on making the world a better place for people.”

After graduating from Lehigh, Bonow received his medical degree from Penn University in 1973 and then completed an internship and residency at their hospital. Bonow then accepted a fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, where he would work for more than a decade.

Bonow's work at the NIH eventually led him to his current position at Northwestern, where he both cares for patients and teaches cardiology to students. During his time in Evanston, Bonow became a supporter of the Wildcats basketball team, for which he holds season tickets. Still, Bonow will be cheering on a different team at Welsh-Ryan Arena tonight after spending more than 30 years at Northwestern.

The Mountain Hawks are scheduled to open their season tonight at Northwestern, marking just the third meeting ever between the two schools. Their first duel took place on January 4, 1993, a game at which Bonow was present.

“I said (Brett Reed) that I won’t wear purple,” Bonow said. “I normally wear purple because I have season tickets, but I’m giving up those seats and will be sitting in the Lehigh section.”

When Bonow found out about the game, he was initially unable to attend due to travel plans. He quickly changed his schedule to make sure he didn't miss the game.

“I should be in Italy,” Bonow said. “I changed my flight schedule and am here for the game and fly to Italy a day later. Of course I didn’t want to miss this game.”

Although Bonow called Northwestern and Evanston home for decades, he still credits Lehigh as a major influence in his life that made him who he is today.

“Lehigh was a very important part of my life,” Bonow said. “It took me in directions I never thought I could take. Lehigh gave me the confidence to pursue new things and feel like I could apply it not only to sports but to something like medicine.”

Tonight's game begins at 8:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. CST) and will be streamed exclusively on Peacock.

For more information on Bonow's medical background, click HERE.

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