Dr. Robert L. Murphy originally came to Southern Illinois University Carbondale to study aviation, but switched his major and graduated in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts in geography. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in biology from Boston University and his medical degree from Loyola Stritch University. He did further graduate medical studies at Northwestern University.

One of the country's leading AIDS researchers, Dr. Murphy is currently Director of the AIDS Clinical Treatment Unit; Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, at Northwestern University Medical School; and Principal Investigator of the Northwestern AIDS Clinical Trials Group. Chicago magazine named him "AIDS Physician of the Year" in 1994.

Dr. Murphy received the Obelisk Award for Achievement in Science and Medicine from SIUC in 1999. His wife, Mrs. Andrea Murphy, studied journalism at SIUC and is Chief Executive Officer of Grant/Jacoby Advertising in Chicago. They have two adult daughters, Amanda and Morgan.