Class notes: 2010s
Victoria Johnson, MD, MPH, '10, had a Perspective published in the 6/29/24 issue of "The New England Journal of Medicine". Entitled "To Forgive, Divine," it chronicles an act that triggered a flood of doubt and the route she found towards healing. Abstract: "When a resident misses a contraindication and makes a potentially serious error, her attending consoles her with the story of an early mistake of his own. Such healing conversations are still too rare." (pictured left)
Drs. Evyn Neumeister, MD ’17 and Austin Beason, MD ’17, "We just welcomed our second child, Vera, to the world on May 31st! We are currently living in Gainesville, Florida where my husband, Austin is finishing orthopedic fellowship in hand & upper extremity surgery. We are moving to Philadelphia in July where I will be completing my pediatric plastic surgery fellowship at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia before we make our way back to Springfield, Illinois to begin practice at SIU!"
Clare Zimmerman, MD ’15, has made the Springfield Business Journal's Forty Under 40 List for 2024!! (See list right)
Michael Sinha, MD ’12, Professor Michael Sinha, JD, MD, MPH co-authored an article entitled “Four Decades of the Orphan Drug Act and Priorities for the Future,” published in the July, 11, 2024 issue of the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. The article was written in conjunction with Professors Ariel Stern, PhD of the Hasso Plattner Institute and Arti Rai, JD of Duke Law. (pictured right)
Emma Eubanks, MD ’13, "Our family welcomed our second daughter, Evie Claire, on 5/11/24. In addition to a full-time OBGYN practice, Emma serves as her hospital's chairperson of the peer review committee and the medical Executive Committee Secretary and Treasurer."
Michael Kottwitz, MD ’13 & Kate Kottwitz (McKenna), MD ’14, welcomed the newest (perfect!) addition to their family with the birth of daughter, Martha Jacqueline, on April 4, 2024. (pictured left)
Kelly Roth, MD ’19, organized and cohosted the ATS 2024 international conference in May. Dr. Roth gave a presentation, “Interpretation of Pulmonary Function Testing in People who are Transgender or Non-binary,” during the conference.
Clare Zimmerman, MD ’15, welcomed son, Leo Edward Atlas, on November 24, 2023. Additionally, she was appointed as Chair of the Institutional Review Board at SIU Medicine for a one-year term starting in May 2024. (pictured right)
Rachel Ade Koziczkowski, MD ’10, “Started first ever dermatology department for UnityPoint Health in Nov 2023. Currently practicing in hometown of Moline, IL in dual internal medicine/dermatology practice with Dr. David Ade (father) who is also an alumnus of SIU SOM with the class of 1980.”
Amanda Velazquez, MD ’13, was featured as an expert panelist on weight loss on Oprah TV special Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution. Read about it here. Watch it on Hulu here.
Kevin Simon, MD ’15, presented his lecture, Safeguarding the Mental Health of a City, during the Theodore R. LeBlang Distinguished Lecture on the Springfield Siu-SOM campus on March 6, 2024. Dr. Kevin Simon is the Chief Behavioral Health Officer for the City of Boston, a Pediatric Addiction Medicine Psychiatrist for Boston Children’s Hospital and an Instructor of Psychiatry for Harvard Medical School.
Jaleen Sims, MD, MPH ’15, You can keep up to date with Dr. Sims by following her educational social media page (LivingWellWithDrJay) here.
Torie Johnson, MD '10, shares her views on the culture of medicine and professional identity formation and how she correlates it to the new Barbie movie. Take a few moments to read Doctor is Me- Women in Medicine
Kimberly Bannon, MD '11, "Hi there! I started a new job at UW Madison on June 15. Excited to be back in the academic world, working with students and residents. I am enjoying exploring Madison and the outdoors of Wisconsin with my husband, kids, and dog Rosie." Read here about Dr. Bannon's new job as a member of the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn faculty of the University of Wisconsin.
Carl Ruthman, MD ’11, “I have accepted the position of Program Director for the Pulmonary & Critical Care Fellowship at Naples Community Hospital in Naples, FL."
Mary Sterrett, MD ’11, “Recent work in Bangladesh through an NGO called MedGlobal while I am between academic practice at UW-Seattle and Kaiser San Diego. I focused on point of care ultrasound teaching in refuge camps and in conferences.” (pictured below)
Jeremy Kulacz, MD ’14, Congratulations to Dr. Jeremy Kulacz, assistant professor of neurology, who has been selected for the 2024 Golden Apple Award. Each year, the graduating class at SIU School of Medicine bestows the honor to a faculty member for providing the most outstanding education during their training.
Dr. Kulacz earned his undergraduate degree at Illinois State University and his doctorate at SIU School of Medicine. He pursued a residency in adult neurology at Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School in Providence, RI, and completed a fellowship in vascular neurology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. In addition to teaching, Dr. Kulacz sees patients at SIU Neurology in Springfield.
Kate McKenna Kottwitz, MD '14, Congratulations to Dr. Kottwitz as she has just become the CEO and Plastic Surgeon for Amelia Aesthetics Evansville! (pictured right)
Specialty: Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Interests: Blending technical precision with artistic insight, empowering individuals to rediscover confidence through personalized aesthetic transformations.
Patient Testimonial: "She's very warm. She listened to me and my concerns. I could tell she was passionate about what she did. She makes you feel safe and confident."
Anita Ahuja, MD '15, "We completed our family with the addition of Maya this summer, born May 23, 2023." (pictured left)
Dakota and Molly Gilbert, MDs ’18, welcomed child, Jackson Gilbert, in January of 2023. They also both ranked top 1% nationally for patient experience, based on scores from the "Care Provider Overall" question on surveys completed with Press Ganey.
These class notes were updated with the latest content from 2023 through July 2024.