by Steve Sandstrom On an early Monday morning in March 2018, James Waymack, MD, was on his way to work at Taylorville Memorial Hospital. Waymack is the director of the emergency medicine residency program within SIU’s Department of Emergency Medicine, and on Mondays he accompanies a team of residents on a rural service rotation to a hospital 30 minutes east of Springfield. Nearing his exit, he was suddenly passed by three ambulances. Approaching the hospital, he found the parking lot teeming with police vehicles. Inside, emergency medicine director Rich Jeisy, MD, Waymack’s former SIU School

CARBONDALE, IL ─ Even if traditional “back to school” rituals present new questions for parents, public health officials and providers are reminding families that required physicials and immunizations should still be scheduled. Making those appointments now avoids the high demand period in August. “Due to the coronavirus, this year’s physicals will be handled differently. Since patients and their families will have fewer options for free clinical services, we are urging parents and our patients to schedule appointments now before the new school year begins,” said Dr. Max Crouse, chief resident

The SIU Centers for Family Medicine, in coordination with the Illinois Department of Public Health, is expanding access to COVID-19 testing to everyone. Previously, testing was limited to those meeting certain screening criteria. Now, anyone can be tested, including individuals who have no symptoms. As restrictions on gatherings change and more businesses open, the testing expansion will give community administrators and public health professionals the opportunity to monitor infection rates and keep infection rates low. Carbondale’s testing site is located at the SIU Center for Family Medicine

The SIU Centers for Family Medicine, in coordination with the Illinois Department of Public Health, is expanding access to COVID-19 testing to everyone. Previously, testing was limited to those meeting certain screening criteria. Now, anyone can be tested, including individuals who have no symptoms. As restrictions on gatherings change and more businesses open, the testing expansion will give community administrators and public health professionals the opportunity to monitor infection rates and keep infection rates low. Carbondale’s testing site is located at the SIU Center for Family Medicine

The SIU Centers for Family Medicine, in coordination with the Illinois Department of Public Health, is expanding access to COVID-19 testing to everyone. Previously, testing was limited to those meeting certain screening criteria. Now, anyone can be tested, including individuals who have no symptoms. As restrictions on gatherings change and more businesses open, the testing expansion will give community administrators and public health professionals the opportunity to monitor infection rates and keep infection rates low. Carbondale’s testing site is located at the SIU Center for Family Medicine

SIU School of Medicine Department of Population Science and Policy, Hillsboro Area Hospital and Hillsboro Community Child Development Center are proud to share the Little Leaps program resources. These downloadable PDFs provide age-appropriate, play-based activities using common household items. Each activity is designed to improve the quality of caregiver/child interaction while connecting that activity with a corresponding brain activation. These resources were developed for a project to engage parents in "serve and return" practices designed to augment infant and toddler brain development

https://www.nprillinois.org/post/more-sangamon-county-residents-getting…

JUNE 9, 2020 – SPRINGFIELD - Sheltering at home has created problems among some of Springfield’s more vulnerable residents and families who are struggling to maintain their physical and mental health during the pandemic. The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) and SIU School of Medicine have established a new Pandemic Health Worker Program to support the specific needs of these individuals during the COVID-19 outbreak. The new program is designed to remove barriers affecting health and well-being, and improve access to social services for those at risk. Pandemic Health

Police brutality illuminates a dark history in our society. There is no single universally agreed upon definition or guideline for when to use force. However, we know it when we see it. Police brutality was clearly on display when adults, children and our community witnessed George screaming he couldn’t breathe, crying out for his mother, and passing away as a knee was placed on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds. We saw a profound, inconceivable tragedy. As physicians, we take a Hippocratic Oath. Witnessing this brutality without taking action violates our oath. Our collective response

In May, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine held a historic commencement recognition for the medical student graduates of the Class of 2020. The ceremony was full of milestones. It was the school’s first virtual graduation due to COVID-19 safety protocols, coming in the school’s 50 th anniversary year, in which SIU bestowed its 3,000th medical degree upon a new physician. The global pandemic reminds us of the essential need for knowledgeable, well-trained physicians, who learn for a lifetime and readily adapt to change. A glimpse at our history shows how our graduates have