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LATEST NEWS RELEASES
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from the Office of Public Relations
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CALENDAR
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To submit an
item to the school calendar, click here:
5.29
Memorial Day
JUNE
6.6
Southern Illinois Interprofessional Opioid Prescription Drug and Heroin Conference
8:30 am - 3:30 pm, Mt. Vernon Hotel and Event Center, 222 Potomac Blvd., Mount Vernon. Register and get more info at siumed.edu/cpd and click Learners > Conferences.
6.8
Blood drive
11 am - 4 pm, 327 W. Calhoun, Prairie Sangamon Rooms
6.9
Camp COCO Golf Outing
12:30 pm, The Rail Golf Course, Springfield. See article for details.
6.17
Butterfly release
10 am, Simmons Cancer Institute's Garden of Hope
6.22-25
Chip in FORE Charity
Panther Creek Golf Club. See article for details.
6.23
Take Your Child to Work Day
See article for details.
6.23-6.24
Reunion Weekend
for Classes of 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007
6.25-30
Camp COCO
at Lake Bloomington. For camp information, call SIU Pediatrics at 217-545-7214.
JULY
7.4
Independence Day
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PERSONNEL
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Welcome
Bianca Sanchez, Clinical Research Specialist, Center for Clinical Research
Benjamin Kasper, Building Operating Engineer, CPSO
Amanda Orton, Medical Office Associate, Family and Community Medicine Decatur
Kathy Lee, Clinical Nurse Specialist, and
Leanne Rathbone, Certified Medical Assistant, and
Heather Sullivan, Certified Medical Assistant, all Family and Community Medicine Springfield
Bernadette Kerr, Labor Relations Specialist, and
Clara Schmidt, Human Resources Representative, both Human Resources
Teresa Fesen, Certified Nurse Practitioner, Internal Medicine
Emile Lohman Irwin, Clinical Research Specialist, and
Anne Scheer, Post-Doctoral Fellow, both Office of Population Science and Policy
Donna Vanmatre, LPN II, Neurology
Kristi Alexander, Clinic Nurse, and
Kendra Smith, Certified Medical Assistant Trainee, Pediatrics
Tiffany Patterson, LPN II, Surgery, Urology - Decatur
Catherine Pettet, Certified Medical Assistant, Surgery
Farewell
Michael Zoelzer (retirement), Education and Curriculum
Keydra Jackson and
Shannon May, Family and Community Medicine Decatur
Rhonda Kewney (retirement), Family and Community Medicine Quincy
Sharon Mulkins, Family and Community Medicine Springfield
Melody Smith, Internal Medicine
Breezi Davis and
Amber Elliott, Pediatrics
Shelly Dowell, SIU HealthCare Core
Audra Horn, Surgery
Dr. Tobias Kohler, Surgery - Urology
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BENEFIT CHOICE PERIOD ENDS MAY 31
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The FY 2018 Annual Benefit Choice Period runs through May 31 for all eligible members. Members may make insurance changes during this period, as well as enroll or re-enroll in the Flexible Spending Accounts Program (MCAP and DCAP)* by logging into MyBenefits Marketplace (via Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox for best results) or you may call the MyBenefits Marketplace Service Center at 1-844-251-1777. Changes to coverage will be effective July 1, 2017.
The Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) mailed a postcard to your home address. They are also mailing a flyer which will provide a summary of what is and is not changing, employee premium rates, coverage map, and other information. Please read and keep this flyer. It is an employee's responsibility to know the plan benefits and make an informed decision regarding coverage options. You are encouraged to learn about State of Illinois benefit information by logging into MyBenefits Marketplace or the DCMS Benefits website here. You will be able to view the FY 2018 Benefit Choice Options Book, along with other important plan information.
If you are making a change to your health, dental, or life insurance coverage for FY 2018, you must do so via the MyBenefits Marketplace site no later than Wednesday, May 31st. If you do not want to change your coverage, you do not need to do anything. However, it is suggested that you still login to the system and familiarize yourself with your benefits and review the accurateness of your coverage, premiums, and demographic information, such as home address and e-mail address.
For more information see the May 1 email from Stacy Bond or contact Benefit Services staff at [email protected].
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BLOG & LINKS
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Do you have a medical topic that's blog-worthy?
Would you like to share news about an event on Facebook but don't have a page?
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2017 Commencement honors
Sixty-three physicians and four graduate students received their diplomas during SIU School of Medicine's 43rd commencement on Saturday, May 20, at UIS's Sangamon Auditorium.
This year's commencement speaker was Camara Phyllis Jones, MD, PhD (above, with Dr. Erica Bohmer and Dr. Kristin Hertweck), immediate past president of the American Public Health Association. Jones charged the Class of 2017 to "be courageous, be curious and be citizens."
"Being courageous includes being unafraid of controversy," Jones said. "If somebody offers you the opportunity to do something and you're not quite sure you can do it, say yes, because the person offering you that opportunity already knows what you may not know about yourself, that you will be successful. So embrace challenge. Forge your own path."
 Several faculty members and a student received awards during the ceremony. SIU Medicine dean and provost emeritus J. Kevin Dorsey, MD, PhD, received the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching.
 Class of 1987 alumna
Janet Albers, MD, chair of the SIU Department of Family and Community Medicine, received the 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes a former SOM student for outstanding contributions to medicine and distinguished service to humankind.
 Assistant Professor
Sabha Ganai, MD, PhD, FACS, director of gastrointestinal oncology at the Simmons Cancer Institute, and Class of 2017 graduate
 Jordan Lange, MD, received the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Awards, presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation to a new graduate and a faculty member who demonstrate compassion, respect for patients and families, and clinical excellence.
View photos from the day at Zenfolio
and the commencement ceremony on YouTube.
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What happened in Vegas ... was awesome!
PA program wins national championship
On May 17, the SIU PA Program Medical Challenge Bowl team won the national championship at the American Academy of Physician Assistants conference in Las Vegas. The SIU team competed against 82 other universities in the tournament.
Victorious in Illinois (a "three-peat" at Northwestern University-Chicago on April 15) after the first MCQ round, they earned a chance to be one of the 32 programs to compete in Las Vegas. Surviving two elimination rounds, the team advanced to the championship -- one of the final four teams. Major c
ongratulations to top trio Erin Browne, Morgan Rakers and Joeli Diemer, alternate Alexandra Spillman, coach Don Diemer and Joe Mork, a 2017 PA student who attended as a backup team member.
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SIU employees have an opportunity to participate in Take Your Child to Work Day on Friday, June 23. Online registration begins on May 31. Fifty children between the ages of 8 and 13 are invited to attend. Because space is limited, we encourage parents to gauge their child's level of interest before signing them up, and please do not register any child who has already attended twice.
Parents are encouraged to join their children for lunch in the 801 building courtyard. A few chaperoning slots will be available for new employees and for those whose children are on campus for the day. If you were hired during the past two years and would like to attend some of the day's tours, consider registering for a chaperone slot.
Watch for more information in next week's email.
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Healthcare Explorers' big year
SIU Medicine has offered a medical explorers post for decades to allow local high school students the opportunity to explore medical careers. However, this past school year, we began a partnership with Memorial Health System to offer a joint post (
Healthcare Explorers of Central Illinois) to high school students who are interested in health careers more broadly. More than a dozen regional schools were represented by 147 students -- coming from as far away as Gillespie and Jacksonville.
Scores of SIU Medicine faculty, staff, residents and students volunteered their time at one or more of the nine meetings offered this year, including meetings focused on surgical skills, medical and pharmacy education, primary care, specialty care and research. Special thanks to those individuals for their time and commitment to helping inspire the next generation of health professionals!
You can view pictures from the posts in which SIU Medicine faculty, staff, residents, and students were most involved at the following links:
If you would like more information about the program and/or are interested in being involved during the 2017-18 school year, please contact Whitney Zahnd
or Patrice Jones.
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 Protect yourself -
sign up
for a self-defense class
David Ziebler, Human Resources professional and a black belt in karate and tae kwon do, is offering self-defense classes for anyone who would like to keep his or her guard up. One-hour classes are being offered from 11 am to 2 pm June 20 and 21 (six one-hour time slots options) in the Prairie/Sangamon Conference Room. The classes are sponsored by the Civil Service Council. Watch your email and the Examiner for more information.
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Honor society inducts new members
The ETA Chapter of Illinois' Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society welcomed new class members at its spring banquet at Panther Creek Country Club on May 19.
A trio of students from the Class of 2018 -- Sian Best, Kody Bolk and Madison Marvel -- joined the AOA members inducted last fall from the Class of 2017: Drs. Lindsey Atwood, Alex Cavender, Michael Ginnetti, BreeAnna Murphy, Jacquelyne Murray, Sean Murray and Robert Schnietz. Residents Dr. Shaun Mendenhall and Dr. Emily Sturm, both from the Department of Surgery, joined the society, as did faculty members Dr. Thomas Miller, FCM Quincy; and Dr. Wesley McNeese, associate dean for diversity and inclusion (and Class of '86 alum). (more)
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Pharmacology awards honor legacies
The Department of Pharmacology held a ceremony in the Pearson Museum on May 18 to announce its 2017 award winners.
  Dr. Michael Ginnetti, a Class of 2017 graduate (left), and
Allen Ghareeb, MS3 (right), received the
Satu M. Somani Excellence in Pharmacology Memorial Award. In July, Ginnetti will begin his residency in dermatology at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. The Somani award is presented to a medical student for outstanding performance in pharmacology and therapeutics. The work of the two candidates was judged to be equally superior, so both received this year's award. It was established in memory of Satu M. Somani, PhD, an SIU professor of pharmacology and toxicology from 1974 until his death in 2002.
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Kurt Wisner (center) with Dr. Tom Brozosky and Dr. Carol Bauer
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Kurt Wisner received the
Barbara L. Armour Memorial Award, which is presented annually in recognition of excellence, dedication and contribution to scientific research. Wisner received the award for his contributions to auditory research in the labs of
Dr. Carol Bauer and
Don Caspary, PhD. Wisner earned a BS degree at the University of Illinois at Springfield in 2009 and has been with SIU School of Medicine since graduation. The Amour Award was established in memory of Barbara Lawhorn Armour, a pharmacology researcher, who died in 1995.
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Dr. Shelley Tischkau, Ali Khazaal and spouse Haneen Ismaeel
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Ali Khazaal, a PhD candidate in the Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, received the
Hemal Vakharia Memorial Award.
Khazaal earned bachelor and masters degrees in biotechnology from the College of Science in Baghdad, Iraq, and is being advised by
Shelley Tischkau, PhD. The Vakharia Memorial Award was established in memory of Hemal Vakharia, a summer help student who died in an automobile accident in 1992.
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Golf to benefit Camp COCO June 9
 Golfers are invited to form teams and tee up for the annual charity golf scramble in June benefiting Camp COCO. A shotgun start begins at 12:30 pm, Friday, June 9, at The Rail Golf Course, 1400 S. Club House Dr., Springfield.
An entry fee of $125 per player includes greens fees, golf cart, a catered lunch, delicious dinner, on-course beverages and prizes. Sponsorships at various levels of support, including golf carts dedicated in honor or memory of a family member or friend, also are available. Paid registrations postmarked by mail or received electronically by June 1 will be entered in a special prize drawing.
 The COCO Children's Cancer Fund supports the Camp and other projects for young patients. Now in its 32nd year, Camp COCO is a summer camp sponsored by SIU's Department of Pediatrics where kids with cancer and blood disorders and their siblings can spend a week enjoying typical camping activities at no cost to the children's families. This year's camp is June 25-30 at Timber Pointe Outdoor Conference Center on Lake Bloomington.
Send checks for the scramble or sponsorships, payable to either Camp COCO or SIU Foundation, to the SIU Foundation, PO Box 19666, Springfield, IL 62794-9666. Or call the office at 545-2955 weekdays for information. Registration can be completed online or faxed to 545-1913.
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 Butterfly release June 17
Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU will hold its 9th Annual Butterfly Release at 10 am on Saturday, June 17, in SCI's Thomas Garden of Hope, 315 W. Carpenter St., Springfield. Everyone is invited to participate.
Butterfly sponsorships are available for $25 by calling 217-545-2955. For more information about other sponsorship opportunities, call Patsy Wappel at 217-545-0395 and visit
siumed.edu/cancer
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Chip in FORE Charity
You can help the Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders and have a weekend of family fun at this year's Lincoln Land Charity Championship. Tickets are available online for $10 each, and CADRD receives 100 percent if you make them your charity of choice when you check out. Tickets are also eligible to win a prize package that includes a luxurious Florida golfing getaway. The event runs June 22-25 at Panther Creek Golf Club.
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Supporting Enos Summer Youth Clubs
 Within Enos Park neighborhood, 65% of children live below the poverty level. As part of the Enos Access to Health Program, SIU helps organize a summer program for kids in the neighborhood. Last year it was a huge success, reaching almost 30 children.
This year the program will offer activities for the kids every night except Friday, beginning in June, thanks to so many great volunteers and leaders. However, you can help donate supplies. Visit the youth club web page to learn about each group and see what materials are needed
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Another option: If you would like to sponsor a child's participation in the summer program, $20 covers the cost of a T-shirt and the materials for a boy or girl to join the fun for all nine weeks. Your support can help a child grow in knowledge, physical health and community belonging!
If you can offer support through money, a product or by volunteering, please contact Tracey Smith.
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S U M M E R B O O K S F O R E N O S
Enos students in grades K through 5 have new reading material for their upcoming summer break, courtesy of SIU employees.
On Tuesday, May 23, each child was able to select a new book from donations raised during the April Casual Day and Spring Book Drive, hosted by SIU's Enos Committee.
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Item drive for the Phoenix Center
 This spring the School of Medicine is collecting items to help the Phoenix Center, Springfield's LGBTQ community center. The service project is sponsored by the Civil Service Council and runs through June 30. Desired items include bed pillows, laundry detergent, cleaning products, paper products, disposable razors, body wash, deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner. They can be donated at assorted locations across campus. Look for a box near you.
| DEPT |
LOCATION |
| SCI |
315 W. Carpenter, 1st fl break area |
| HC Admin |
201 E. Madison, 1st fl break area |
| Financial Affairs |
327 W. Calhoun, 2nd fl by elev |
| FCM |
520 N. 4th, basement break room |
| Dermatology |
751 Bldg, 2nd floor, room 2300 |
| Public Relations |
801 vending area |
| Plastic Surgery |
Baylis, 3rd floor break |
| HR |
327 W. Calhoun 1st Fl break |
| Internal Med |
MMC - D4 break |
| OB-GYN |
CJ Vecchie, Rooms 6W171 & 172 |
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Presentations
 Eric C. Niederhoffer, PhD, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, has completed his two-year term as the president of the Association of Biochemistry Educators. Under his leadership, the ABE became an independent nonprofit organization with both increased membership involvement in standing committees/ working groups and conference attendance. His term culminated in the Sixth International Conference of the ABE (Teaching Biochemistry to Students of Dentistry, Medicine, and Pharmacy), held jointly with the Association of Professors of Human and Medical Genetics Course Directors Special Interest Group on May 7 - 11 in Clearwater Beach, Fla.
Dr. Niederhoffer provided the "Welcome and State of ABE Address;" moderated the plenary session "The Future of Medical Education," the "Greeting from the Association of Medical and Graduate Departments of Biochemistry," and Featured Poster Talks session; participated in a panel discussion of "Using Competency-Based Assessments to Monitor and Coach Pre-Clerkship Medical Students," and facilitated an Education Discussion Group session on "How Do We Cultivate Self-Directed Learning?" Niederhoffer was presented with the Distinguished Service Award at the conference. He now transitions to the executive office and supporting role of past president for 2017-19.
Dr. Sabha Ganai
PhD, FACS, SCI /Surgery, gave a trio of presentations at the 58th Annual Meeting of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, 2017 Digestive Disease Week, May 6-9, in Chicago.
Sturm EC, Zahnd W, Mellinger JD, Ganai S
. "Rural-Urban and Regional Differences in Receipt of Esophagectomy for Early-Stage Esophagus Cancer."
MacKinney E, Zahnd W, Khan AA, Sturm E, Mellinger JD, Ganai S
. "An Exploration of Regional and Rural-Urban Differences in Pancreas Cancer Surgery."
Khan AA, MacKinney E, Buckley EJ, Sturm E, Rejowski B, Mellinger JD, Ganai S
. "Adjacency of Rural County of Residence to an Urban County May Determine Survival for Stage I Pancreatic Cancer." She also gave this presentation at the Pancreas Club in Chicago, May 5.
Andrzej Bartke, PhD, Internal Medicine, gave a Grand Rounds talk, "Growth Hormone, Adipose Tissue and Longevity," at Albert Einstein School of Medicine in New York City on April 28.
Nancy Kyrouac, FCM-ThinkFirst, co-presented "Child Passenger Safety" with Jill Braselton, Northwestern Medicine - Central DuPage Hospital at the National ThinkFirst Injury Prevention Conference in Los Angeles on April 22.
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Media coverage 5.15.17 - 5.23.17
■ Dr. Lucinda Buescher, Internal Medicine, spoke with WTAX about what to look for when choosing a sunscreen, 5.23.17.
■ Recent graduates Dr. Shawn Curry and Dr. Abbey Rocco spoke with News Channel 20 about their journeys to commencement and their plans for the future, 5.20.17.
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Crain's illustration
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■ Dean and Provost Dr. Jerry Kruse and recent graduate Dr. Matt Soltys discussed Soltys' and other young doctors' choice to leave Illinois for residencies with Crain's Chicago Business, 5.20.17.
■ The State Journal-Register discussed race and health care with SIU SOM commencement speaker Camara Phyllis Jones, MD, PhD. Dr. Kruse contributed to the story, 5.19.17.
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SIU's Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders is seeking clinical trial participants, according to the
News Tribune, 5.18.17.
■ Dr. Jeffrey Bennett, Psychiatry, contributed an opinion piece to The State Journal-Register to raise awareness of the importance of mental health care, 5.17.17.
■ Dr. Sameer Vohra, JD, Pediatrics/PopSci, discussed the health effects of lead exposure with The Southern, 5.17.17.
■ Greg Kyrouac, Neurology, was quoted in The State Journal-Register about how the Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders will use a funding award from the King's Daughters Organization, 5.19.17. News Channel 20 also covered the grant, 5.16.17.
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According to the
News-Gazette, SIU Medicine will welcome intern and US Army veteran Marcus Minnis this summer, 5.15.17.
■ American Urological Association spokesman Dr. Kevin McVary, Surgery/SCI, says cycling does not lead to urologic disease or sexual dysfunction, 5.15.17.
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Next issue: June 9 Deadline: June 6
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