Our Stories
Patient Testimonials - Listen to our patients tell their stories of success
Diane Stone - Lung Cancer Survivor
Diane Stone talks about her experience with Dr. Meghna Desai and a clinical trial at the SIU School of Medicine Simmons Cancer Institute for lung cancer that produced amazing results for her diagnosis.
Kris Castleman - Colorectal Cancer Survivor
Colorectal cancer survivor Kris Castleman talks about her experience with surgeon Dr. Jan Rakinic and the Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU School of Medicine.
Raising funds for Cancer Research - Every dollar stays in our region
Raise Your Hands for Hope - 2015
Stories of the families touched by cancer at the Simmons Cancer Institute.
Raise Your Hands for Hope - 2016
Stories of the families touched by cancer at the Simmons Cancer Institute.
Our Cancer Researchers
Cancer Fighting Cells - Andrew Wilber, PhD
The goal of Dr. Andrew Wilber’s research is to discover why the body’s natural killer cells, as a part of natural immune system function, are enabling the development of cancer and reverse this trait so that they can actively fight cancer.
Fighting Ovarian Cancer - Buck Hales, Phd
Dr. Hales’ is a well-known expert on steroid hormone biology, reproductive physiology and ovarian cancer with over 100 publications, several book chapters and numerous invited reviews. In 2004 Dr. Hales began to examine the role of inflammation and oxidative stress in ovarian cancer which is the current focus of the research.
Our Surgeons
Head & Neck Cancer Care - Arun Sharma, MD
Dr. Arun Sharma explains why he became an otolaryngologic surgeon specializing in head and neck cancer and robotic assisted surgery.
Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) Sabha Ganai, MD, PhD
Dr. Ganai explains her efforts to develop a HIPEC treatment program to treat patients with stage four cancer.
Colorectal surgeon - Prasad Poola, MD
Dr. Poola discusses his practice as a colorectal surgeon and the importance of communication between providers and patients.
Cardiothoracic Surgeon - Stephen Hazelrigg, MD
Dr. Hazelrigg, a Jacksonville, IL native, practices all aspects of cardiothoracic surgery (heart, lung and esophageal) and has a special interest in thoracoscopic surgery. He has published over 100 articles and book chapters and is internationally recognized for his contributions in thoracoscopic surgery. He is the co-editor of the textbook Minimal Access Cardiothoracic Surgery, used by cardiac surgeons worldwide.
