Meet Marian's 2026 Distinguished Alumna

 

Dunya Atisha, MD, FACS ’94 

Leading with Skill, Serving with Heart

Marian High School is proud to name Dunya Atisha, MD, FACS, ’94 as its 2026 Distinguished Alumna. A nationally respected surgeon and leader in plastic surgery and breast reconstruction, Dr. Atisha will address the Class of 2026 at its commencement in May.

The Distinguished Alumna Award honors a graduate who demonstrates exceptional professional achievement and/or meaningful service to church, community, state, or nation, while continuing to support Marian High School and its mission.

Dr. Atisha is a true example of these qualities in action.

Surgeon, leader, and woman of faith

For Dr. Atisha, the path to medicine, and ultimately to becoming double board-certified in both general and plastic surgery, started young.

“My mom would always tell me that as a young child, I’d walk around the house saying, ‘Dr. Atisha, you’re needed in the ER stat,’” she recalls. “I knew from a young age I wanted to be a physician.”

It was during her clinical rotations while in medical school at Michigan State University that she fell in love with surgery. She would go on to complete seven years of general surgery residency at the University of Iowa followed by a three-year plastic surgery residency at Duke University.

“I always say God leads me where I need to go,” she notes. “The path is not always clear, but I try to heed His voice and pray to do His will.”

Following residency, Dr. Atisha took on a role as assistant professor of plastic surgery at the Moffitt Cancer Center at the University of Florida. After several years, a desire – and an unexpected opportunity – to return home led her to Henry Ford Health, where she served as Director of Breast Reconstruction and Director of Microsurgery for more than a decade.

Dr. Atisha’s expertise in advanced reconstructive procedures and the prevention of lymphedema has helped countless women heal physically and emotionally following breast cancer treatment.

Several members of the Marian community have received care from Dr. Atisha, each noting her kindness, compassion, and clinical excellence.

"Dr Atisha is a skilled doctor and surgeon, but what really sets her apart from her colleagues and peers is the drop-everything, familial concern she had for me, a fellow classmate," says Carey Bzdok ’97. "Her exceptionality is more than just her medical accomplishments, to which I could not do justice. Her care, concern and professionalism are what sets Dr. Atisha apart from others. What she did for me and my family was incredible, and she extends this same treatment and care to all of her patients."

It's a sentiment shared by Molly Robinson, mom of Marian alumnae Kate Robinson Bongiorno ’94 and Macklin Robinson ’04. 

“Dr. Atisha treated me as a person, not just another patient,” she recalls. “Prior to procedures, she  prayed with me, asking God to guide her skillful hands for successful surgeries. She gives both her time and her heart.”

Marian’s lasting influence

Dr. Atisha credits her time at Marian with helping shape both her confidence and her character, preparing her to lead in a demanding and often male-dominated field.

“Marian gave me the courage to speak my mind and not worry about what others think,” she says. “It gave me courage to excel, even in a man’s world, which as a surgeon, has often been my reality.”

As a student, Dr. Atisha was deeply involved in school life, participating in the Marian Rice Players, Model United Nations, National Honor Society, and French Honor Society, while also serving as a cantor at Mother of God Chaldean Catholic Church.

She recalls the lasting influence of her Marian teachers, especially Tim Wallace and Dan Sagert, who challenged and encouraged her and her classmates to lead with both intellect and integrity.

“The whole school was focused on helping young women succeed,” she reflects. “I remember teachers telling us that no man could do anything better than we could. We had the capabilities under our belt, and it was all about putting our minds to it.”

A new chapter

After more than a decade in a high-demand surgical leadership role at Henry Ford, Dr. Atisha is stepping into a new chapter, one that reflects both her continued commitment to patients and her devotion to family.

In May, she will launch Atisha Plastic Surgery, a reconstructive and plastic surgery center dedicated to restoring patient confidence and well-being. She will continue to perform advanced reconstructive procedures while keeping a more flexible schedule.

“I’ve loved the work I’ve done and the patients I’ve served,” she says. “But I’ve also come to realize how important it is to be more present for my family.”

That includes six-year-old daughter Gianna, four-year-old son Gabriel, and husband Ragaei Ghali.

“I want to continue caring for women in the way I always have but also spend more time with my family," she says.

It’s a balance she approaches with the same clarity and faith that has guided her life’s journey.

“I don’t always know exactly what’s ahead, but I trust that God is leading me where I need to be,” she says. “I can’t imagine my life being better, and it’s because I’ve tried with my whole heart to fulfill the Lord’s desire for me and my family.”

As Dr. Atisha  prepares to address Marian’s graduating seniors, she hopes to leave them with a message grounded in faith and perseverance.

“Work hard. Keep your head down. Have faith,” she says. “Keep the Lord in front of you in everything you do, and trust that He is guiding your path.”